OCR Text |
Show RETURN OF GMl WHEOER Washington, Jan. 17. It is said at the war department that there is no special significance in the fact that General Wheeler has been relieved from further military duty in the Philippines and ordered or-dered home. Although he made no com. plaint, it is understood that active duty I in the field has undermined General ! Wheeler's health and that it was dan-! porous for him to remain in the tropical climate of the Philippines much longer. While it is not officially admitted that General Wheeler has resigned his commission, com-mission, it is stated positively that if he has taken such a step the president will sus;end action until he has had an opportunity op-portunity to confer with him on the subject sub-ject with a view to dissuading him from such a course. He is nearlv tM years of age. the statutory limit of active service m the army, and but for that fact would have been appointed a brigadier general in the regular army. The president is said to favor legislation which win authorize the appointment of General Wheeler, General Bee and perhaps per-haps one or two other brigadier general on th retired iist, in acknowledgment of , their faithful services to the country dur. ing and since the Spanish war. i lt is paid that is one of the reasons whv General Wheeler is summoned home at this time. His orders, which were issued i several days ago, require him to come to Washington by way of San Francisco for consultation with the secretary of war |