Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-11
wHoLLEY CALLED A COWARD.
Serious Charges Against Colonel q
Washington Regiment.

Serious Charges Against Colonel of
Washington Regiment.
A dispatch to the New York Herald from
San Francisco, Cal, yesterday says: Army
officers who returned on the transport
Pennsylvania from Manila say that nine
charges and twelve specifications have
been filed with Gen. Otis, accusing Col
Wholley of the list Washington Regiment
Of cowardice, incompetency. looting and re-
sponsibility for Capt George H. Fortson's
death.
1t is stated that Lieut. Col. :. 'ey of the
Sth Army Corps was ordered b Gen. Otis
to conduct a confidential investigation.
Testimony was taken among the regimen
tai officers, but the result of the investiga-
ton was not made public. 1t is understood
that Senator Foster and Representative
Cushman will demand the floor of Con-
gress that the charges and findings be pro-
duced.
The specifications charge Col. Wholley
with cowardice at San Pedro Macati on
several different counts 1t is alleged that
he would run and duck and dodge and seek
to avoid danger when the other officers
held their ground. On one occasion, it is
asserted. in his haste to get to the rear his
hat blew Off but he did not stop to recover
1t, and afterward sent a private back to
the firing line to find 1t.
On the trip to Laguna de Bay, 1t is
charged. Col. Wholley concentrated the
troops in the rear about his own person,
while Maj Weisenburger was isolated at
the front with a portion of one company
and subjected to great danger. 1t is fur
Their said that it was due to the gallantry
of the major and the bravery of his men
that the company was saved.
Incompetency at Pasig also figures in the
charges. 1t is said that Col. Whoiley made
no preparations for defense, and sent two
companies, A and B, across a creek with
out scouts in the darkness to attack in
surgents who were only thirty yards dis
ONT nd hnco h no 4 ~ l.,
To this bunder, 1t is charged, was due the
death Of Capt. Fortson and two enlisted
men and the wounding of five others.
1t is also charged that, Col. Wholley
'bolted to the rear at the first fire in this
fight and confined himself thereafter to a
safe retreat in a church, giving no orders
during the engagement, even neglecting to
send out ammunition to the men on the
firing line, and afterward making a false
report of the affair
Lieut.. Col. McCaskey Of the 21st Infantry
and Gen. Hughes, provost paTshal of Ma
Mia. preferred the charges of looting,
of natives and the SEEKING of furniture,
pianos, dishes. etc, which he had boxed up
and labeled as the property of the LIST
Washington Regiment
Officers of the regiment. In conversation,
quite generally sustain the charges, while
many of the enlisted men, stand by Col.
Wholley and say his bravery cannot be
questioned Those who made the charges
declare they will press them, and hint at
sensational developments.
There seems to be some politics in the
affair. Col. Wholley Is a democrat and
some of the officers say he was jealous of
Lieut.. Col Fife, who Is a republican. The
latter was in charge of a portion of the
regiment that went to the Philippines on
the Valencia, and arrived at Manila Oh
Thanksgiving day last year.
Capt. Lane of the transport gave BAN
quet to the officers of the regiment in honor
Of the holiday, and Lieut.. Col. Fife gave
some champagne to the bandsmen who
were playing on the bridge, Col. Wholley
conducting a boisterous frolic The court
martial suspended Fife for thirty days.
This did not increase the harmony in the
regiment some Of the men alleging that
Wholley was afraid Fife would make
record the firing line and took this
means of shelving him.