The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-10-07
GEN. WHEELER TESTIFIES.
The Story of Ell Caney and San Juan Told
to the Investigating Committee
Praise for .Shafter.

WASHINGTON, Oct 5.-The war in
vestigation commission began it's ex-
Smination of witnesses Tuesday by
placing Gen. Joseph Wheeler on the
stand. Maj Mills administered the
cath.
Ex-Gov. Beaver conducted the exam
ination, developing the essential facts
as to Gen. Wheeler's rank and his COM
mand. Gen. Wheeler stated that he
left Tampa for Cuba on June IA,
but that he had no knowledge of the
plan of campaign before going
aboard the transport He then
told of the voyage. On June 81
Gen. Shafter ordered him to disembark
the next day, which he did, with por-
ton of his command. He rode into
the country four miles that day and
the next moved his troops to Jagura-
cita. He then began his reconnoiter-
ing, arranging with Gen. Castillo, of
the Cuban army, to send Cuban troops
with his men for the reconnaissance,
but unfortunately the Cubans did not
keep the engagement
He told of the first battle at LIE
Quasima, stopping to compliment
especially the regular troops and also
to speak of their excellent firing. They
soon learned to distruSt the reports
and estimates of the Spaniards. Gen.
Wheeler had not been able, on his own
RI 70
mate of the Spanish loss during the
American approach upon Santiago.
Speaking of the proceedings after
the first battles he explained that he
had been reported sick and there were
some movements just prior to the bat
tie of Ell Caney with which he was not
familiar. Il was not sick, he said,
but had been on the Goth and 3Oth.
Still had not gone to the sick list 1
had fever, but l appreciated the stu
alton, took medicine and came out all
right
Il ought to say" said the general in
the course of his testimony, that it
was magnificent to see officers of high
rank go ashore with their packs on
their backs, accepting all the fortunes
of war with their men. They slept on
| the ground with the soldiers None of
us were mounted and we were with
out tents for seven days"
Speaking of the character of the
roads from the coast to the points oc-
cupied by the Americans, he said that
with such attention as they were able
to give to them they were very good.
The rains had not been severe up to
that time. The roads were narrow,
but equal to the demands. The sup
plies were considered sufficient except
in a few instances and in those in
stances the deficiency was only tenn
porary.
seen. Shafter," he said, deserved
great credit for the zeal he displayed
in this respect. He devoted himself to
this task and think there is no dou bit
he succeeded. We used pack trains
and there was com aratively little
suffering because of the shortness of
QuartermaSter'S supplies.
Gen. Wheeler said in response to a
question that Cervera's fleet was the
objective of the campaign. There was
no reason why the Spanish troops
should not have made sortie from
Santiago, and he asked Gen. Toral
after the surrender why he had not at
tackled. The latter replied that the
failure to do so was because his men
were foot sore. Yet Gen. Wheeler
could not accept this explanation, for
the Spanish soldiers were not foot
sore.
Gen. Wheeler's opinion was that the
Spanish commander was not able to
face the Americans in the open.