Evening journal., 1898-09-03
WHEELER'S ANSWER
Replies TO Newspaper Attacks
on Army Administration.
CONDITIONS GROSSLY EXAGGERATED
Santiago Campaign Accompanied by I'm
usual Dimculties why Camp at Mon
tauk Was Chosen-No Unneoes-
sary Neglect Of Soldiers.

ment yesterday:
THE following is a sample Of the let
ters we are constantly receiving re-
garding the soldiers in the camp:
" In regard to my stepson, we feel
very uneasy about him on account of
the newspaper reports OF the privaton
and suffering inflicted on the private
soldiers. Although he has never uttered
a complaint since he has been in the
army, we hear from other sources Of the
cruel and horrible treatment inflicted
on our soldiers under the pretense OF
humanity for our neighbors, and the
whole country is in a state of terrible
excitement. i should not be surprised
II the feeling should lead TO a revolu-
tion of some kind, for l assure you I
hear on all sides the most violent and
bitter denunciations Of the war depart
ment and the administration. II Is in
deed a great pity that the glory OF our
triumph should be dimmed by such a
shameful thing as the III treatment and
starvation OF our own brave soldiers,
while the Spanish prisoners have the
best treatment that the country can af-
ford
1T will be seen that this letter says
that not "A 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
diers who have added glory to our arms
In the Cuban campaign. A great many
anxious fathers, mothers brothers or
sisters arrive here from all parts OF the
United states 10 look after their rela-
tives, who, they say, the papers tell
them are suffering and many Of them
have heard that their relatives are in
a ~ ~ IA nf
people are little able to expend the
money for such a journey. and they are
surprised when they come here TO find
their relatives surrounded with every
thing to eat which can be procured by
money, and II sick In the hospital they
are gratined and surprised to find that
they are given every possible care.
In reply to a direct request that ]
Will give the exact facts as / see them
] Will state: Every officer and soldier
who went to Cuba regarded that he was
given a great and special privilege in
being permitted to engage in that cam
paign. They knew they We're to en-
counter yellow fever and other dis
eases. as well as the torrid heat of the
country, and they were proud and glad
10 do So They knew that II was Inn
possible for them 20 have the advan-
tage OF wagon transportation, which
usually accompanies armies. and yet
officers and men were glad TO go, TO car
ry their blankets and their rations on
their backs and to be subjected with
out any shelter to the sun and rains
by day and the heavy dews by night
They certainly knew that the Spaniards
had spent years in erecting defenses
and It was their pleasure TO assault and
a % M 40 It arIra
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 prestige were TO be meas
ured 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 in
cur these dangers and hardshps. They
realized that I'm the hurried organiza-
tion OF an expedition by a government,
which had no one with any experience
in such matters it was impossible "a
have everything arranged TO perfection
and they will testify that under the cir.
cumstances the conditions were much
more perfect than any one would have
reason TO expect, and that the president
and the secretary OF war and other:
who planned and dispatched this expe.
dition deserve high commendation.
After the surrender had been com.
pleted and arrangements perfected foi
transporting the Spanish army TO Spalr
the president and secretary OF war sen
shipping 20 Santiago and Transported
eur army to one Of the most hea!thfu
localities In the United States. The poin
selected by the secretary of war wa
so situated that thorough protection wa
given the people of the United State
from the danger OF yellow fever conta
gion. The soldiers upon their arriva
at this place received every care AM
bounty which could be procured b.
money The president and secretary O
war directed that their health and com
fort should be cared for without refer
ence TO expense. and in addition tn
people within a circuit OF 100 miles vie
with each other in shipping TO ther
carloads and steamboat loads Of luXu
ries OF all kinds.
II have just finished my daily in
spection of the hospitals. With rar
exceptions the sick are cheerful and i'm
proving. / have nurses and doctors I
care for Them and in all my tours
have not found single patient VIII
made the slightest complaint. It
true there has been suffering and grea
suffering. The climate Of Cuba wa
very severe upon all our soldiers. bu
instead OF complaining the hearts q
those brave men are filed with graft
tude 10 the people Tor the bounteou
generosity which has been extended I
them.
There is no doubt that there hav
been individual cases of suffering an
possibly neglect among the soldiers nc
only in Cuba, but since their arrival O
this place. Nearly 10000 men wer
brought from yellow fever district {
the United States. II would have bee
criminal to have landed them and al
lowed them to go promiscuously anon
the people. 1t has been stated by phy
sicians that if that had been done ye
low fever would have spread throug
many Of our states.
''To avoid such catastrophe a poir
which Is more thoroughly isolated froi
the people than any other locality whic
could have been found was selectc'
BY these wise means the country ha
been saved from a scourge of this fear
full disease. Every one viii realize ths
to land 1900 men and put them on ban