The times., 1898-10-05

commission and submit to the pumping
process. The examination began at 10 a.
m. yesterday and continued. except from
1880 to o'clock, when the commission
was engaged in fortifying itself with
lunch, throughout the day.
Gen. Wheeler's examination was not
severe or searching. and the
witness did not appear to be anxious to
volunteer any information not directly
called for by the commission.
Upon the whole Gen. Wheeler's testi-
mony was not unfavorable to the ac-
cused-Alger; but one could read between
the lines of his evidence a thin veil of
sarcasm. The things which Gen. Wheeler
did not tell and which might have been
drawn out from him by a sharp and
vigorous cross-examination would have
made much more interesting reading
than the testimony he did give. However,
a commission that is seeking relief and
not facts is. of course, handicapped in its
movements.
Gen. Wheeler had good word for Gen.
Shafter, but he was not impressively elo-
quent upon that subject He criticised
the action of the captains of the trans
ports in refusing to go in near shore,
fact which caused much delay, and. in
ferentially, the sacrifice of many lives.
He did not dwell upon the fact that the
transport captains were under Gen. Shaf-
ter's orders and were for the time being
in the service of the United States and
as such were subject TO military disci-
pline, which means that they could have
been court-martialed and shot for refus-
ing TO obey the orders of the general
commanding. Probably the reason why
Gen. Wheeler did not say anything upon
this head was because the commission
forgot to question him about 1t.
Gen. Wheeler said that in looking over
the field from this point of view he would
recommend in a future campaign that 1t
would be well TO keep the men off the
ground, in other words. TO provide them
with proper tenting and equipment. The
tents, he said, were left on board the
transports at Santiago In order to save
time. II was considered all important to
make short and sharp campaign.
Gen. Wheeler defended the conditions of
affairs at Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point,
where he was in command for time. He
will take the stand again today.
Gen. WheeIer's Testimony
In response 10 questions, Gen. Wheeler
stated that he had been appointed a
major general of volunteers on May
and commissioned on May "a month
later, on June Z, he went aboard trans
ports at Tampa with his cavalry division
remaining nine days before they sailed
for Santiago.
Before you sailed were you informed
of the details of the campaign at San
tiago?"
Gen. Wheeler-I was not.
Continuing, the general said the com
mand sailed in about forty transports
Enecting a landing, Gen. Wheeler said
he reported at once to Gen Shafter arc
made a personal reconnaissance the next
day. Gen. Wheeler went into details re-
garding movements OF the troops lead
ing up TO the first engagement, and pail
an enthusiastic compliment to the valol
and courage of the American troops.
Nothing could be finer" he said, ''anC
1 never saw men conduct themselves bet
ter in battle
On the reconnaissance spoken of, Gen
Wheeler saw Gen. Castillo tho Cu5aI
| leader. who promised to be with them tn,
next day with 250 men, but they did 40
| appear prior to The engagement. Ger
| Wheeler said they leaTnel later that tn
| Spaniards before the engagement wer
|
drive the Yankee pigs into the sea"
| I'VE lost, as l remember, sixteen men,
| said Gen. Wheeler
What was the enemy's loss?" wa
| asked.
II did not learn. 1 saw but very fey
dead Spaniards. Subsequently, l saw
! stated that the Spaniards lost 265. ! aske
| Gen. ToraI about il later and he sal
| that was the total loss up to date"
Gen. Wheeler went over the movement
| of the subsequent days intervening u
| to July l. ''It was reported" he saiC
"that 1 was sick and not engaged wit
the troops That was not true; l ha
been sick on June Is and y with hig
fever, but was out that day.
IF you were not sick. do you know ho
the report was circulated that you were?
II do not
Regarding the movements upon Cane
and Santiago. Gen. Wheeler said the col
ditions were such that forward NOV
ment all along the line was necessar
and a staff officer from Gen. Shafter not
| fled him (Wheeler) to give the order
advance The cavalry was dismountt
| throughout the entire movement.
Officers of High Rank.
''I ought to say that it was magniice1
to see officers of high rank walkiT
ashore carrying their packs with ther
marching alongside the soldiers, bearir
the same burdens. and setting splend
example before the whole army. We M
| no tents for seven days, slept In the op'
air. exposed TO the sun and rain throug
OUT
Recurring to the attack upon Santiag
Gen. Wheeler said that the position of Il
attacking army was a good one, with
river behind it, giving the army acce
ia water. Its location was about one al
one-half miles from Santiago.
Ibid YOU at any time suffer from la
of ordnance or commissary supplies?
"I do not think we did. There we
oonnlaints from one or two regimen
: that they lacked supplies and rations. b
II was only temporary, l think &c
Sbafter is entitled to great credit for t
manner in which the army was provid
| | for. His intention was to keep ahead
: | the movement, and he was ahead t.
r | days when we were intrenched.
.sWhat was the object of the campai
as you understood it?
: ..It was to get into Santiago, to Ike
! troops there from getting out and oth'
: from getting in
Being asked as to the conduct of
r Spaniards, Gen. Wheeler said: L ASK
Gen. Toral why they did not come {
and resist the attack. Toral hesitai
quite awhile, then answered that his N
: were sore. They were not sore, but
opinion is that after seeing the Anne
s can soldiers assault their fortiticaut
o the way they did the Spanish soldiers
IS officers were of the opinion that Il
r, couldn't meet us in the open"
d Discussing the merits of the campa
= as planned and carried out, compal
! with the plan of going up the shore