New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-03
WHY SOLDIERS SUFFERED.
GENERAL WHEELER SETS FORTH THE
SITUATION AT MONTAUK.


OF EXCITEMENT OR ALARM,
Camr wikon. Montauk Point. Lcng Island
Sent 2-Maior-Ceneral Joseph Wheeler gave
the following statement 10 The Associated Press
to-day
Headquarters United States Forces
Camp Wikoff Long Island
September l. lsJo
The following is sample of the letters we
are constantly receiving regarding the soldiers
in the camp
In regard to my stepson we feel uneasy ao9 9Se
prvation and suffering inncted on ths piio Satn,
cies Aithoush ne has nsyer ne near from other
sources Of the cruel ana horrible treatmen, IN, m
MANLY y sor our neighbors. and the whole country
is in state OF terrible eSeitsmesn3 9n0a'I re Wo
be , 31'P,ss Sn S KIND for assure YOU hear
al sides the most violent and bitter SdeiUsirstio
f. IS ' indeed great Pity that the glory OF our
triumph should De diTaHled by sucn shameful tlss
Is se @ an ne spansh prisoners have
the best treatment that The country can anora
1t will he seen that this letter says that not
wcrd Of complaint has been received rom ',, W.,
soldier and. so far as my investigation goes, ~
complaint has been made by any or the oraVe
soldiers who ha re added glory 70 cur arms ID
the Cuban campaign. a great many ANXIOUS
fathers mothers, brothers or sisters arrive heis
from all parts Of the United States TO iook al
fer their relatives. who. they say the papers
tell them. are suffering, and many OF mem men
have heard that their relatives are IN ConuI-
tion of starvation Most of these people are NJ
tie able to expend the money for such jour
ney and they are surprised when they OH OH
here. TO find their relatives surrouilueu W.,
everything TO eat which can be procureu py
money: and If sick In the hospital tney ar
gratiAed and surprised to fine that they are
given every possible care.
SOLDIERS GLAD TO ENDURE PERILs
In reply to a direct request that will give the
exact facts as / see them. will state; Ever!
officer and soldier who went TO cuba regardeo
that he received a great and special pINnese
in being permitted to engage IN tnat caihpash.
1bev knew they were TO encounter yellow fever
and other diseases. as well as the .oIl.u ~ NJ
of the country, and they were proud ana e.du
10 do So They knew that II was imposslple lol
them TO have the advantage Of wagon IRAN IRAN
portation which usually accompanies armies,
and yet officers and men were GLAD 10 go, TO
carry their blankets and their rauohs Oh s sheh
backs and TO be subjected without any shel-
ter TO the sun and rains by day and the heaNy
dews by night. .,s ,a
They certainly knew that the spaniaros nao
spent wears In erecting defences. and II was
their pleasure to assault and their duty 10 capt
ure the Spanish works. They were more tnah
glad TO incur the hardships and these dahseaS,
They went there and did their duty eacn man
seeming to feel that American honor ana Pins
tige were to be measured by his conduct. Inc
brave men who won the victories olo hot com.
plain of the neglect VI the Government put, on
The contrary they seemed grateful TO the Pres'-
dent and Secretary Of War for giving ther,
the opportunity TO incur these dangers anu
hardships They realized that in the nurrieu
ORGANIZATION of an expedition by a Government
which had no one with any experience IN sucn
matters. II was impossible TO have everything
arranged to perfection, and they VIII .estIE
that under the circumstances. the conditions
were much more perfect than any one Would
have reason to expect. and that the rresideho
and the Secretary Of War. and others VINO
planned and dispatched this expedition deserve
high commentator
REASON FOR FASTENING TO SANTIAGO
One reason why our Army was lacking In
some respects In equ!page was that telegram
was received from Admiral Sampson stating
that If the Army reached there Immediately
they could take the city at once. but II theIe
was delay the .fcrtifcations Of the spanlaias
would be so perfected that there might be great
difficulty in taking It. On receiving TINS ais
patch from Admiral Sampson the War Depart
ment- directed the Army TO move at once ana
as all connected with the Army will recall. the
orders we're received after dark, and the Arnly
was in motion. had travelled nine miles ana vas
on the ships AZ daylight
there escorted by a large fleet OF warships Az
that time il regarded as Impossible Tor
merchant ship TO sail on the ocean safely from
anv American port to Santiago. but as soon as
the Spanish fleet destroyed. so that IT was
possible for unarmed ships to sail safely 70
Sanago the generous pg9 bt u r1e mis-" a,s
patched ship after ship loaded with luxures
and decacies for the Santiago Army ana
everything that could be accomplished for their
comfort was done by the President ana SecEe-
tafy of War.
After the surrender had been completed and
arrangements perfected FOR transporting the
Spanish army 10 Spain the President and Sec
rotary Of War sent chips to Santiago and
transported our Army to one Of the most health
full localities in the United states The point
selected by the Secretary OF War is so situated
that thorough protection was given to the peo
pie of the United States from the danger of vel
low fever contagion The soldiers upon their
arrival at this place received every care and
bounty which could be procured by money. The
President and Secretary of War directed that
the health and comfort should be looked after
without reference to expense. and. in addition.
the people within circuit OF one hundred miles
We'd with each other in shipping TO them car
loads and steamboat loads Of Injuries Of all
kinds
SICK MEN CHEERFUL AND IMPROVING
have Just finished my daily inspection OF the
hospitals With rare exceptions. the sick are
cheerful and improving. l have rurses and doc
tors to care for them and in all my many tours
have not found single patient who made the
slightest complaint It is true there has been
suffering, ana great suffering The climate Of
Cuba was severe upon all our soldiers. but. in
stead of complaining. the hearts OF those brave
men are filed with gratitude 10 the people for
the bounteous generosity which has been ex-
tended TO them
There is no doubt that Their. have been irdi-
vidual cases ~ suffering and possibly neglect
among the soldiers. not only in Cuba but since
their arrival at this place Nearly twenty thou
sand men we're brought from yellow fever dis
trict TO the United States II would have been
criminal TO have landed them and allowed them
TO 90 promiscuously among The people. 1t has
been stated by physicians that If that had been
done yellow fever would have spread through
many OF our States
To avoid such 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 a scourge Of this fearful dis
ease. Every one will realize that 10 land eigh-
teen thousand men and put them on bare fields