The age-herald., 1899-03-17
CABAL AGAINST
 GEN. JOE WHEELER Secretary Alger Said to Be the Main
 MaligneF. FRIENDS OF THE ALBANIAN Are Becoming Indignant Oyer the Re-
 peated PalSehOOdS. SKATER, KENT AND ROOSEVELT Deny That the Battle of ILa Guasima Was Fought Without Orders, or
 That Gen. Wheeler Ever
 Advised Retreat.
'AAFTER, KENT AND ROOSEVELT

Washington, March 16.-(Special)-It Is still uncertain whether or not the president will raise the 37 GOO volunteers allowed him under the bill recently passed. Just before leaving Washington he expressed the opin- ion that General Wheeler might be retain ed in the service as major-general with his present place in the line. The troubles foreshadowed in Cuba and the continuance reported in Porto Rico, may decide the pres ident to issue an order to the war depart ment to enlist up to 100000 men at once, in which case both General Lee and General Wheeler will be kept in the service. The cabal in the regular service against General Wheeler will become historic in the service unless there is a cessation of the talking which is going on and of the efforts which are being made to prevent the retention of General Wheeler in the army.
 The friends of General Wheeler are be- coming indignant over the repeated calum- nious stories, and threaten to expose their source if not discontinued.
 Origin of the Report
 It is said that they originate in the war department. The president has taken occa- sion, however, to express his disbelief in any of them. General Shafter, as well as General Kent, have written letters to the president, in which they deny absolutely the charge that he either fought the battle of La Guasima without orders or that he ever advised a retreat during the seize of Santiago.
 Governor Roosevelt has telegraphed to the president that he is astonished that such falsehoods should be circulated and be given a foothold among truthful men. He says he feels indignant that they should have been put in circuat.on at all.
 The only foundation for the story that he fought the battle of La Guasima without orders Is the fact that he did seek out the lines of General Linares after they had been moved three miles to the rear. On June 24 General Wheeler says that he was ordered by Shafter to throw out pickets, and locate and drive back Linares from a certain po- sition. When he reached the place tho Spanish were supposed to have been To- cated, he found that they had fallen back three miles to the rear.
 Attacked Linare's Line
 Before daylight he covered these three miles, and finding General Linares break
 
 them from their position. For this he was congratulated by General Shafter, as it was exactly in line with his policy of forcing the enemy to retreat.
 Captain Steele, a regular army officer on General Wheelers staff, said in response to the charge that the general advised a re- treat on the second day.
 Tt Is admitted by the very men who are opposing General Wheeler that he fought against retirement on the night of the first days battle of Santiago. We'll, on that night. after the killed and wounded had been removed to the rear, the doing of which required the services of many men. there were only about 5000 Americans in front of the Spaniards. General Wheeler was surrounded by officers that night be- seeching him to retreat.
 Refused to Retreat
 "It is well known that he refused in the strongest possible language. He not only did this, but he sent message to General Shafter saying what efforts were being made to have him retreat. He asked Gen. eral Shafter to pay no attention to the en- treaties when they reached him. On the night of July the American force num- bered close to 15.C00 men on the ridges around Santiago. and they were well pro- tected by breastworks. General Wheeler had no thought of retreating then, and did not mention the subject once. It is not likely that he would have advocated re- treat on the second night with 15,000 men, when he opposed a retreat on the first night with only 3,000"
 To further dispose of the story General Wheeler has letters from Generals Shafter and Kent and Colonel Roosevelt denying all truth of it, and mailing the report as abso- lutely false.
 There is a good deal of indignation ex- pressed here that there should even have been an attempt to reflect upon the record of the hero of Santiago. A. W. B.