The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-21
GENERAL WHEELER'S DENIALS
WRITES ANOTHER HISTORY OF
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
Refutes the Charges That He Acted
Without Orders and Was Relieved
of His Command.

Washington, March 20.-Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin today made public a state
ment which General Wheeler has felt
called upon to make, in order, he says, to
refute certain allegations which reflect
upon the cavalry division which he had
the honor to command.
The statement is exceedingly volumin-
Gus, making really another history of the
campaign before Santiago, and it is ac-
companied by an appendix, made up from
letters from officers who were connected
with General Wheeler in his operations, to
support the allegations he makes.
General Wheeler begins with the declar-
alton that some statements We're made
before the war investigation commission
regarding the battle of La GuaSimaS,
which do great injustice to that part of
the army which fought in that battle.
stephen BonSal states that General
Wheeler was guilty of disobedience of or
derS. General Wheeler says that to re-
main silent and neglect to refute the un-
truth of the charges made by Bonsal
would be disloyal to the soldiers and to
the country.
He goes on to show how necessary it
was to act promptly and that every move
ment was in strict accordance with the
orders of General Shafter. He insists
that the Spaniards We're in a. position
where it was advantageous for the Ameri-
cans to attack them rather than them to
fight in their blockhouses and other de-
lenses which they occupied at the time
Id
Says General Wheeler: The least de-
lay and this opportunity would have bee-y
lost / knew that he (Shafter) wanted
the enemy to be impressed with Amerl-
can bravery and determination. | knew
the American people had sent us to Cuba
for a special purpose, and that a prompt
attack on the Spaniards would aid in at
tanning that purpose. This dread of yell
low fever added TO and emphasized the
Imperative necessity of prompt action
npon my part. The victory was due en-
tirely TO the chiValric courage OF the 1914
brave American soldiers who fought the
battle. The statement that they We're
ambushed was absolutely untrue. The
statement that they were aided IN any
way shape or form by any other troops Is
also untrue. The nearest American troops
were about four miles off when the nght
commenced and the victory had been won
and the enemy had been in precipltate
retreat fully two hours before they
reached the field
Taking UP the charge that Wheeler had
been relieved of command on the night OF
the 30th. and had no command during
the battle on the following day, General
Wheeler says all these statements are ap-
solutely false.
Thereupon he shows he was assigned to
his command on June oath and tells what
he did day by day in the exercise OF that
command He says on the 18th, 18th and
Goth he suffered from fever resulting from
exposure but nevertheless continued his
duties and was not put upon the sick re-
port He admits he was ignorant OF the
conference held by Shafter and his gen
erals on the 30th. but Shafter has eX-
plained this by saying he UNDERSTOOD
advised against letting him know OF the
proposed battle the next day.. NotWlth-
| standing this, Wheeler says he learned
that active preparations We're belnS MADE
for operations and at daylight on the next
day he rode to the front and exercised
command.