The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-09-06
INSPECT CAMP.
Secretary Alger and President McKin-
ley Visit Camp Wikoff.
After a Careful Examination the President
Left Camp Satisfied That the Sick Are
as Well Cared for as They Could
Be in Field Hospital.

BE in Field Hospital.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-Secretary AL
ger, who re turned late Saturday night
from New York after his inspection
tour through Camp Wikoff at Montauk
Point with President Mckinley and
several of the bureau officials of the
war department, commented Sunday
night upon the conditions of the camp
and stated the results of his visit. The
secretary said:
Il feel certain, after careful exam.
ination of Camp Wikoff and a thor
ough investigation of it's conditions,
that every thing possible is being done
for the men, both sick and we'll, who
are detained there. The camp is an
ever saw The site is ideal 1t is
beautiful without being picturesque
and is certainly as healthful a camp
location as could be found in the east
ern country.
while the conditions are, as good
as could reasonably be expected in the
circumstances-even better than ever
knew them to be in a camp-a shade Of
gloom is cast over the encampment by
the physical condition of the men.
Sickness, suffering and death mar
what would otherwise be magnifi-
cent military picture. These condi-
tons, however, are not the result of
the situation of the camp itself,
but OF the terrible campaign
through which the troops have just
passed. That campaign of Santiago
will be memora bic in the military his
tory of the world. 1t was wonderful
both in its conduct and in the results
accomplished. Few military experts
expected when the campaign was
inaugurated that such a uccess could
be achieved in so short a time. 1t
was tremendous undertaking to be-
gin a campaign in a tropical country
during the rain season against posi-
ton naturally so strong and so well
defended as was Santiago. That sue
cess was achieved so soon and with a
loss comparatively so small is due to
the energy and ability of Gen. Shafter
and his commanding officers and the
dash, bravery and splendid fighting
| qualities of the men of Gen. Skaters
corps.
The president was particularly So
licitous about the condition of the
men who are i'll. He went to Camp
| Wikoff to ascertain for himself wheth-
err the men in the ranks needed any
thing they were not getting. His or
ders were that they should want for
nothing, but he desired personally to
know whether these orders were be.
ing carried out. After several hours
of patient investigation and care
| full examination he left the
camp satisfied that the men were
as well cared for as they could be in q
| field hospital He took no officials
word for anything. He had come to
the camp to see for himself and his
|
reached only after he had come in per
sOnal contact with those conditions.
In the hospitals he went from ward tG
ward, almost from cot to cot, stopping
every few seconds to talk to the sick
men and cheer them with a kind ex.
preston or a grasp of the hand II
was an experience not soon to be
forgotten. Success of the visit
as President Mckinley made to Camp
Wikoff Saturday is almost unique in
the military annals. He went to the
camp equipped with knowledge, judg.
ment and experience to make an inves
tigation. He had served in the camp
and in the field himself and he knew
just what ought to be expected in the
circumstances. That he was reason
ably well satisfied with the conditions
as he found them is in itself a guaran-
tee that they are not far wrong.