The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-09
WHEELER'S OPINION.
The General Declares the Troops
Expected to Meet Hardships.
THOSE SENT TO CUBA WERE HONORED
The Brave Men who won the Victories ut
Santiago Did Not Complain Tho
Many Difficulties That Had to
he Overcome.

Camp Wikof, l.. l., Sept. 3.-Mai
Gen. Joseph Wheeler gave the follow
ing to the Associated press yesterday:
The following is a sample OF the letters we
are constantly receiving regarding the soldiers
in camp:
I'm regard to my stepson, we feel very un-
easy about him on account of the newspaper re-
ports OF the privation and suffering inflicted on
the private soldiers 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 Inflicted on our SOL
diers under the pretense OF humanity for our
neighbors, and the whole country Is In a state
OF terrible excitement 1 should not be sur
prised II the Keeling should lead TO q revolu-
tion Of some kind for assure you I hear on
all sides the most violent and bitter denuncia-
lions OF the war department and the adminis-
tration. 1t Is indeed great pity that the glory
OF our triumphs should be dimmed by such a
shameful thing as the i'll treatment and star
walton OF our own brave soldiers, while the
Spanish prisoners have the best treatment that
the country can afford "
IL will be seen that this letter says that not a
word OF complaint has been received from this
soldier and, so far rs my investigation goes no
complaint has been made by any OF the brave
soldiers that have added glory to our arms In
the Cuban campaign. A great many anxious
fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters arrive
here from all parts Of the United States to look
after their relatives who. they saw the papers
tell them are suffering and many OF them have
heard that their relatives are in a condition of
starvation Most OF these people are little able
70 expend the money for such a Journey and
they are surprised when the come here to and
their relatives surrounded with everything to
eat which can be procured by money and II
sick In the hospital they are gratihed and sur
prised to find that they are given every possi-
bic care
In reply to a direct request that 1 give the
exact facts as ! see them will state every
ohcer and soldier who went TO Cuba regarded
that he was given great and special privilege
In being permitted to engage In that campaign
They knew they were to encounter yellow
FEVER and other diseases as well as the torrid
heat of the country, and they we're proud and
glad to do so. They knew that II was mpossi-
ole for them to have the advantages OF wagon
transportation which usually accompanies an
army, and yet officers and men were glad to CO.
20 carry their blankets and their rations on
their backs and to be subjected without any
shelter to the sun and rains by day and the
heavy dews by night They certainly knew
that the Spaniards had spent years In erecting
defenses. and IL was their pleasure TO assault
and 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
ured by his conduct The brave men who won
the victories did not complain OF the neglect of
the government, 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 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-
lection; and they will testify that under the
circumstances, the conditions were much more
No hUWv.
pect and that the president and secretary OF
war and Others who planned and dispatched
these expeditions deserve high commenda-
ton.
When the expedition sailed for Cuba. II
went there escorted by large fleet OF war
ships. at that time It was regarded as i'm
possible for a merchant ship to sail on the
ocean safely from any American port TO San
ttago. but as soon as the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed, so that II was possible for unarmed
ships to sail safely TO Santiago. the generous
people Of the United States subscribed money
without limit and dispatched ship after ship
loaded with Injuries and dellcacies for the
Santiago army, and everything that could be
accomplished for their comfort was done by
the president and secretary Of war
There is no doubt that there have been indi-
vldual cases OF unnecessary suffering and pos
sibly neglect among the soldiers, not only In
cuba, but since their arrival AZ this place
Nearly 10000 men were brought from a yellow
fever district to the United States IL would
have been criminal Ia have landed them ana
allowed them to 20 promscuously among the
people. II has been stated by physicians that |
II II had been done, yellow fever would have
spread through many OF our states
To avoid such a catastrophe point which is |
more thoroughly isolated from the people than |
any other locality which could be found. was |
selected by these wise means the country
has been saved from scourge OF this fearful |
disease. Every one will realize that TO land
1900 men and put them ON bare fields without |
any buildings whatever could not be done with |
out some hardshps. over 5000 very sick men |
have been received in the general hospital ana |
as many more sick have been received in the |
camps and yet only about % deaths have oc- |
Cured in these hospitals
Tents had to be erected and hospitals con-
structed and preparations TO supply those 49, |
900 men with wholesome water, food. medi- |
cinos physicians, nurses, cooks hospital furni-
ture. wagons ambulauces and the other needs |
essential TO caring for 1900 men fully half OF |
whom are very sick or in feeble physical |
condition. In addition to this most OF the |
bedding and much OF the clothing was left In |
Santiago to prevent yellow fever infection. |
All OF these deficiencies have had TO be sup
piled. We have but one line of railroad TO |
bring these supplies and sometimes there have
been delays
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