The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-10-07
GEN. WHEELER'S VIEW
Veteran of Two Wars Appears
Before the Commission lnves.
tigating the War Office.
TEsTIFIEs TO LOTS OF SUFFERING,

But Evidently Believes That Such Is In
evitable in War Times
No Mismanagement, Either at Santiago
or wikoff - Probably Were Cases Of
Neglect, but They Were Exceptions
The Contract with the Long Island Rail-
way-why Montauk Point Was Chosen
for Camp.
Washington, Oct. 5-The war investi-
CATION commission, began the taking of
testimony yesterday and Major General
Joseph Wheeler was on the stand the
greater part Of the day. General
Wheeler's testimony covered the case OF
the soldiers at the two important points
Of Santiago and wikofr. He said with
reference to the conduct of affairs at
Santiago that there had necessarily
been some suffering in the trenches, but
that General Shafter had exercised the
utmost effort to protect his men. There
had been, he said, shortage of land
transportation facilities for time and
there had been no tents for week.
Generally the witness held that the suf-
fering at Santiago was Of the kind that
is inevitable under war conditions and
that no human forethought can avoid.
General Skaters campaign there
Wheeler approved. He said also that
the spirit of the army was such that
there was no disposition to complain.
Transports Were Comfortable.
Speaking of the sleeping apartments
Of the transports, General Wheeler said
they were quite warm and there was
some discomfort. He had often gone
down among the men at night and
found that there was comparatively lit
tie complaint, except for the heat. Com
ing back from Santiago to Montauk he
had sailed on the Miami, having chosen
1t because 1t was said to be the worst.
He had found livery comfortable. There
was plenty of water on the vessel and
sufficiency of ice for the sick, though
not for others. He said in reply to
question that the tents had been left on
board the transports off Santiago so no
time should be consumed in removing
them. I'VE were there for business"
he said, land we felt that prompt dis
embarkation and a speedy movement
to the front would impress the enemy
more than anything else we could do"
There was also a shortage at this time
Of transportation facilities.
Wikoff Was "A Model Camp.
The general contended that Wikoff
was a model camp, the climate a salu-
brious one and the accommodations
quite exceptional in character. He con-
sidered the hospital capacity equal to
the demands upon it, and that no mill
tary camp in history was ever so we'll
supplied in all respects as was this.
Red tape methods were entirely abolish
ed, and the demands of the men were
met as soon as they were properly
voiced. The president on giving him
command there had ordered him to
spare no pains or expense to make the
men comfortable. He made an examin-
alton Of the camp and found ii neces-
sary. to undertake much preparation to
care for the men properly, to bore wells,
lay water pipes build laundries and dis
injecting plants, get floors for the tents,
erect hospitals, etc. The sick were sup
piled with many luxuries in addition to
the regular rations. The people came
with many kinds Of food, land 1 under
take to say" he declared, that no army
on earth was ever so abundantly sup
piled with necessaries or luxuries."