The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-03
SICK ARE WELL
CARED FOR SAYS
FIGHTING JOE y
General Wheeler on
Camp Conditions.
WRITES A HOPEFUL LETTER
WAR DEPARTMENT DID THE
BEST 1T COULD.
There Have Been Individual Cases Of
Suffering, but Now Money Is
Being, Spent .Lavishly
e. to Relieve Distress.
WRITES A HOPEFUL LETTER
WAR DEPARTMENT DID THE
BEST IT COULD.
Special Dispatch to. The Call.

ISOLATED Press to-day:
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES
FORCES, Camp Wikoff. L. l., Sept. l.
The following is a sample of the letters
we are constantly receiving regarding the
soldiers 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 uttered a COM
plant. since he has been in the army, we
hear from other sources of the cruel and
horrible treatment inflicted upon our SOL
diers under the pretense of humanity, for
our neighbors and the whole country are
in state of terrible excitement. 1
should not be surprised If the feeling
should lead to revolution of some kind,
for 1 assure you I hear on all sides the
most violent and bitter denunciations of
the War Department and the administra-
ton 1t is indeed a great pity that the
glory of our triumphs should be dimmed
by such a shameful thing as the ill-treat-
ment and starvation of our own brave
soldiers, while the Spanish prisoners have
the best treatment that the country can
afford.'
1t will be seen that this letter says that
not a word of complaint has been re-
ceiyed 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, brothers or sisters ar
rive here from all parts Of the United
States to. look after their relatives, who,
they say the papers tell them, are suffer-
inG and many of them have heard that
their relatives are in condition Of
starvation.
Most of these people are little able to
expend the money for such journey and
they are surprised when they come here
TO find their relatives surrounded by
everything to eat which can be procured
with money, and. if sick in the hospital,
they are gratified and surprised to find
that they are given every possible care.
In reply to a direct request that 1 give
the exact facts as 1 see them, will
state:
Every officer and soldier who went to
Cuba regarded that he was given great
privilege 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 were
proud and glad to do so. They knew that
It was impossible for them to have the
advantage Of wagon transportation which
usually accompanies an army, and yet
officers. and men were glad to go, to 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 hazes by night. They certain
ly knew that the Spaniards had spent
years in erecting defenses, and it was
their pleasure to assault and their duty
to capture the Spanish works.
They were more than glad to incur the
hardships and the dangers. They went
there and did their duty, each man SEEM
ing to feel that American honor and pres
tige was to be measured 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 the
Secretary of War for giving them the
opportunity to incur these dangers and
hardships. They realized that in the hur-
ried organization of an expedition by a
Government which had no one with any
experience in such matters it was impos-
sbfe to have everything arranged to per-
lection; and they will testify that under
the circumstances the conditions were
much nearer perfect than any one would
have reason to expect, and that the. Presi-
dent and Secretary of War anS others
who planned and dispatched thes4 expedi-
lions deserve high commentator.
o One reason why our army was lacking
in some respects in equipage was that
a telegram was received from Admiral
Sampson. stating that If the army re-
ported. there Immediately 1t could take
the city at once, but if there should be
delay the fortifcations of the Spaniards
would be so perfected that there might
be great. difficulty in taking 1t.
On receiving this dispatch from Admit
raj Sampson the War Department d.
rected the army to move at once and,
as all connected with the army will re-
call. the orders were received after dark
and the army was in motion, had trav-
eled nine miles and was on the ships at
daylight. When the expedition sailed for
Cuba ii went there escorted by a large
fleet of warships:
At that time IT was regarded as i'm
possible 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 it was pos.
sible for unarned ships to sail safely to
Santiago, the generous people of the Uni
ted States subscribed money without linn
it and dispatched ship after ship loaded
with Injuries and delicacies for the Sam
'tiago army, and everything that could
be accomplished for their comfort was
done by the President and Secretary of
War.
After the surrender had reen complet-
ed and arrangements were perfected for
transporting the Spanish army to Spain
the President and Secretary of War sent
shipping TO Santiago and transported our
army to one of the most healthful loca-
tons in the United States The point
selected by the Secretary of War was SO
situated that thorough protection was
given the people of the United States
from the danger of yellow fever cou-
taeion.
The soldiers upon their arrival at this
place received every care and bounty
which could be procured by money The
President and the Secretary of War d.
rec.ed that their health and comfort
should be cared for without reference to
expense, and in addition the peo-
pie within circle of a hundred miles
Wed with each other in shipping to them
car loads and steamboat loads of Iuxu-
ries of all kinds.
I have just finished my daily inspco
ton. CT the hospitals. With rare cap
tons the sick are cheerful and imp row.
ing. l ave nurses and doctors to carr
fo- them, and in all my many tours /
have not found a single patient who
made the slightest complaint. 1t is true
there has been suffering, and great suf-
fering. The climate Of Cuba was very