Evening star., 1899-03-20
DENIED BY WHEELER
Charges Regarding His Conduct in
Cuba.
Ia GUASIMAS FIGHT DESCRIBED
Says He Was Carrying Out Shaf-
ter's Ideas.
NEVER FAVORED RETREAT

y " y
Adjutant General Corbin today made pub
li' the statement which Maj Gen Joseph
" Wh,..Ier has felt called upon to make. to- in
lis own language. ''refute certain allega-
lions which reflect upon the cavalry divi-
sion which l had the honor to command"
The statement is exceedingly volumnous.
M, king really another history of the cam
r,isn before Santiago. and 1t is accom-
panied by an appendix made up Of letters
from officers who were connected with
G,n. Wheeler in his operations to support
tl' allegations he makes
Gen. Wheeler begins with the declaration
t1at some statements were made before the
investigation commission regarding the
na,ttl, of LII Guasimas which do him great
.uiusrirc and that part of the army which
f"u-ht thar battle. Then Stephen Bonsal
~-ar"s tiiat Gen. Wheeler was guilty of dis
"b-dielrcc or orders, citing Gen. Miles and
':rn i+tNtpn in such fashion as to give his
i"."k he apparent weight of having been
written by one of Gen Bawton's staff. Gen.
Wheeler says that to remain silent and
neglect TO refute the untrut hfui charges
u.adc by Bonsal would be disloyal to the
s',sii~rs and to the country. He notes that
u j. with the approval of Maj. Gen. Miles.
the comma nding general, that ne makes the
explanation now submitted.
Orders Received on Landing.
The history of the movements begins
with a quotation of statements made by
Gen. Lawton before the war commission
to the effect that he had been directed by
tn. general commanding to proceed to and
capture Siboney. Gen Wheeler tells how
thu. troops landed: how he had pointed out
he nj
beating the Spaniards before they could re-
treat behind their strong breastworks at
Santiago and how Shafter and many ofti-
GERS fully concurred In the necessity for
speedy movement. He reports Cen Shat
ter's order TO proceed to Jaragua and
throw forward picketS to Juraguaclto
tuiherSisS Siboney). He quotes various or
ders to show Skaters anxiety to get
Wheeler RAPIDLY forward in order to reach
T.awtun. whom he found on the road just
before reaching Siboney.
Gen. Wheeler also tells of the recon-
uasSance he made personally and of a
consultation that night with Gen. Young
and Col. Wood. He says the Cubans pre-
lict-d that the Spaniards would leave Sib-
"H'y for Santiago that night. When the
advance began next day. Gen. wheeler
says the regular troops and artillery were
,.rdt red upon the main Siboney and San
t;aSO road. while the Rough Riders and
some Of the other cavalry organizations
were. 'on the recommendation of Gen Cas-
rillo. sent ny the less frequeHted and most
difficult road
The Fight at La Guasimas.
The Spaniards were found in the same
position the next morning, about three
rni..~ from Siboney. and Gen. Wheeler gives
4 description Of the action that followed.
He says that the dynamite gun. upon
which great reliance was placed. failed to
r.-+eh him. and it was for a time very
Doubtful whether the men in front of him
H+r,. Spaniards or Cubans. In hour the
fghr was won, but the enemy's retreat be-
ine precipitate. his men being exhausted
ami all being on foot, pursuit was impossi-
bl,
Ni ,his point Gen. Wheeler includes con-
-ratulatory reports from Gen. Shafter upon
,Hr engagement.
Ne points out that Gen. Shafter was the
ntEy officer in Cuban waters senior to him;
nat h.. Wheeler. was the senior officer on
Snpre. and. of course, much was left to his
discretion. He quotes Skaters testimony
before the commission to the effect that the
Ig1i had good results; that 1t taught the
Sptniards that they had different men from
he CuDans to fight.
Grn- Wheeler submits that this shows be
y,I1o controversy that what he did was
strictly in accordance with Gen. Shafters
',r,ieG~, that the La GuaSimas fight was
made In strict obedience to the spirit Of and
Ir-p-r Interpretation of the orders received
rom Gen. Shafter.
Ia addition. Gen. Wheeler insists that,
leaving This evidence aside the facts stated
By I.swton in his report 10 Shafter of June
y. and LawtOn's sworn evidence be-
fore the war commission would show that
n fought the La Guasimas battle In strict
cpmplia nee with the express wishes Of Gen
Shastrr- his nding general. Gen.
Wheeler quotes Lawton's statement that
hv had been ordered by Shafter to proceed
against SibOney. and he declares that prac-
ttca!iy his orders were the same as Law
IONS.
lie insists that the Spaniards were in a
position where it was advantageous for the
Americans TO attack them rather than to
allow them to tight In their block houses
n lime Lawton received his orders. Says
Gel Wheeler:
Need for Prompt Action.
The least delay in this opportunity would
have been lost. s'' knew that he (Shaft-
rrr wanted the enemy to be impressed with
American bravery and determination |
knew that the American people and the
ADMINISTRATION. had sent US to Cuba for a
-I'-cIal purpose, and that prompt attack
"a The Spinidrds would aid In attaining that
ptCrp'rc. This dread of yellow fever
adilt d 20 and emphasized the imperative ne
tu~~ity II prompt action upon my part. The
victory was due entirely 10 the chvalric
'ouITts" Of the .64 brave American soldiers
Hh" fought the battle. The statement that
th-y were ambuShed was absolutely untrue
The statement that they were aided in any
wHV- shape OF form by any other troops is
alS' untrue. The nearest American troops
'-rr about four miles off when the fight
'"min"uced and the victory had been won
and tn" enemy had been in precipitate re-
r's.j fully two hours before they reached
M Held
ti"u- Wheeler proceeds to point out the
rifiiD1H position Of the troops at the end
"f jha battle. drenChed with rain hungry
Snd tired He claims the victory was due to
tn cavalry division entirely and quotes the
Spanish reports to show that the Spaniards
believed the American force which whip
ped them and drove them from the field
WIS lei times as large as II actually was
IL refers tC statement by BOnsal that
Gen. I-awton had declared that every man
who hstd fallen in the Guasimas fight had
been needlessly sacrificed. and he says: 1T
=. ny duty to say that this statement is
absolutely untrue
LnwtOn Congratulated Him.
lie tells how Gen. Lawton. after the
ijsht. congratulated him Wheeler) and
p"iuts out how unsoldier.y it would have
been for Iawton to have criticised his
senior officer in that fashion. He says the
q. that he Gt,aSirnaS fpb- tha