The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-30

IntoFo0tnE-ThO Commanding GonorAll
itAppoArs, Direetsd all the Movements
OF shaftsr in Critical TlmsI-An UnhaP-
py Disclosure That will EuEsndor Bite
torness and Benefit NO one In Particular.
KANSAS CITY, August 29.-The Star
this afternoon prints three-cOlumn ex-
elusive dispatch from Mr.. j. D. whelp-
ley, It's special war correspondent, who
has Just returned from Porto Rico. bear
ing upon the Nlles-Alger controversy.
Mr.. whelpley takes occasion to deny the
statement that his recently published In
terview in Porto Rico with General
Miles, wherein the latter was quoted as
casting reflections upon the war DEPART
ment was not genuine, and in support
Of the statements already made by the
Star, prints interesting telegrams that
passed between the war department and
Generals Miles and shafter on the points
at issue.
Doubt is expressed by some." says
Mr. Whelpley, "as to whether General
Miles ever said these things I credit him
with. Others suggest he may have said
them In confidence, which was betrayed.
I feel confident" continues the cores
pondent, General Miles will stand by
the interview referred to.
my talk with him was not conhden-
tial. went to him as newspaper rep
resenta4ve, for the avOwed and express
purpose Of securing an interview. There
was no reservation from publication in
the conversation. This is proved by his
refusal to answer some questions which
he would have answered had this not
been so. There was no hint Of conf
dences.
Written tn war Records
I'm this instance, however. no ques-
tlon of veraclty need arise. General
Miles himself, even IL he 50 desired,
could not conceal the proof Of all ne
said. 1t is written in the records Of the
war department, and 1t only needs a
clearing away Of inconsequential mat
ter to tell the story clearly ana in full"
The Stars article says that General
Miles was in command of the entire
army when in washington Is, OF course,
evident. That he did not resign this
supreme command when he went to
Tampa, and that It was he who was
treating with the Cubans for co-opera-
tlon in Cuba Is shown by the numerous
telegrams exchanged with General Gar
cIa. The war department recognized
Miles as chief when he was in Tampa,
for June IL a telegram was sent to him
from washington which begins: The
following extract of telegram from Ad-
mlral Sampson to secretary of navy Is
repeated for your information, etc.
"when General shafter went to Cuba
and General Miles returned to Washing
ton, the latter did not resign his con-
troll OF the situation, but, on the con-
trary, kept in close touch as possible by
wire with the movements OF Skaters
command.
"on the Fourth OF July General shaf-
ter sent the following dispatches to
washington, addressed to the Adjutant
General:
headquarters Fifth Army Corps, in
camp near Santiago de Cuba, July 4.
"'There seems to be no reasonable
doubt that General Pando succeeded in
entering Santiago last night with his
force, said to be about 5000 men. This
puts different aspect upon affairs, and
while we can probably maintain our
selves, It would be at the cost Of very
considerable fighting and loss.
Pando Never Got There.
General Lawton reports that Gen
eral Garcia, who was to block the en-
trance of Pando, informed him at 10
o'clock last night that Pnndo had passed
him on the Cobra road. Lawton says ne
cannot compel Garcia to obey nv in
s,ructlons to place themselves in any
position where they will have to fight,
and that II we intend to reduce santl-
ago we will have to depend alone upon
avn troops, and that we will require
twice the number we now have.
~ sent n message to Admiral samp-
son, asking II he proposed entering the
harbor. so as to give us assistance.
Commodore Watson replies that he does
not know Admiral sampson's intention
since the destruction OF the Spanish
squadron but does not himself think the
feet should try to 90 into the hurbor OF
Santiago. This. under the clrcum-
stances, is not very encouraging
"Have been expecting n division
from Tampa and Dumeld's second brig
ade from Camp Alger, but only q small
number of recruits has appeared 80 far
II we have to 30 to try aud reduce the
town, now that the fleet is destroyed,
which was slated to be the chief object
Of the expedition. there must be no de-
lay In getting large body OF troops
here.
"'The town Is in n terrible condition
as to food. and people are starving, ns
stated by foreign consuls this morning,
but the troops can fight, and have
large quantity OF rice, but no other sup