The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-04
GENERAL WHEELER's STATEMENT.

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upon itself a rebuke from official of high
rank. This time the rebuke comes from General
| Wheeler and consists in refutation OF the lurd
stories OF suffering in Camp Wkoff, and tempered
but severe condemnation of the sensational lake
nlongers who have been busily engaged tor some
time past msrepresenting affairs in the camp for the
purpose of maligning the administration.
AS reason for issuing his statement General
Wheeler says he receives daily large number OF let
tiers from relatives of men at Camp Wikof inqulring
about their condition and expressing anxiety caused
by the sensational reports spread abroad. One OF
these letters published in full by the general
In regard to my stepson, we feel very uneasy
about him on account of the newspaper reports OF
the prvation and suffering inflicted the private
soldiers Although he has never uttered complaint
since he has been in the army, we hear from other
sources of the cruel and horrible treatment inflicted
upon our soldiers under the pretense of humanity,
for our neighbors and the whole country are In a
state of terrible excitement.
This evidence of the anxiety, suffering and mental
agony caused in many home by the sensation
mongers of the yellow press, while matter about
which the takers Indifferent, is Of serious moment
to thousands of families out of which young men
went into the army and General Wheeler rightly
felt it his duty to relieve that anxiety by making pub
lie of the real condition of the camp I'M
der his command
After giving review of the whole course of the
the 'front.' and explaining every feature of their treat
ment by the military authorities the general con-
cudes by elaborate account of Camp WikoH IN
the course of which he says:
The soldiers upon their arrival at this place re-
ceived every and bounty which could be pro-
cured by money. The President and the Secretary
of War directed that their health and comfort should
be cared for without reference to expense, and in
addition the people within a circle of hundred
miles We'd with each other in shipping to them car
loads and steamboat loads of luxur1es OF all KINDS.
have just finished my daily inspection of the hos
pitals With rare exceptions the SICK are cneerlul
and improving l have nurses ana ooctoTs 10 care
for them, and in all my many tours nave not 1ounu
single patient who made the slightest complaint.
AS the statement was designed to carry comfort to
the thousands of anxious hearts throughout the
try General Wheeler gave to the Associated Press
in order that might have the widest circulation pos
sible 1t was published in full yesterday by The Call
and the Chronicle but the Examiner in the yellow
ness of its yellow journalism cut it to third OF a
column and buried that in sensational report from
New York headed: "Perishing OF Soldiers. Three
Thousand Names Already on the Death Roll Brave
Men Prey to Fever and Hunger, Due to Neglect OF
Authorities.
Yellow Journalism has committed many offenses
against law, decency honesty and morality, and it
is now offending against humanity itself In its keen
desire for lurid sensation it what pain it
may nlict upon the anxious mothers whose sons are
in the camps. 1t is therefore act in every way
worthy OF General Wheelers humane character that
he should announce the country that the boys who
have come back stricken with the fevers OF the Cuban
ungles are receiving every comfort and assistance
that a grateful Government give rich and
patriotic people offer. tagH