The age-herald., 1898-09-03


 tember 2-Major General Jos. Wheeler gave the following out today:
 Headquarters United States Forces,
 Camp Wikoff, L. l., September 2, 1898.
 The following is 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 news paper reports of the privation and suffering inflicted on the private soldiers. Although he has never uttetred complaint since he has been in the army, we hear from other sources of the horrible treatment inflicted on our soldiers under the pretense of hu- manity for our neighbors and the whole country is in state of terrible excitement. I should not be surprised if the feeling should lead to revolution of some kind, so I assure you I hear on all sides the most violent and bitter denunciations of the war department and the administration. It is indeed a great pity that the glory of our triumphs should be dimmed by such a shameful thing as the ill-treatmeHt and starvation of our own brave soldiers, while the Spanish prisoners have the best treat ment that the country can afford"
 "It will be seen that this letter says that not a word of complaint has been re- ceived 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 Gu ban campaign A great many anxious fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters ar rive here from all parts Of the United States to look after their relatives whom they say the papers tell them are suffering, and many of them have heard that their relatives are in condition of starvation. rNf n tn pend the money on such a journey and they are surprised when they come here to find their relatives surrounded with eV- erything to eat which can be procured by money; and if sick in the hospital they are gratifled and surprised to find that they are given every possible care.
 The Exact Facts
 ''In reply to direct request that I will give the exact facts as l see them, l will say: Every officer and soldier who went to Cuba regarded that he was given great and special privilege in being permitted to serve in that campaign. They knew they were to encounter yellow fever and Aother diseases as well as the torrid heat of the country, and they were proud and glad to do so. They knew that it was impossi- ble for them to have the advantages of wagon transportation which usually accom- panies armies, and yet officers and men would be 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 that the Span iards had spent years in erecting defenses and it was their pleasure to act 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 one seeming to feel that American honor and prestige 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 secretary of war for giving them the opportunity to incur these dangers and hardships. They realized that in the hurried organization of an expedition by a government which had no one with ex- perinece in such matters, 1t was impossible to have everything arranged to perfection, and they will testify that under the circum- stances the conditions were much more per- feet than any one could have reason to ex- pect and that the president and secretary of war and others deserve high commenda- ton.
 "Ono reason why our army was lacking in some respects in equipage was that tele- gram was reteved from Admiral Sampson stating that if the army reached there inn mediately they could take the oity at once; but If there should be delay the fortfca- tions would be so perfected that there might be great difficulty in taking 1t. On receiving this dispatch from Admiral Sampson the war department directed the army to move at once, and as all connected with the army was ready, it was done
 Money and Luxuries
 "Whcn the expedition sailed for Cuba 1t went there and was escorted by large fleet of warships At that time 1t was re- garded as impossible 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 possible for unarmed ships to sail safely to Santiago the generous people of the United States subscribed money with out limit and dispatched ship after ship loaded with luxuries and delicacies.
 'I have just finished my daily inspection of the hospitals. With rare exceptions, the sick are cheerful and improving I have nurses and doctors to cara for them, and in