The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18
GEN. WHEELER
ATCANP WICKOFF
He Resumes Command There by
Order of General Shafter.
A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT
The Latter Wanted to Talk over Con-
ditions i'm Cuba-General WhccicrsE
Statements were Very Rcassur- ~
ing-Mnl he No Friction.

WASHINGTON. Aug. U.-Gen. Wheeler
received orders to-day TO resume come
mans at camp wickon until tho arrival
of General shafter. lie was told by the
Secretary OF War TO purchase what was
necessary FOR the comfort Of the men.
General Wheeler had a ihrce-quarters
of am hour conference with the President
to-day. The President wanted TO talk
over the conditions ln cuba with General
wheeler and this was the object of tel-
ographic summons that brought the GEN
eral here.
TALKED ABOUT CUBA
Tho President put numerous questions
TO the hero of the Santiago campaign and
received not only am account of his gem
eral experience Boo that campaign. bui also
his Views on various issues Incident 20
tho adjustment of affairs on che island.
One point that was uppermost was ihe
possibility of rupture with the cuban
insurgents. General Whcclcr's statements
were very reassugng.
"All the friction. Dc said. between the
Americans and Cubaus will soon pass
away and there win De harmony and
good feeling between them He said
there was class of men in cuba who
had never been friendly to the cuoans.
but on the contrary had been favorable
20 Spain who likely would do al they
could to keep nap this misunderstanding
though he did NOT approhend amy danger
Gus outcome.
ENTENUATlNG CIRCUMSTANCES.
General Wheeler suggested that the
charges against the insurgents of taking
articles in the ho'd had oxtenuafins cir-
cumstances especially 'n Wow of Tho
starving condition of many of fhem.
General Wheeler believed the Cuaans In
time. when freed from oppression and
given a stable and humane government.
would become "a law-lb.ius and useful
people.
The President is very soiicitous ahout
the health Of the men at M0nfnuk Point
camp, and gave explicit instructions were
hally tO General Wheeler ass f0 The cone
duct of the camp. le wanted everything
possible and reasonable done Tor fho in-
tercsts OF the men at the camp.
TALKS TO NEWSPAPER MEN
Just at the close of onico hours Gene
eral Wheeler stopped 90 speak to "a group
rounded by a crowd OF employees IN
the War Department. who listened 20
what De had TO say
The trouble seemed 90 De- with the Cue
bans that they wanted tO cooperate and
not Dee under orders from the American
generals. lie said that they could not
understand our language. and often or-
dcrs given to them. when translated.
seemed no doubt harsh and abrupt. This
led 90 several misunderstandings
NOT ABLE TO WORK.
As 20 the Cubans refusing 90 work. ho
said they did some work when they un-
dersto0d IT'S Importance. but they wero
not able 20 accomplish much, owing TO
their physical condition They had been
living mostly on fruits and vegetables,
and did not possess the strength for the
hardshlps which woli-fcd soldiers have
20 go through.
General Wheeler also spoke OF The Pee
ports of the piiloring with which they
were charged. and said that about 10000
people came out OF Santiago without
anything 20 eat The soldiers when they
were pushing ahead I'm an engagement,
had to discard their rolls, containing proc
visions Some OF them complained that
their food had been stolen, but % might
have been the destitute who came out
of Santiago as well as the Cuban soldiers.