The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-05

Men.
WASHINGTON, Oct. l.-The war in-
yestfgation commission began the 1ak-
ing Of testimony to-day. and Major Cen
eral Joseph Wheeler was on the stand
the greater part of the day. There was
a full attendance Of the commission,
and the doors of the room In which the
INQUIRY Is conducted were for the first
time open to the representatives. OF the
press
General wheeler's testimony covered
the case of the soldiers at the two Inn
por,ant points of Santiago and Camp
wlkorr. He said with reternSe to the
conduct OF arairs at Santiago that there
had necessarily been some suffering In
the trenches, but that General shafter
had exercised the utmost effort to pro-
tect his men. There had been, he said,
a shortage of land transportation facill-
ties for tlme. and there had been no
tents for week. The roads were very
fair.
The general contended that Camp WI
kofr was q model camp, the climate q
salubrlous one and the accommodations
quite exceptional in character He con-
sIdered the hospital capacity equal to
the demands upon It. and that no mill,
tary camp in history was ever 50 we'll
supplied in all respects as was this.
Red tape methods were entirely abol-
ished, and the demands of the men were
met as soon as they were properly
voiced.
DotAihd Testimony
The war investigation commission be-
gan Is examination of witnesses to-
day b. placing General Joseph Wheeler
on the stand. Chairman Dodge stated
to him the scope of the commlssions
duty and asked General Wheeler
whether he had any objections to being
sworn He replied that he had none,
and Major Mills, recorder for the COM
mission, administered the oath.
Ex-Governor Beaver conductedtheex ex-
animation, developing the essential
facts as to General whecler's rank and
his command General Wheeler stated
that he had left Tampa for Cuba on
the tenth of June, but that he had no
knowledge of the plan of campaign be-
fore going aboard the transport. He
then told OF the voyage. on June 81
General shafter ordered him to dlsem-
bark the next day, which he did with a
portion of his command. He rode into
the country four miles that day, and the
next moved his troops to Jaguraclta.
He then began his reconnoltreing ar
ranging with General Castillo, Of the
Cuban army, to send Cuban troops with
hls men for the reeonnoltre. but. unfor-
tunutely, the cubans did not keep the
engagement. He told OF the nESt battle
at La ouasima, stopping to compliment
especially the regular troops, and also
to speak Of their excellent firing. They
soon learned to dlstrust the reports and
estimates Of the cubans. General
wheelsrhadnotb been able on HE own ae-
count to secure any accurate estimate
Of the Spanish loss during the American
approach upon Santiago.
Speaking Of the proceedings after the
hrSt battle. he explained that he hae
been reported sick. ana there were
some movements Just prior to the battle
at FL caney with which he was not ia
milIar.
'T was not sick" he said, but had
been on the 2Sth and SOth. stln had
not gone on the sick list. had a fever,
but I appreciated the situation, took
medicines and came out all right" he
vas in the battle of FL caney. and ex-
pressed the opinion that more had been
killed in the formation OF the line than
afterwards. He told Of the necessity
for wadlng the San Juan river, saying
that the water was about waist deep.
Magnificent Sight
~ ought to say." said the general. in
The course Of his testimony, that II was
magnificent to see oiicers of high rank
80 sshors with their packs on their
backs accepting ali the fortunes Of war
With their men. They slept on the
ground with the soldiers. None of us
were mounted, and we we're without
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 rs theV were able
to give them they were very good. The
rains had not been severe up to that
Tine The roads were narrow. but
equal TO the demands, The supplies he
considered sufficient except In few In
sAnces, and In those Instances the de-
nciency was only temporary. General
shoiter," he said, deserves great cred
II for the zeal he displayed In this re-
spect He devoted himself to this task
ana think there Ia no doubt ne sue
eeeded. We used pack trains and there
was comparatively little suffering be-
muse muse OF the shOrtneaa OF quHrtermhs-
tei.s supplles"
uenerai Wheeler said In response 10 n
lue,uon that CGrvorh's llect was the ob.
lectiye Of the campaign. There was no
ehson why the Spanish troops should
not have made a nnrtIe frnyyi gnnuaGn