The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-09-08
CAMP.
Oecretary Alger ard President McKin-
ley Visit Camp Wikoff.
AStsP Careful Examination the Presid eut
Left Camp satisfied That the sick Are
~ Well Cared for as They Could
BE in Field Hospital

DO IN Eioiu nOopNoL
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.--Secretary AL.
ger, who returned late Saturday night
from New York after his inspection
tour through Camp Wikoff at'Montauk
Point with President Mckinley and
several of the bureau officials Of the
war department., commented Sunday
night upon the conditions of the camp
and stated the results of his visit The
secretary said:
II feel certain, after q careful exam
ination of Camp WiksR and a thor
ough investigates Of hts conditions,
that every thing possible is being done
for the men, both sick and we'll, who
arc detained there. The camp is an
admirable ons-ths best, I think, I
ever saw. The site is ideal 1t is
beautiful without being picturesque
and is certainly a. hsalthful camp
location as could be found in the east
ern country.
while the conditions are as good
as could reasonably be expected in the
circumstances-even better than ever
knew them to be in eamp-a shade of
gloom is cast over the encampment by
the physical condition of the men.
Sickness suffering and death mar
what would otherwise be q magnih-
cent military picture. These, condi-
tions, however, are not the result of
IL "a L.
but of the terrible campaign
through which the troops have just
passed. That campaign Of Santiago
will be memorable in the military his
tory Of the world. 1t was wonderful
both in its conduct and in the results
accomplished. Few military experts
expected when the campaign was
inaugurated that such a uccess could
be achieved in so short time. It
was q tremendous undertaking to be-
gin campaign in a tropical coantry
during the rain season against posi-
tion naturally Sc strong and SO we'll
defended as was Santiago That sue
cess was achieved SO soon and with a
loss comparatively SO small is due to
the energy and ability of Gen. Shafter
and his commanding officers and the
dash, bravery and splendid fighting
qualities Of the men of Gen. Skaters
corps.
''The president was particularly so
licitous about the condition of the
men who are ill He went to Camp
Wikof to ascertain for himself wheth-
er the men in the ranks needed any
thing they were not getting. His or
ders were that they should want for
nothing, but he desired personally to
know whether these orders were be-
ing carried out After several hours
of patient investigation and care.
ful examination he left the
camp satisfied that the men were
rs well cared for as they could be in a
field hospital He took no officials
word for anything. He had come tc
the camp to see for himself and his
conviction as to the conditions was
reached only after he had come in per
sonal contact with those conditions
In the hospitals he went from ward tt
ward, almost from cot to cot, stopping
every few seconds to talk to the sick
men and cheer them with a kind ex
preston or grasp Of the hand. II
was an experience not soon to be
forgotten. Success of the visit
as President Mckinley made to CamE
Wikof Saturday is almost unique IL
the military annals. He went to the
camp equipped with knowledge, judg
ment and experience to make an inves
tigation.s He had served in the camI
and in the field himself and he knew
just what ought to be expected in the
circumstances. That he was reason
ably well sa tisfied with the conditions
as he found them is in itself guaran
tee that they are not far wrong.
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