The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-03
HEROES ARE SATISFIED!
General Wheeler Discusses Alleged
Mismanagoment.
SOLDIERS WELL PROVIDED FOR.
''The Soldiers WIN Testify Tint Under
the Circumstances the Conditions at
Santiago Were More Perfect Than
l Any One Would Expect"

the circumstances the Conditions al
Santiago Wero More Perfect Than
Any One Would Expect"
Camp Wikoff. L. l.. Sept. 2.-GeneYal
Wheeler has sent the following report
to the war department at Washington;
'"The following is a sample of the let
Z, ters We are constantly receiving re-
garding the soldiers In the camp:
I'm 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 utter
ed complaint since he has been In the
Amy, we hear from other sources of
the cruel and horrible treatment in
siicted on our soldiers. should not be
surprised If the feeling should lead to a
revolution of some kind, for ] assure
you ! hear on all sides the most violent
and bitter denunciations Of the war de-
partment and the administration. 1t
is indeed great pity that the glory of
our triumph should be dimmed by such
a dreadful thing as the Ill treatment
and starvation of our own brave SOL
diers. while the Spanish prisoners have
the best treatment that the country
can afford
1T will be seen that this letter says
that not 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 SOL
dfers who have added glory to oursarms
In the Cuban campaign. A great many
anxious fathers. mothers. brothers or
sisters arrive here from all parts Of the
United States to look after their re,a-
lives, whom they say the papers tell
them are suffering. and many of
ther1 have heard That their relatives
arr In a condition of starvation. Most
OF these people are little able to ex-
pend the money for such journey, and
they are surprised when they come
here to find their relatives with every
thing to eat which can be procured by
money: and If sick In the hosDital,
they are gratitled and surprised to
lind that they are given every possible
care.
Every officer and soldier who went
10 Cuba regarded that he was given
great and special privilege In being per-
mitted to engage In the campaign
They knew they were to encounter yell
dow 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 1t was impossible for them
to have the advantage of wagon trans
portation which usually accompanies
armies, 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
dews by night. They certainly knew
chat the Spaniards had spent years in
erecting defenses, and 1t was their
pleasure to assault and their duty to
capture the Spanish works. They 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 and pres
tige was to be measured by his COLI
duct
'"The brave men who won the VIC
tories did not complain Of the neglect
Of the government. but on the contrary
they seemed grateful to the president
and secretary of war for giving them
the opportunity to incur these dangers
and hardships. They realized that in
the hurried organization of an expedi-
tion by government which had no
one with any experience in such mat
tiers, 1t was impossible to have every
thing arranged to perfection and they
Nill testify that under the circurn-
stances the conditions were more per-
feet than any one would have reason
to expect.
''One reason why our army was lack
Ing in some respectes in equpage was
chat a telegram was received from Ad-
miral Sampson stating that if the army
seached there Immediately they could
take the city at once, but if they should
be delayed the Notifications of the
Spanards would be so perfected that
there might be great difficult in taking
II. On receiving this dispatch the war
department directed the army to move
at once, and as all connected with the
army will recall, the orders were re-
ceived after dark, and the army was in
motion, had Travelled nine miles, and
was on the ships at daylight. When the
expedition sailed for Cuba it went there
escorted by a large fleet of war ships.
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 1t
was possible for unarmed ships to sail
safely to Santiago, the generous peo-
pie of the United States subscribed
money without limit and dispatched
ship after ship loaded with luxuries
and de!icacies for the Santiago army
, after the surrender had been COM
pleted and arrangements 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
localities in the United States. The
point selected by the secretary of war
was so situated that through protec-
tion was given the people of the United
States from the danger of yellow fever
contagion. The soldiers upon their ar
rival at this place received every care
and bounty which could be procured
by money. The president and secretary
Of war directed that their health and
comfort should be cared for without
reference .t9ssxpsAse, and in addition
the people within circuit of a hun
dred miles We'd with each other In
shipping to them carloads and steam
boat loads of luxuries of all kinds.
, ~ have just finished my daily in
spection Of the hospitals. With rare
exceptions the sick are cheerful and
improving. l have nurses and doc
tors to care for them, and In all my
tours have not found single patient
who made the slightest complaint 1t
Is true there has been suffering. and
great suffering. The climate Of Cuba
was very severe upon all our soldiers.
but instead of complaining, the hearts
of those brave men are filled with
gratitude to the people for the boun-
Iteous generosity which has been ex-
Aended to them"