The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-06

weeks ago to command this camp he
enjOned me in the most emphatic Ian
guage that / should, without regard to
expense, exercise any and every ne
cessary to make comfortable this body
of brave men who by their courage
have raised this republic to the high
est position among the great nations
of the earth. l have the honor and
pleasure of introducing to you, the
president of the United States"
HIS ADDRESS TO THE SOLDIERS.
President Mckinley said:
General Wheeler, soldiers of Camp
WikOff, soldiers Of the Fifth army
cOrps-I trust that you will put your
hats On-I am glad to meet you. I am
hOnOred to stand before you today.
bring you the gratitude of the nation
to whose history you have added by
your valor, a new and glorious page.
You have come after two months of
severe campaigning which has en-
braced assault, siege and battle, SO
brilliant in achievement, so far-reach-
ing in results as to command the un-
stinted praise of all your cOuntrymen.
You had the brunt of the battle on
land. You bore yourselves with su-
preme courage, and your personal
bravery, never before eXcelled any
where, has won the admiration of your
IelJOW clIlZenS ana the genuine respect
of all mankind while your endurance
under peculiar trial and suffering has
given added meaning to your heroism.
Your eXertiOnS made easy the conquest
of Porto Rico under the reSiStleSS ar
my commanded by Major General
Miles, and behind you, to proceed at
a moments summons, were more than
100000 of your comrades ready to sup
port you, disappointed that the oppor-
ioh ho1 a 70
them, yet filled with pride at your we'll
earned fame and rejoicing upon your
signal victories.
You were on the line of battle, they
no less than you were in the line of
duty. All have served their country
in it's need, all will serve it so long as
they may be required, and all will for
ever have the thanks and regard of
grateful people.
I'VE cannot bid you welcome here
today without our hearts going out to
the heroes Of Manila on sea and on
land, whose services and sacrifices,
whose courage and cOnstancy in that
far-distant field of operations have
never been surpassed by any soldiers
or sailors the world over. To the ar
my and the navy, to the marines, to
the regulars, to the volunteers, and
to that Providence which has watched
over them all, the nation today is full
of thanksgiving and praise. The brave
officers and men who fell in battle and
those who have died from exposure
and sickness will live in immortal
story and their memories will be per-
petuated in the hearts and the histor-
| les Of generous people, and those who
| are dependent upon them will not be
neglected by the governmnt for which
| they SO freely sacrificed their lives
The soldiers cheered many times. The
| part of the field where the Eighth
Ohio stood, the regiment which is
sometimes called 1.-The presidents own
| was particularly noisy. The party
| then went to the detention hospital
| The graveyard in which sixty or sew
enty plain new wooden crosses stood
| was near the road on the left. The
| president solemnly raised his hat.
IN THE INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL.
Mr.. Mckinley went through all the
wards of the detention hospital in the
same careful way in which he had
gone through those of the general hos
pital. When he came to the last ward
Major r. T. Ebert said: This is a
dangerous ward" and turning to See
| retary of War AIger, inquired: DC
| you think the president had better &C
| in here?"
| Mr.. Mckinley, without waiting tC
hear what General Algers reply would
| be, started into the ward. General AL
| ger and the others of the party re-
| mained outside.
| The presidential party then drove
| through lines of cavalry drawn up or
| either side of the road.
The presidential party left at /:
| o'clock p. m.