Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-10-12
SOLDIERS STORY
OF the Conduct OF the War IN
Santiago Province.
GEN. WHEELER TELLS
The Conditions Prevailing In
the Campaign.

Washington. Oct. 1.-The war
investigation commission began the
taking of testimony today, and
Major General Joseph Wheeler was
on the stand the greater part OF the
day. There was 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 important points OF Santi-
ago and Camp Wikoff. He said with
refere nee to the conduct of affairs
at Santiago that there had neces-
sarily been some suffering in the
trenches, but that General Shafter
had exercised the utmost effort to
protect his men. There had been,
he said, shortage of land transpor-
tation facilities for time, and there
had been no tents for a week. The
roads were very fair.
The general contended Camp
Wikoff was a model camp, the eli
mate salubrious one and the &C
Communications quite exceptional in
character. He considered the hos
pital capacity equal to the demands
upon it and that no military camp
in history was ever so well supplied
in all respects as was this. Red tape
methods were entirely abolished,
and the demands of the men were
met as soon as they were properly
voiced.
DETAILED TESTIMONY.
The war investigation commits
sion began its examination of wit
nesses today by placing General
Joseph Wheeler on the stand.
Chairman Dodge stated to him the
scope of the commissions 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 conducted
the examination, developing the es-
,sential facts as to Gen. Wheelers
rank and his command. General
Wheeler stated that he left Tampa
for Cuba on the tenth of June, but
that he had no knowledge of the
plan of campaign before going
aboard the transport. He then told
of the voyage. On June 2I Gener7
al Shafter ordered him to dissm-
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 Jaguracita. He then be-
gan his accommodating, arranging
with General Castillo, of the Cuban
army, to send Cuban troops with
his men for the reconnoitre, but
unfortunately the Cubans did not
keep the engagement. He told Of
the first battle at La Quasima, stop
ping 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 Cubans. General
Wheeler had not been able on his
own account to secure any accurate
estimate of the Spanish loss during
the American approach upon San
tiago.
Speaking of the proceedings after
the first battle, he explained that
he had been reported sick, and there
were some movements just prior to
the battle at Ell Caney with which
he was not familiar.
II was not SICK" he said, "but l
had been on the 2oth and goth.
Still 1 had not gone on the sick list.
I had a fever, but I appreciated the
situation. took medicines and came
out all right" He was in the bat
tie OF FL Caney, and expressed the
opinion that more had been killed
in the formation of the line than af-
forwards. He told of the necessity
for wading the San Juan river, say
ing that the water was about waist
deep.
A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT.