The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04


clse any and every authority necessary to
make comfortable this body of brave men
VINO by their courage have raised this re-
pubic to the highest position among the
great nations of the earth. 1 have the
honor and pleasure of introducing to you,
the President of the United States"
President Mckinley said: Gen. Wheel
er, Soldiers of Camp Wikoff, Soldiers OF
the Fifth Army Corps 1 trust that you
Will put your hats on-I am glad to meet
you. l am honored to stand before you
To-day. L bring to you the gratitude of
the nation to whose history you have ad-
ded, by your valor, a new and glorious
page. You have come home after two
months of severe campaigning, which has
embraced assault, siege and battle so bril-
Hant in achievement so far-reaching in
results, as to command the unstinted
praise of all your countrymen. You had
the brunt of the battle on land You bore
yourselves with supreme courage and your
personal bravery, never before excelled
anywhere has won the admiration of
your fellow citizens and the genuine re-
spect of all mankind, while your endur-
ance, under peculiar trial and suffering,
has given added meaning to your heroism.
Your exertions made easy the conquest of
Porto Rico under the resistless army COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Miles, and behind
you to proceed at a moments summons
were more than 100000 of your comrades
ready TO support you, disappointed that
the opportunity which you had did not
come to them, yet filled with pride al your
well-earned fame and rejoicing upon your
signal victories.
You were in the line of battle-they no
less than you were in the line of duty. Ali
have served their country in it's need, all
VIII serve it so long as they may be re-
quired, and ala viii forever have the thanks
and regard of a grateful people
- Il
without our hearts going out to the heroes
OF Manila on sea and on land where ser
vices and sacrifices, whose courage and
constancy in that far distant field of OPP
erations have never been surpassed by any
soldiers or sailors the world over To the
army and the navy, to the marines, to the
regulars to the volunteers, and to that
Providence which has watched over them
all, the nation to-day is full of thanksgiv-
ing and praise. The brave officers and men
who fell in battle and those who have died
from exposure and sickness will live in
immortal story and their memories viii be
perpetuated in the hearts and the histo
ries of a generous people, and those who
are dependent upon them will not be neg
lected by the government for which they
SO freely sacrificed their lives"
The soldiers cheered many times. The
part of the field where the Eighth Ohio
stood, the regiment which is sometimes
called The Presidents Own,'' was partic-
ularly noisy. The party then went to the
detention hospital.
The graveyard in which sixty or seventy
plain new wooden crosses stood, Is near
the road on the left, and as he passed the
President solemnly raised his hat.
Mr.. Mckinley went through all the
wards of the detention hospital In the
same careful way in which he had gone
through those Of the general hospital.
When he came to the last ward Maj R.
T. Ebert said: This is a dangerous ward.
and turning to Secretary of War Alger in
quired: DO you think the President had
better go in here?"
Mr.. Mckinley, without waiting to hear
what Gen. Algers reply would be, started
into the ward. Gen. Alger and the others
of the party remained outside. The presi-
dental party then drove through the
lines. The regulars were still acting as
the Presidents escort. The President then
drove to Gen. Wheelers headquarters, and
sat under the shade of a tent flag for
awhile. Secretary Alger and Gen. Wheel
er were with him.
The President and those with him took
lunch with Gen. Wheeler and his staff
After lunch the President, Mr.. AIger,
Gen. Wheeler and col. Hard of the Eighth
Ohio, were photographed in a group
The President issued an order directing
that the regular troops at Camp Wikoff,
whose posts are east of the Mississippi
should return with the least possible de
lay to their posts.
The presidential party then went down
TO The station and left on a special train
at $50. On the train Mr.. Mckinley made
this statement:
Il was very much pleased to meet the
heroes of Santiago, and to observe their
splendid spirit. What 1 saw of the care of
the sick men in the hospitals by those in
oh nd Inv 10
in that work, was especially gratifying to
me-"
Vice President Hobart said: 'I am not
an army officer and have not a full exper-
ience In judging of camps and camp sys-
TENS, but it seemed to me that Camp
Wikoff was admirably adapted for army
purposes al this time a camp for recup-
Grafton. The hospitals and hospital service
seem perfect in appointments, and well
adapted for The rapid recovery of the sick
The hospital locations, their surroundings
and their climatic conditions could not be
improved. The men, with their trained
nurses, cheerful surrounding, fun medical
equipments and good hospital service will
soon be ready to be sent home, or to have
permanent quarters. The country is rich
enough, and prosperous enough to give the
heroes every consideration, every comfort
and every luxury that they deserve or re-
quest.
"I am most agreeably surprised at the
facilities l found particularly in the hos
pital service. The men viii be best cared
for by being patient in their present sur
roundlngs till they are fully able to stand
a railroad Journey"
Secretary of War Alger said: II find that
things are in better condition than they
were when L was here week ago. am
well satisfied with the camp
Ex-Secretary Of War Proctor said: ''The
location of the camp seems to me ideal. Il
has water on both Sides soil dry by nat
ural drainage and a pleasant breeze from
the sea. 1t is measurelessly better than the
hospitals I was familiar with during the
civil war. I think the Presidents visit will
do the men good. 1t win give them some
thing to speak about and break the monot-
ony for the week"
When the President arrived at Long
Island city to-day he took the government
ferry boat Gen. Meigs, and was taken
around the Jersey shore on his way to the
Vice Presidents home In Paterson, N. j.
where he will spend Sunday.
II uuvy II