The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-05

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-secretary Al
ger. who returned last night from New
York, after his inspection tour through
Camp wlkoff at Montauk point with PIES
ident Mckinley and several Of the heads OF
bureaus OF the war department. comment
ed tonight on the condition of the camp
and stated the result of his visit, The sec
retary said:
II feel certain, after a careful exam;na-
ton OF Camp Wikor and a thorough iaves-
tigation OF its conditions, that everything
possible is being done for the men. both
sick and well, who are detained there. The
camp is an admirable one-the best l
think, i ever saw. THE site Is ideal. 1t is
beautiful without being picturesque and -
certainly as heaithful camp location as
could be found in the Eastern country.
while the conditions are good as
could he reasonably be expected in the cir
cumstanees-even better than ] ever knew
them TO be in camp-a shade of gloom ls
cast over the encampment by the physical
condition Of the men. Sickness. suffering
ana death mar what would otherwise be Il
magnificent military picture. These condi-
tions. however. are not the result of the
situation Of the cansp Itself, but Of the ter
ribie campaign through which the troops
tiago will be memorable In the military his
tory OF the world It was wonderful both
In It's conduct and in the results accom-
plished. Few military experts expected
when the campaign was inaugurated that
such success could be achieved IN so
short time. 1t was tremsndous under
taking To begin campaign In A tropical
country during The rainy SSason against a
position naturally so strong ard go well
tafrs snl Cay1ff f,a.
was achieved 80 soon and with loss COM
paratively 50 small is due to the energy
and ability Of Gen. Shafter and his COM
mdnding officers and TO the dash bravery
and splendid fighting qualities OF the taen
OF Gen. Skaters corps. I talked yester-
day with Gen. Shafter and ha discussed
some Of the Obstacles which had 10 be over
come IN the Santiago campaign. Just now
be. by the way. is suffering from The eff
fects Of the campaign himself While
chatted with him his face was flushed wilt,
fever and he was really a sick man Upon
his arrival al Montauk point he went into
the detention camp with the offer soldiers
and like the true soldier that be Is he ask
et. nothing better for himself than was be-
ing received by the men whom ne com
nands. The time of his detention expired
today ana he expected. upon leaving the
detention camp, to assume command Of
ha took command today not
"He said that when he arrived in Cuba
and realized the conditions that coafr9Nt-
I'd him and his men he knew that the cam
raIgD must OF necessity he one os iavs
rather than oi weeks and months. lie had
lest nearly all az HIS lighters ana was =hus
seriously handicapped tn efraetiny land
snE Of both his troops AMI the stores and
supplies which the neet carried TIE tre-
rncntious rains which set IN Immediately
after his arrival rendered Il next 10 !n7pox-
sible for either the troops or supplies 20 be-
gotten forward. He felt. however, that
whatever were tha difficulties le must
press forward. and II possible end the
campaign n the hFiefext time The CT
matte conditions were such that 10 lo4e
any time meant the destruction Of his
command by Illness and the consequent
faii9ve ~ the expedi' on lie took no
chances on delay. therefore, bat swept
h;s gallant army upon the Spaaizris wan
snch Irresistible dash that victory was
WI aimos; before TIE Spaalrls realized
wha, they had to encounter.
1T Is perfectly evident now that had
Gea Shafter waited unisi his army ari
b : supplies could have been sent forw ri
w.th ordinary dehbert'i0n. the expedition
against Santiago eouil haye failed utter
" In measure Il was his disregard for
! military convertfonaitieS 5i}at tratlsl
brilliantly successful issue.
During All the tine she fr1ous were iv-
Ing II tbs sre0c5as before Saatjs-o de-
spst> fHe immense Il ffte0lttes experts acsA
in setting supplies - the 'front.'. ihe men
suffered very little from lack - pre-
VISIONS az coutse. they Hid ne: have
wha: they are row receiving AZ N3Gtauk
point. but they had the actaai neseSe aries
Of life. potws;hs1 an.iing The newspaper Te-
ports - ine contrary. Doubtless there
were individual cases or suffering because
- the scarcity of supplies, but n rule
sae nYen bad al thst soldiers oy ghe Jnisn
array as3 n tiey1es siu~lag D. civil war
WhE@ the Fe,.ersl f0ree.s were .x3ng - ;ae
syenc;.es btfsre FstersaHfg. they suffered
n times daring te0ss sven 1uoBtas for
e.ssa food hat IKE ere heroes hrf0-e San-
.aca tbts endured without cor nlaisst
i; Is particularly nGSaoie." continued
Se-.ptary Aig4~ '-ckst the 'nsa wAo we're
nrt.,etly aaGazesa So Re Santiago caG1-
p.a.xa are nos comp airing - tRsekF 'rsat
Es1vr; :AIA~z witl. sgcTe~ of @saen / sSzs
s}vssls G1 sa} hAndress ard not a asgsSth ~
complaint s3&t l 3eAr from any og sherf-
Tsey suGafe+i fhsy are suffering yet.
tat tray endured Aca - sz24gTlAg their
frsa.s l5ke Srart@rs There n7ay be !TdI
stsuai cases ot coalpiainiS- II woQi4 az
deed lse strange II fheFe Mere Iot :,.s as
a BODY ifse zEGuy ~ C:TS- S1afses IS Uat
oniy satisfied eliA The si[@aticEs. hg, 4H1-
! sr,tsssuEa1ssy pT0aG of It's marvellous
Acnsexeusenss-
The present was very sa1;eiteus acoas