The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-30
TO GIVE EMBASSY
GOOD SHAKING Up.
Investigation OF Charges Against
Post Wheeler May Result
in Many Changes.
HE HAS ITALYs APPROVAL
Friends Say His Accuser Is Rich
Philadelphia, Who Said He
Would Get Him."
HE HAS lTALY's APPROVAL
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.l

Washington. September oo.-The recall OF
Post Wheeler from Rome TO Washington to
answer charges at the state Department
means thorough shake-up of the entire
embassy at Rome. 1t is believed that as a.
result there will be many changes In the
service
The charges against Wheeler which ho
answered to-day at the state Department.
we're made by a rich Philadelphian named
Benson. who. 1t is charged by Wheeler's
friends. did not belong 10 a good social set.
Wheeler that his accuser had made up his
mind even when Wheeler was at ST. Peters,
burg to get him"
The social objections to Mr.. Wheeler as
understood by his friends were that he was
merely newspaper n.:n and could not
therefore belong to the eject OF the diplo-
matte services. He was besides a poet. and
/. WAS therefore said that he knew nothing
Whatever about business.
italy Decides FayornbIy.
Mr. Wheeler appeared at the State De-
partment to-day with the case decided in
his favor personally by the italian govern-
ment The official Italian investigation mini
mlzed the charges that he had imported
large quantities OF gasolene under the dipio-
matte privilege. The Italian government
went to the trouble OF nscertaining how
many days Mr.. Wheelers automobile was
out OF commission and the exact quantity
that he used for himself and found nothing
against him.
The Investigation made further. however.
Showeu that there were considerable i'm
ports OF gasoiene through official sources
AZ the embassy. 1t is alleged by the friends
or Mr. Wheeler. and by Mr.. Wheeler that
these Imports were allowed to come in
through error. For instance, Il chauffeur
who had charge of these matters would
present II requisition and the official on duty
Mt the embassy I'm the haste of business or
on the assumption that the documents were
an right would sign them. In this way
the excess or gasolene accounted for,
and they say that by some process. not yet
explained. the quantity actually intended to
be used was raised in some instances so that
larger quantities were brought in through
the embassy officials than proper.
"reminiscences and Lnxity.
IL Is not charged that there forgery.
put that there was n great remisnees and
laSity or business methods In the embassy
inc stan at the embassy officially
given consisted of Thomas j. . Brien am
bassador: Post Wheeler. secretary OF en-
bnssy: Alexander Benson. second secretary
OF embassy. Lieutenant Commander r. D.
White, navnl attache: Lieutenant George NJ.
Dunn. military attache.
Ambassador O'Brien not Mt the en-
bnssy during these occurrences MIR. Wheel
been In the consular service with high
rank. 10 make the fight to the finish, and
to expose. II necessary. the personal euua-
ton In the charges.
The investigation Is being conducted by
Dudley Field Malone. Third Assistant Secre-
tary OF state. II is not expected that tho
case as cnecting Mr.. Wheeler himself will
the documents bearing on the case AVE been
received from Rome Neither Mr. Wheeler
nor Mr.. Malone would discuss the investI
cation to-day.