Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-08
V|liHEEl'LIER's OPINION.
Ne General Declares the Troops
Expected To Meet Hardships.
THOSE SENT 1oCUBA WERE HoyoRED
~ Brave Mon Who W"n the Victories ee
santiago DID Not Complain The
s Many Dif1cnltisa That Had 10
b. Ovsrcoms.

UR8Ss0BV VbO WV VV0sYs~s"-
Many Dimcnlsisa That Had TO
Bs Overcome.
Camp Wikof, L. l., Sept. S-Maj
Gen. Joseph Wheeler gave the follow
ing 70 the Associated press yesterday:
The following Is . sample Of the letters We
sre constantly receiving regarding the soldiers
= camp:
I'm regard to my stepson. we feel very un-
eosy shout him on account Of the newspaper re-
pnsts Of the privation and suffering inflicted on
tAe private soldiers Although he has never
utisred complaint since he has been In the
army, We hear from other sources Of the cruel
I'D horrible treatment inflicted on our SOL
Ajess under the pretense Of humanity for our
neighbors and the whole country Ia In state
n terrible excitement l should not be sur.
prisod II the feeling should lead to reyolu-
Aoa Of some kind for assure YOU hear on
Ill Sides the most violent and bitter denuncia-
tioas OF the war department and the adminis-
tsation 1t Il indeed . great pity that the glory
d our triumphs should be dimmed by such
shameful thing As the III treatment and star
walton Of our own brave soldiers, while the
epaaish prisoners have the best treatment that
Ne country can afford"
Il will be seen that this letter says that not 0
wosd Of complaint has been received from this
soldier and. 10 for IA my investigation goes no
conplain. has been made by any Of the brave
soldiers that have added glory TO our arms In
~ Cuban campaign. A great many anxious
fathers, mothers. brothers or sisters arrive
hsGs fDm oil parts Of the United States TO look
aftsr their relatives who. they soy, the papers
veil them are suffering and many Of them have
heasd that their relatives are In condition Of
starvation. Most Of these people are little able
70 expend the money for such a journey and
they IRE surprised when the come here to ind
their relatives surrounded with everything 70
eat which Gun be procured by money and il
sick In the hospital they IRE gratihed and sur
psised TO find that they ore given every possi-
ble care.
In reply to direct request that | give the
exact facts Us wee them, I will state every
cflcer ind soldier who went to Cuba regarded
that he was given great and special privilege
In being permitted TO engage In that campaign.
1hey knew they were 10 encounter yellow
fever and other diseases as well o. the torrld
heat Of the country, and they were proud and
glad to do 10 They knew that II was imp0ssi-
bls for them TO have The advantages Of wagon
transportation which usually accompanies on
army. and yet officers and men were glad to CO.
70 carry their blankets and their rations on
tAeir backs and to be subjected, without any
sheltcr, to the sun md rains by day and the
hAavv havu hv rt0ht T,hav CnrtainIv knaw
that the Spaniards had spent years In erecting
deienses and II was their pleasure to assault
end their duty TO capture the Spanish works
They were more than glad To incur the hard.
ships and these dangers They went there and
did their duty each man seeming to feel that
American honor and prestige were to be meas
uFed by bis conduct The brave men who won
Tho Victories did not complain Of the neglect OF
tho government, but, on the contrary. they
seemed grateful TO the president ind secretary
Of war for giving them the opportunity TO In
cur these dangers and hardships They real
lied that, In the hurried organization Of an ex-
petition by government which had no one
with any experience In such matters. 1t was
Impossible to have everything arranged to per-
lectton md they will testify that, under the
circumstances the conditions were much more
perfect than anyone would have reason to ex.
poet, nnd that the president md secretary OF
war and Others who planned ind dispatched
these expeditions deserve high commenda-
tl0n
When the expedition sailed for Cuba, II
went there escorted by q large feet Of war;
ships At that time 1t was regarded as i'm
~n..tt.tn "a, "A ,,n,,har NJ ubtn N eatl nm thu