The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-21
WHEELER ANSWERS BoMSAL.
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
Lawton had declared that every man who
has fallen in the Guasimas fight has been
needlessly sacrificed, and he says:
1t is my duty to say that this state
ment Is absolutely unture"
He tells how Gen. Lawton after the
fight congratulated him (Wheeler), ana
points out how unsoldierly 1t would have
been for LaWton 70 have criticised his SEN
Tor officer in that fashion.
He says the statement that the Quasi
mas fight had the effect of drawing the
troops five or six miles into the interior
was also a mistake. The advance was
only three miles, and would have been
necessary in any case 10 find proper camp
ing ground In this connection he again
quotes Shafter in an order 10 him 10 ad-
vance Lawton's division, made because 1t
would have been impossible TO have
eamped the entire army within three
miles of the coast Of Siboney.
A. to Miles statement.
Touching Gen Miles statement before
the war commission, where that officer
said that Lawtou had told him there was
a scheme on foot to leave him LaWton)
in the lurcIi and have fight, Gen. Wheel
er points out that Gen. Miles was careful
to say that he was only repeating what
Lawton tod him.
Taking up the charge that Wheeler hal
been relieved of command on the night Of
the S0th and had no command during the
battle on the following day. Gen. Wheeler
says that all these statements are abso-
lutely false.
Thereupon he shows that he was assigned
to his command on June a, and tells what
he did day by day in the exercise of that
command.
He says on the 18th 29th and SOth, he
suffered from fever, resulting from ex-
posture, but nevertheless continued his iu-
ties and was not put on the sick report.
He admits he was ignorant of the con-
ference held by ~Shafter and his generals
on the Seth, but Shafter explained this by
saying he understood Wheeler was sick
and his physician had advised against let
ting him know of the proposed battle next
day. Notwithstanding this Wheeler says
he learned that active preparations were
being made for operations, and at day
light on the next day he rode to the front
and exercised command
He tells of the various orders he gave
to Sumner and the reports to Shafter of
what he was doing, which support his con-
tention. He tells of the weakness of the
line at San Juan and says that many Off
GERS insisted that the ridge could not be
held, and he learned the same statements
had been made to Shafter. Says Wheeler:
Insisted on Holding Ridge.
81 did everything in my power to dis
courage this feeling, and told those who
came TO me that the enemy had fed from
us at La Guaslmas, and that We had driven
them from their fortifications on San Juan
ridge. that they would expect us to take
Santiago the next day; that there was 10
possible danger Of their making an at
rs nj ~
did, we could hold the ridge. The fight
ing was more or less severe during the
day, but by night we were Wen intrenched,
and l regarded our position as impregna-
be- 80 70af
Gen. Wheeler says the statement that
he had told Gen. Kent of his desire to re-
treat was absolutely untrue, adding. II
was emphatic and positive aud earnest
against retreating from the time we took
San Juan Hill until July 16, when Santi-
ago surrendered
Letters Supporting Him.
He attached Gen, Keut's denial of this
same statement, along with considerable
evidence of the same character. He says
the publicity of the errors he seeks to cor
rect has brought to him many offers from
army officers familiar with the facts to
write him on the subject in refutation
and ne adds in the shape of an appendix
to his own report number of letters Of
such offers. He quotes Gen. Lawton in a
letter to himself as pronouncing mis-
(Wheeler's) history OF the campaign "a
very just and accurate description of
what occurred" and he quotes Gov
Roosevelt as follows:
Il have read Bonsars book, and it
makes me extremely indignant. He seems
to have selected you as an especial object
of attack. OF the Gussmas fight he
knows absolutely nothing"
SOME OF MILES WITNESSES.