The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-21
WHEELER ANSWERS BONsAL.
STATEMENTS or CoRREsPONDExT
DENOUNCED AS UNTRUE.


Not Relieved of His Command.
No Needless Sacrifice of Life-DIs-
cusses Statements Made by Miles
and Lawton.
Washington, March 2O-Adjutant Gener-
al Corbin to-day made public the statement
which Gen. Wheeler has felt called upon
TO make in order as he says Ito refute
certain allegations which reflect upon tho
cavalry division which had the honor to
command"
The statement Is exceedingly voluminous,
making really another history of the cam
paigu before Santiago and 1t Is accom-
panied by an appendix made up of letters,
from officers who were connected with
Gen. Wheeler in his operations, 10 sup
port the allegations he makes
Gen. Wheeler begins with the declaration
that some statements were made before tne
war investigating commission regarding
the battle of La Guasimas, which do great
injustice to The part OF the army which
fought that battle. Steven Bonsal stated
thai Gen. Wheeler was guilty of disobed-
ience Of orders. Gen. Wheeler says that Ia
remain silent and neglect TO refute the un-
truthful charges made by Bonsal would
be disloyai TO the soldiers and to tho
country He notes that IL Is with the APP
proval Of Maj Gen Miles. commanding
general, that he makes the explanation
now submitted
Mhnt the orders Were.
The history of the movements begin with
the quotation of statement made by Gen.
| 4
effect that he had been directed by the
| general commanding TO proceed TO and
capture Siboney. Gen. Wheeler tells how
| the troops landed how he had pointed OUT
! to Shafter the necessity OF pursuing and
beating the Spaniards before they could re-
treat behind their strong breast works at
! Santiago and how Shafter and many Of
! ncers fully concurred In the necessity for
a speedy movement. He reports Skaters
order to proceed to Jaragua and throw
forward pickets 10 Jaragueito." Otherwise
| Siboney).
! He quotes various orders to show Shaf-
| tcrs anxiety 10 get Wheeler rapidly for
| ward in order TO reach Lawton whom he
found on the road just before reaching
| Siboney. Wheeler tells of the reconnais-
sance he made personally and OF a con-
| sultation That night with Gen. Young and
| Col Wood. He says the Cubans predicted
| that the Spaniards would leave SiboneY
/
vance began next day, Gen. Wheeler says,
| the regular troops and artillery were Or
| dercd upon the main Siboney and Santi-
] ago road, while the Rough Riders and
| some OF the other cavalry organizations
were ION the recommendation of Gen. Cas-
| tho, sent by the less frequented and most
| difficult road"
The Fight Won in Hour.
The Spaniards we're found In the same
1 A..
| from Siboney, and Gen. Wheeler gives a
| description Of the action that followed. He
| says that the dynamite gun upon which
| great reliance was placed, failed TO reach
| him, and II was for time very doubtful
| whether the men Ia front OF him were
| Spaniards or Cubans. In an hour the fight
was won, but the enemys retreat being
| preclpitate, his men being exhausted and
| all being on foot, pursuit was impossible.
| At this point Gen. Wheeler includes con-
| gratulatory reports from Shafter upon the
enga cement. He points out that Shafter
was the only officer in Cuban waters SEM
| Tor 10 him; that he (Wheeler) was the sem
| ior officer on shore. and of course much
was left to his discretion. He quotes
| Skaters testimony before the commission
| to the effect that the fight had good re-
suits; that Il taught the Spaniards that
they had different men from the Gu
| bans to fight.
|
| beyond controversy that what he did was
! strictly in accordance with Gen. Shafter's
order; that the La Guasimas fight was In
| strict obedience to the spirit of and proper
4 Interpretation of the orders received from
| Gen. Shnfter.
Orders Were Carried Out.
| In addition Gen. Wheeler insists that,
| leaving this evidence aside, the facts stat
| ed by Iawton in his report to Shafter OF
1 anA hal Isaru nm
| dence before the war commission would
| show that he fought the La Guasimas bat
| tie in strict compliance with the express
| wishes of Gen. Shafter, his commanding
| general. Wheeler quotes Lawton's state
| ment that he had been ordered by Shafter
| to proceed against Siboney and declares
that, practically, his orders were the same
| as Laawtons. He insists that the Spaniards
| were in position where II was advanta-
| geous for the Americans to attack them
| rather than to allow them TO fight in their
block houses and other defenses which
| they occupied at the time Lawton receiv-
ed his orders. Says Gen. Wheeler:
| "The least delay and this opportunity
| would have been lost. l knew that he
| (Shafter) wanted the enemy impressed
| with American bravery and determination.
| ] knew that the American people and the
| administration had sent us to Cuba for
/ special purpose, and that prompt attack
/ on the Spaniards would aid I'm attaining
| that purpose. This dread of yellow fever)
added to and emphasized the Imperative
necessity of prompt action upon my part.
Due to American ChivaIry.
"The victory was due entirely TO the
| chivalric course Of the brave 964 Ameri-
| can soldiers who fought the battle The
| statement that they were arnbushed Is alb
solutely untrue. The statement that they
were aided In any way, shape or form w
anv other troops is also untrue The near
est American troops were about four miles
Lom when the fight commenced, and the
| victory had been won and the enemy had
been In preclpitate retreat fully two hours
before they reached the field
Gen. Wheeler proceeds to point out the
difficult positions of the troops at the and
OF the battle. drenched with rain, hungry
and tired. He claims the victory was due
20 the cavalry division entirely. and quotes
the Spanish reports TO show that the Span-