The record-union., 1898-09-03

the Administration.
CAMP WIKOFF (Montauk Point, n.
", Sept. 2.-Major- General Joseph
Wheeler gave the following to the AS
sociated Press to-day:
Headquarters United States Forces,
Camp Wikoff q. -, Sept. 1.-The fol-
lowing is a sample of the letters we are
constantly receiving 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 on the private
soldiers. Although he has never ut
tered a complaint since he has been
in the army, we hear from other
sources of the cruel and horrible treat
ment inflicted upon our soldiers under
the pretense of humanity for our neigh
bors, and the whole country is in a
state of terrible excitement l should
not be surprised if the feeling should
lead to a revolution OF some kind, for
i assure you l hear on all sides the
most violent and bitter denunciatiOnS
of the War Department and the Ad-
ministration 1t is indeed a great pity
that the glory of our triumphs should
be dimmed by such a shameful thing
as the ill-treatment and starvation of
our own brave soldiers, while the
Spanish prisoners have the best treat
ment that the country can afford
1T will be seen that this letter says
that not a word of complaint has been
received from this soldier, and so far
as 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, broth
ers 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 a condition of starvation. Most
of these people are little able to ex-
pend the money for such a journey
and they are surprised when they come
here to find their relatives surrounded
with everything to eat which can be
produced by money, and if sick in the
hospital they are gratified and sur
prised to find that they are given
every possible care.
I'm reply to a direct request that
give the exact facts as l see them,
will state:
Every officer and soldier who went
to Cuba regarded that he was given a
great privilege to engage in that cam
paign They knew they We're to en-
counter yellow fever and other dis
eases. as well as the torrid heat of the
country, and they We're proud and glad
to do so. They knew that it was i'm
possible for them to have the adj
vantage of wagon transportation which
usually accompanied an army, and yet
officers and men We're glad to go, to
carry their blankets and their rationS
on their backs. and to be subjected,
without shelter. to the sun and rains
by day and the heavy hazes by night.
They certainly knew that the Span
iards had spent years in erecting de-
fenses, and it was their pleasure to
assault and their duty to capture the
Spanish works.
..Thev were more than glad to incur
the hardships and these dangers. They
went there and did their duty, each
man seeming TO feel that American
honor ard prestige was to be measured
nv 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 the Secretary OF war
for giving them the opportunity TO IN
cur these dangers and hardships. They
,aaIized that in the hurried organiZa-
ZION of an expedition by q Government
,,.bo had no one with any experience in
s,cb matters it was impossible to have
everything arranged to perfection; ana
they will testify that under the clrcum-
stances the conditions were much more
nerfect than any one would nave rea-
SON 70 expect, and that the President
.pd Secretary of War and others who
Ylanned and dispatched these eXpedl-
tions deserve high commendauon.
"One reason why our army was lack
ing in some respects in equlpaSe was
that a telegram was received from Al
miral Sampson stating that II the army
reported there Immediately they couid
take the city at once, but IL thefe
should be delay the fortificatons OF the
Standards would be so perfected that
there might be great difficulty in taxing
il On receiving this dispatch from
Admiral Sampson the War Department
directed the army to move at once, anu
as all connected with the army VIII re-
call. the orders were received dIeeI
dark and the army was in NOTION nan
Travelled nine miles, and WAS on the
ships at daylight.
"When the expedition sailed for Cuoa
IT went there escorted by a large fleet
of warships At that time it was re-
garded as impossible for merchant
ship to sail on the ocean safely from
any American port to Santiago, but as
soon as the Spanish fleet was destroyed.
so that ii was possible for unafmeu
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 delicacies for the Santiago
army, and everything that could be ac-
complished for their comfort was done
by the President and Secretary OF war.
after the surrender had been com
pleted and arrangements perfected ie~