Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-10-05
GEN. WHEELER TESTIFIEs.
The Story of El Caney and San Juan Told
to the Investigating Committee
Praise for Shafter.

Praise Tor smarter.
WASHINGTON, Oct 4-The war in
vestigation commission began its ex.
animation 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 a 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 La
Quasima, stopping to compli ment
especially the regular troops and also
to speak of their excellent firing. They
soon learned to dstrust the reports
and estimates of the Spaniards. Gen.
Wheeler had not been able, on his own
account, to secure any accurate esti-
mate of the Spanish loss during the
American approach upon Santiago.
Speaking of the proceedings after
the first battles ne explained that he
had been reported sick and there were
some movements just prior to the bat
tie of El Caney with which he was not
familiar. II was not sick, he said,
but had been on the goth and SOth.
Still had not gone to the sick list. 1
had fever, butI appreciated the situ-
alton, took medicine and came out all
right"
II 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 few instances and in those in
stances the deficiency was only tenn
porary.
Gen. 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 doubt
be succeeded. We used pack trains
and there was com paratively little
suffering because of the shortness of
quartermaster's supplies"
Gen. Wheeler said in response to a
question that Cervera's feet 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 com mmander was not able to
face the Americans in the open.
Discussing the plan of campaign he
said he doubted whether any more eff
fective plan could have been adopted.
Speaking of the medical department
he said that at times there were com.
plants, but that they were not seri.
ous On occasions there was a short
age of surgeons, some of the surgeons
being sick or wounded. According to
Gen. Wheeler's belief the wounded In
battle were promptly cared for by the
surgeons