Evening star., 1898-09-03
GEN. WHEELER'S STATEMENT
Replies to Direct Request for Facts as he
Sees Them.
The President and Secretary of War
Commended for Their Treatment
of the Soldiers.

| Major General Joseph Wheeler gave out
| the following statement yesterday at Camp
Wikoff:
| Headquarters United States Forces
| Camp Wikoff, L. l., September 2.
| The following is sample of the let
| ters We are constantly receiving regard
| ing the soldiers in the camp:
| " In regard to my stepson, we feel very
| uneasy about him on account of the news
paper reports of the privation and suffer
| ing inflicted on the private soldiers AL
| though he has never uttered complaint
| since he has been in the army we hear
| from other sources of the cruel and hor-
rible treatment inflicted on our soldiers,
under the pretense of humanity for our
neighbors, and the whole country is in a
state of terrible excitement. | should not
| be surprised if the feeling should lead to
a revolution of some kind, for 1 assure
you L hear on all sides the most violent
and bitter deruncationS OF the War De-
| partment and the administration. 1t is
| indeed, great pity that the glory OF our
| triumphs should be dimmed by such a
shameful thing as the il-trCatment and
starvation of our own brave soldiers,
while the Spanish prisoners have the best
treatment that the country can afford.
1t will be seen that this letter says that
not word of complaint has been received
from this soldier, and far my investi-
cation goes, no complaint has been made
by any OF the brave soldiers that have
added glory to our arms in the Cuban cam
paign. great many anxious fathers,
mothers, brothers or sisters arrive here
from all parts of the United States to look
after their relatives, whom, they say, the
papers tell them are suffering, and many
of them have heard that their relatives
are in d condition of starvation Most of
fh.Sa litf lala
money for such a journey, and they
surprised when they come here to find their
relatives surrounded with everything to
eat which can be procured by money; and
if sick in the hospital, they are gratitied
and surprised to ind that they are given
every possible care.
Facts az He Sees Them.
In reply to direct request that 1 will
give the exact facts as l see them, l will
state that every officer and soldier who
went to Cuba regarded that he was given
a great and special privilege in being per-
mtted to engage in that campaign. They
knew they were to encounter yellow fever
and other diseases, as We'll as the torrid
heat of the country, and they We're proud
and glad to do so. They knew that 1t was
IN possible for them to have the advantage
of wagon transportation which usually ac-
companies armies, and yet officers and men
were glad to go, to carry their blankets
ard their rations on their backs. and to be
subjected, without any shelter, to the sun
and rains by day and the heavy deNs by
night. They certainly knew tnat the Span
iards had spent years in erecting defenses,
and 1t was their pleasure to assault and
their duty to capture the Spanish works.
They were more than glad to incur the
hardshtps and these dangers They went
there and did their duty, each man SEEM
ing TO feel that American honor and pres
tige was to be measured by his conduct.
The brave who The victories
did not complain of the neglect of the gov
ernment, but on the contrary, they seemed
grateful to the President and Secretary of
War for giving them the opportunity to in
cur these dangers and hardshipS. They
realized that in the hurried organization of
an expedition by government which had
no one with any experience in such mat
ters, 1t impossible to nave every hing
arranged to perfection, and they will testi-
fy that under the circ ums .anceS the condi
tions were much more perfect than any one
would have reason to expect, and that the
President and Secretary Of War and 9TH
ers, who planned and dspa tched these ex-
petitions, deserve high commentator.
Sampson Caused Haste.
'One reason why our army was lacking
in some respects in equipage was that a
telegram was received from Admiral Samp-
son stating that If the army reached there
Immediately they could take the city at
fications of the Spaniards would be so per-
fected that there might be great difficulty
IN taking 1t. On receiving this dispatch
from Admiral Sampson. the War Depart
ment directed the army to move at once
and as all connec. with the army will
recall, the orders = tre received after dark
and the army Wa motion, had travelled
nine miles, and was on the ships at day
light.
When the expedition sailed for Cuba it
" a "a aryQf nf-r
ships. At that time it was regarded cs i'm
possible for merchant ship to sail on the
ocean safely from any American port for
Santiago, but as soon the Spanish fleet
was destroyed so that 1t was possible for
unarmed ships to sail safely to Santiago
the generous people Of the United States
subscribed money without limit and dis
patched ship after ship loaded with lux
uries and delicacies for the Santiago army
ard everything that could be accomplished
for their comfort was done by the Presi-
dent and Secretary of War.
After the surrender had been completed
and arrangements perfected for transporting
the Spanish army to Spain the President
and Secretary of War sent shipping to
of the most healthful localities In the
United States. The point selected by the
Secretary of War was so situated that
thorough protection was given to the peo-
pie OF the United States from the danger
of yellow fever contagion. The soldiers.
upon their arrival at this place, received
every care and bounty which could be pro-
cured by money. The President and Sec
retary Of War directed that their health
and comfort should be cared for without
reference to expense, and In addition the
people within circle of one hundred miles
Wed with each other in shipping to them
carloads and steamboat loads of luxuries
of all kinds.
His Hospital Inspection.
II have just finished my daily inspection
of the hospitals. With rare exceptions the
sick are cheerful and improving. 1 have
nurses and doctors to care for them, and in
all my many tours 1 have not found a
single patient who made the slightest COM
plaint. 1t is true there has been suffering
and great suffering. The climate of Cuba
was very severe upon all our soldiers, but
instead of complaining the hearts of those
brave men are filled with gratitude to the
people for the bounteous generosity which
has been extended to them.
There is no doubt that there have been
individual cases of suffering and possibly
neglect among the soldiers, not only in
Cuba, but since their arrival at this place.
Nearly $1,000 men were brought from a yell
l l<~v- &-f~ 49, -