The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-03
SAMPLE OF THE LETTERS
Anxious Inquiries That Come to
Camp Wikoff.
WHEElER'S STAIEMEN
He Reviews the Conditions Under Which
the Troops Fought in Cuba, and the
Almost Marvellous Things the
Government Has Done.

Sept. 2.-Major General Joseph wheel
CT gave the following to the associated
press to-day:
Headquarters United States Forces,
Camp wikoff, l.. l., Sept. The fol-
lowing is a sample of letters which are
| constantly received regarding the sol
diers in the camp:
In regard to my stepson, we feel
very uneasy about him, on account of
the newspaper reports of the privation
and suffering inflicted upon the pr-
Yates. Although he has never uttered
a complaint since he has been In the
army. we hear from other sources OF
the cruel and horrible treatment IN
njcted upon our soldiers under the pre-
tense Of humanity for our "neighbors
and the whole country is in a state OF
terrible excitement. ! should not De
SURPRISED II the feeling should lead 10 a
revolution of some kind, for j assure
YOU ! hear on a. sides the most Nlo-
lent and bitter denunciatlons OF the
war department and the adnlhlstid
ton. IL is indeed a great pity lhat
The glory of our trlumphs should ne
dimmed by such a thlhs as
the III treatment and starvation OF our
brave soldiers, while the spanish pits
oners have the best treatment NAT ~
country can afford.
81 WIN be seen that this letter says
that not a word Of complaint mas peen
received from this soldier. and so far as
my investigation goes no ~ nas
been made by any OF the brave soluIsis
hat have added glory to our arms III
the Cuban campaign. a great ufahy
ANXIOUS fathers. mothers, brothers OF
sisters arrive here from all parts OF
the United States to look aitef lheI
relatives. whom they say the papers
tell them are suffering and many OF
them have heard hat their relatives
are i'm a condition Of starvation. Nlost
NJ chose people are little able to eXpend
the money for such a journey, ana they
are surprised when they come mere 10
find their relatives surrounded with eN,-
erything to eat which can be produceu
NV money. and IL sick in the hospital,
l they are gratihed and surprised 10 ma
mai they are given every possible care:
; ON reply to a direct request that /
, give the exact facts as ! see them, 1
. VIII state:
Every officer and soldier who went
o tn Cuba regarded II that he was giVeh a
o great and special privilege in beihs per
; mitted TO engage In that campaign.
Tbsy knew they were to encounter yell
II low fever and other diseases, as Wen as
e the torrid heat of the country, ana Ihey
were proud and glad 10 do so. Ihey
knew lnAl il was iiill'EHAhN' -
10 have the advantage OF wagon tFans-
n,rtation. which usually accompanies
an army. and vet officers and men were
n clad TO go. to carry their blankets ana
If their ratiuns on their backs, ana pe
. snbgactad without any shelter. 10 the
8 en- ana rains by day and the heavy
- bszes nv night. They certainly knew
mat the Spaniards had spent years III
). erecting defenses, and II was theli
It Measure To assault and their duty to
n capture the Spanish works.
T. "rhcv were more than glad 10 lncui
T. the hardships and these dangers. They
Is went there and did their duty, eacf
Or man seeming TO feel mat American
honor and prestige was 10 be measured
NV his onduct. The brave men Wh'
won the victories did not complain o
as the neglect Of the government, bur OIL
" the contrary the seemed grateful 4
N the president and the secretary OF wa
ID for giving them the opportunity 10 IN
a. cur these dangers and hardships. The,
a realized that In the hurried organlza
rs ton Of an expedition by a government
no which had no one with any eNperienc
IL in such matters, IL was impossible I
rs have everything arranged to perfection
II and they will testify that under the cir
cumstances the conditions were niue
more perfect han anyone would haN
reason TO expect, and that the presider
ev and secretary Of war and others WI
ne planned n dispatched these exped
lions deserve high commentator.
So "One reason why u army was laci
his ing in some respects In equipage W;
ms that a telegram was received from Al
al miral Sampson stating that # the arm
ng reached there Immediately they cou
lake the city at once, but III there shou
be delay the Notifications Of the spa
- iards would be perfected n the
might be great difficulty in taking
y on receiving this dispatch from \
srBVra1 GaFR4GpN tho VAR 1Rnart nlRnt Il
4 rected the army To move at once an
y as all connected with the army will I
call. the orders were received aft
{ dark and the army was in motion, hi
Travelled nine miles and was on I
ships at daylight. When the expet
ton sailed for Cuba It went there e
corted by a large fleet Of warships.
that time IL was regarded as impossil
for a merchant ship to sail on the oce
safely from any American port to Sa
tiago. but as soon as the fleet was
stroyed so that II was possible for 4
armed ships to sail safely 10 Santial
the generous people of the United sta
subscribed money without limit n
dispatched ship after ship loaded W
Injuries and deliCacies for the Santia
army and everything mat could be
cOmplished for their comfort was dc
by the president and the secretary
war.
After the surrender had been co
pleted. and arrangements perfected
transporting the spanish army
spain. the president and secretary
war sent shipping to Santiago a
transported our army to one Of
most healthful locations in the Uni
states. The point selected by the 5
rotary Of war was so situated Il
thorough protection was given 10
people Of the United States from
Z danger of yellow fever c~ontagion. ]
soldiers. upon their arrival at [
place. received every care and houl
which could he procured by money.
ms president and secretary Of
directed thai their health and &C
fort should be cared for without rel