Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-14
PLOT TO DIsHONOR GEN. WHEELER
Report That He Advised Kent 10
Rctreat-Charge Refuted.


WASHINGTON. March ia plot tc
humiliate Major-General Joe" Wheeler
| and to prevent his being sent TO Manila
| either as a regular or volunteer officer
has been discovered in the War Depart
mGnt.
Semi-ohicial statements have been made
! TO the President and Secretary Of War
that General Wheeler fought the battle OF
Las Guasimas without orders, and that
after disObeyng MaJOr-General Shafter 5
order TO retreat from San Juan hill, after
the first days fierce fighting, he was
willing 70 retreat the second day. and ad-
yised General Kent TO fall back.
While no written charges have been pre-
ferred the animus of the attack on Cen
eral Wheeler is 50 clearly manifest that
ms friends do not hesitate TO say II ID all
due TO the Corbin-Alger army ring.
Major General Wheeler was a volunteer
officer at Santiago, where many regular
officers were sent. He, the newest man in
the field. won laurels by his conduct there
and in refusing TO disgrace the American
arms by retreatlnS after the United
States troops had won, and held the NIL
at san Juan, placed Major-Genera
Shafter and the regular officers IN such
poor light that a systematic endeayoI
has been made to prevent his promotion
and to force his retirement from the SER
vice.
of the secret attack being made upon him
With the promptness OF the soldier hs
went direct TO the White House TO see
the President, and thence to the War De-
partment 10 see Secretary AlBer.
He told the President and the Secretary
of war that the charges were ialse' anu
could not be substantiated by the records.
Ii is said that he made II clear 10 both
the President and the Secretary or war
that the motive Of the secret attack upon
him was 10 prevent his being promoted,
made a brigadier-g general, or going 10 Ma
Mia. ..,,....,,.,
Hotel. Major General Wheeler frankly ad-
mitted that he had heard of the attack
upon him and that he had called on Doth
the President and the Secretary or war
10 denOunce II as untrue.
He would not discuss the motives OF
those back of IL or name the men ne knew
were responsible. All that he cared 10
say was that the attack upon MN was NOT
made by West Point men. and that rs Cd
iect appeared 10 be 10 promote the inter-
ests OF those opposing him at his expense.
From other sources il Is ascertalned tnat
aior-General Wheeler did not advise
General Kent to fall back on the second
day at San Juan, and that General hent
has so notified the department. tnat Ten
eral LaWton did not tell General Nneeler
he had fought the battle OF Las Guasimas
without orders. but on the contrary mao
expressed to General wheeler the resIee
that he U.awton) did not get up IN tlme
TO share in the victory.
General Wheeler has thus refuted the
whispered charges OF his enemies ana mas
shown them to be without foundation
General Shafter speaks In the highest
,oTms of General Wheeler's service during
The hattie. and all admit that he. more
than any one else. cheered ana ehtnused
The army and prevented wltndra"di
from the position those brave soldiers had
coveTnor Theodore Roosevelt drives a
splke I'm the army ring by a letter 70
cpnneraI Wheeler. OF recent date, In which
he SAYS: 49,, o,.ax IN
.aro YOU Is due. more than any other ,i M !.
euonce our remaining on San Juan hill"
Now that the plotters have been un-
masked. II Is probable that tnelr scnene
TO get General Wheeler "ut VI 'as S'"''
will fail.