The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05
Some Suffering I'm the Trenches An
Cuba, but Due to Haste Incident
to an Impending Battle.
GEN. SHAFTER DID HIS BEST
THE WITNESS SAID, TO PROTECT
THE TROOPS AT THE FRONT.
WiI<off a Model Camp, the Climate sa-
and There Was No Red Tape.

|
| WASHINGTON, Oct 4-The war investi-
| eating commission began the taking of tes-
timony to-day and Major General Joseph
Wheeler was on the stand the great 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 opened to representatives Of
| the press. General Wheeler's testimony
covered the case Of the soldiers at the two
| important points of Santiago and Camp
| Wikoff. He said with reference to the con-
duct Of affairs at Santiago that there had
necessarily been some suffering in the
| trenches, but that General Shafter had ex-
ercised the utmost effort to protect his men.
There had been, he said, a shortage of land
transportation facilities for time and there
had been no tents for a week. The roads
were very fair. The general contended that
Wikof was model camp, the climate a
salubrious one and the accommodations
| quite exceptional in character. He consid-
cred the hospital capacity equal to the de-
mands upon it, and that no military camp
In history was ever so we'll supplied in all
respects as was this. Red tape methods
were entirely abolished and the demands of
the men were met as soon as thy were prop
erly voiced.
When General Wheeler took the stand
this morning, Chairman Dodge stated to
him the scope of the commissions duties
and asked the general whether he had
any objections to being sworn He re-
piled that he had none and Major Mills.
recorder for the commission, administered
the oath. Ex-Governor Beaver conducted
the examination, developing the essential
facts as to General Wheeler's rank and his
command
CUBANS FAILED TO APPEAR.
General Wheeler stated that he left Tampa
for Cuba on the 18th 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 21 General
Shafter ordered him to disembark 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 began his
accommodating. arranging with General Cas-
tillo, of the Cuban army, to send Cuban
troops with his men for the reconnoiter. but
unfortunately the Cubans did not keep the
engagement. He told of the first battle at
La Quasina, stopping to compliment espe-
cially the regular troops and also to speak
of their excellent firing. They soon learned
to distrust the reports and estimates of
the Spaniards General Wheeler had not
been able on his own account to secure any
accurate estimate of the Spanish loss DUR
ing the American approach upon Santiago
Speaking of the proceedings after the first
battle he explained that he had been re-
ported sick and there were some movements
just prior to the battle at FL Caney with
which he was not familiar. II was not
sick" he said, but 1 had been on the 29th
and S0th. Still l had not gone to the sick
list. had fever, but / appreciated the
situation, took medicine and came out all
right He was in the battle of El Caney
and expressed the opinion that more men
had been killed in the formation of the line
than afterwards. He told of the necessity
for wading the San Juan river, saying that
the water was about waist deep.
II ought to say" said the general, in the
course of his testimony, that it was
magnificent to see officers of high rank 60
ashore with their packs on their backs, ac-
cepting all the fortunes Of war with their
men. They slept on the ground with the
soldiers. None of us was mounted and we
were without tents for seven days.
ROADS WE'RE GOOD.
Speaking of the character of the roads
from the coast to the points occupied 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
supplies were considered sufficient. except
in a few instances, and in those instances
the deficiency was only temporary. "Gen.
Shafter.' he said, deserves great credit for
the zeal he displayed in this respect. He de-
voted himself to this task. and I think
there is no doubt he succeeded. We used
pack trains and there was comparatively
little suffering because of the shortness Of
quartermaster's supplies
General Wheeler said, in response to a
question, that Cervera's feet was the OBJ
ject of the campaign. There was no reason
why the Spanish troops should not have
made sortie from Santiago and he had
asked General Toral after the surrender
why he had not attacked. The latter re-
piled that the failure to do so was because
his men were foot-sore. Yet General
Wheeler could not accept this explanation
for the Spanish soldiers were not foot-sore.
General Wheeler's opinion was that the
Spanish commander was nct able to face
the Americans in the open. Discussing the
plan Of campaign. he said he doubted
whether any more effective plan could have
been adopted.
Speaking of the medical department. Gem
eral Wheeler said that at times there were
complaints. but that they were not serious.
On occasions there was shortage OF sur
geons; some of the surgeons being sick or
wounded. According to General WheeIer's
belief the wounded in battle were
promptly cared for by the sur
geons. After the fight Of July /. all the
wounded wore carried from the field thai