The National tribune., 1898-10-13
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
The Board of Investigation Hears q 0uan.
tity OF Very Important Testimony.

tity OF Very Important Testimony.
The first witness summoned to appear be-
fore the War investigating Commission was
Mai Gen. Joe Wheeler. He was a gocd wit
ness, who volunteered nothing. but replied
fully and frankly to every question. The
Commission had decided that ex-Gov.
Beaver should conduct the examination,
as he is a lawyer OF high reputation for
skill in that direction. All the other mem
bers, however, are at perfect liberty to ask
any questions that may occur to them.
Gen. Wheeler thought that Gen. Shat
teT's plans for the campaign, and the man
ner cf their execution, were excellent in
every way. The only criticism, he had
made was that he--fien. Wheele.-as
the ranking officer, should have been the
first to embark, whereas he was made the
fourth
The Medical Division he said, was fairly
we'll organized ordnance supplies and
rations were promptly furnished. In reply
to "a direct question from Gov. Beaver, of
the Commission, Gen. Wheeler said that
in his observation he saw no omission
that ordinary prudence Of n commander or
foresight Of an intelligent head OF staff
could have obviated. There was no suf-
fering from lack of ordnance or commissary
stores; no wounded uncared for and no
ambuscade of troops; no wOrmy or moldy
| food, and no neglect OF soldiers.
There was some trouble with the trans
pUItS, w blCn WOulu DCioiSl III lying 700 itI
off shore IL thought that, all things con
| sidercd, Gen. Shafter was entitled to great
| credit for the manner in which the army
| was provided.
| He never saw men act finer in battle
than the men at Santiago. and it was mag
nificent TO see officers OF high rank walking
| ashore carrying, tiieir packs with them,
| marching alongside the soldiers, bearing
| the same burdens aid setting a splendid
example before the whole army.
Being asked as TO the conduct of the
| Spaniards, Gem Wheeler said
81 asked Gen. TGral why they did not
come out and resist the attack. Toral
hesitated quite a while, then answered
| that his men were sore. They were not
sore; but my opinion is that after seeing
the American soldiers assault their fortifi-
cations the way they did, the Spanish
soldiers and officers were of opinion that
they couldn't meet tis in the open."
| The remainder of the Generals testimony
| related to Camp Wikof, and was a gen
eral and complete denial of the sensational
stories published in, such yellow papers
as the New YorLh WYtid and Journal.
| SECRETARY ALGER
i had been addressed SIX questions, in a
written communication, and he replied tc
them in three typo-written pages. He said
the campaign was originally planned
against Habana, and changed when the
| Navy reported Cervera's fleet at Santiago
and asked for help. He submitted the re-
ports of the officers designated to select
camps in answer to the question why
| Tampa, Fernandina, and Jacksonville were
| chosen.
| Secretary Ayers answer to the question
| of why troops were held on the crowded
trans ports for several days is substantially
as follows:
| 1.-The Navy was unable to guarantee
safe convoy for the transports because OF
| the fear OF what was afterward known as
the phantom fleet A part of the Navy
had Cervera' s fleet bottled up in Santiago
harbor, and the remainder of it was in pur-
suit Of another Supposed feet."