New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
ALGER ON CAMP WIKOFF.
SICKNESS AT MONTAUK DUE TO HARD
SHIPS OF THE CAMPAIGN. HE SAYS.

THE SECRETARY PRAISES THE oFF1cERs-A
TALK WITH GENERAL sHAFTER-HANDI-
CAPPED AT THE OUTSET
Washington Sept 4-Secret2ry Alger. who
returned late last night from New-york. after
his inspection tour Of Camp w.kofs at Mon
tauk Point with President Mckinley, commented
tonight on the condition of the camp. ard sad
Il feel certain after a careful examination
of Camp Wikoff and thorough investigation
Of its conditions tHat everything possible is
being done for the men. both sick and well, who
are detained there. The camp is an admirable
one-the best. think I ever saw
While the conditions are as good could be
expected in the circumstances-eve better than
l ever knew them 10 be in camp-a shadow OF
gloom is cast over the encampment by the phys-
cal condition Of the mer Sickness, suffering
and death mar what would otherwise be mag
nifcent military picture. These conditions, how
ever are not the result Of the situation Of the
camp Itself, but Of the terrible campaign
through which the troops have just passed.
That campaign Of Santiago will be memorable
in the military history Of the world. 1t was
wonderful both in its conduct and in the results
achieved Few military experts expected. when
the campaign began, that such success couid
be achieved in so short a time. II was tre-
mendous undertaking to begin campaign In
tropical country during the rainy season against
a position so strong and so well defended was
Santiago.
That success was achieved soon. and with
a loss comparatively so small, is due to the
energy and ability Of General shafter and his
commanding officers and to the dash, bravery
and splendid fighting qualities Of the men OF
General Skaters corps.
OBSTACLES WHICH HAD TO BE NET.
II talked yesterday with General Shafter."
continued the Secretary. and he discussed some
OF the obstacles which had to be overcome in
the Santiago campaign Just now he. by the
way is suffering from the effects Of the CAM
paign himself While | chatted with him his
face was flushed with fever and he was really
a sick man. Upon his arrival at Montauk Point
he went into the detention camp with the other
soldiers. and like the true soldier that he Is. he
asked nothing better for himself than was being
received by the men whom he commands.
He said that when he arrived in Cuba and
realized the conditions that confronted him and
his men lie knew that the campaign must OF
necessity be one Of days rather than Of weeks
lighters and was thus seriously handicapped In
effectins landing of both his troops and the
stores and supplies which the feet carried The
trer1e pdous rains which SET in Immediately after
his arrival rendered IT next to impossible for
either the troops or supplies 10 be got forward.
PRAISES sHAFTERs ENERGY
He felt however. that whatever were tho
difficulties. he must press forward and, II possi-
bic end the campaicn in the biiefest time. Tho
climatic conditions were such that 10 lose any
time meant the destruction Of his command by
illness and the consequent failure OF the expe-
dition He took no chances on delay. therefore.
but swept his gallant army upon the Spaniards
with such irresistible dash that the city was
won almost peiore the Spaniards realized what
they had 10 encounter
1t is perfectly evident that had General
Shafter waited until hif army and its supplies
could have h4en sent forward with ordinary de-
liberation the expedition against Santiago
would have failed utterly. In a measure. it was
his disregard OF military conventonalities that
enabled him TO carry the campaign 10 brill
iantly successful issue
During all the time the troops were lying In
the trenches before Santiago. despite the inn
mediate difficulties experienced in getting sup
plies to the front, the men suffered very little
not have what they are now receiving at Mon
tauk Point but they had the actual necessaries
OF life. Notwithstanding the newspaper reports
20 the contrary. Doubtless here nd
vidua cases of suffering because of the scar
city Of supplies the front. but as a rule
the men had all that the soldiers Of the Union
Army had at times during the Civil War.
1t is particularly noticeable" continued Sec.
retary Alger that the men who were actually
engaged in the Santiago campaign are not COM
planning Of their treatment | talked with scores
OF thenl--l was about to say hundreds--and not
a breath OF complaint did hear from any OF
them They suffered. they suffering yet. but
they endured and are enduring their trials like
Spartans There may be individual cases OF
complaints II woild. indeed be strange il
there We're not but as body the Army OF
General Shafter is not only satisfied with the
situation. but immeasurably proud of its mar
vellous achievement"
THE PRESIDENTS VISIT TO THE CAMP.
The President was particularly solicitous
about the condition Of the men who ILL., He
went to Camp Wikoff 70 ascertain for himself
whether the men in the ranks needed anything
that they not getting. His orders
that they should want for nothing, but he de-
sired personally to know whether those orders
were being carried out After several hours or
patient investigation and careful examination. he
left the camp satisfied that the men were being
well cared for as they could be in a field hos
pital He took no officials word for anything
He had gone TO the camp to see for himself. and
his conviction to the conditions was reached
only after he had come in personal contact with
those conditions.
In the hospitals he went from ward 70 ward.
almost from cot TO cot. stopping every few Sec
onds TO talk TO the sick men and cheer them
with kind expression grasp OF the hand
1t was an experience not TO be forgotten.
Such visit as President Mckinley made to
Camp Wikoff yesterday is almost unique in mil:-