The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-05

vestigation of its conditions. that every
thing possible is being done for the men.
both sick and well, who are detained
there. The camp is an admirable one-the
best, ] think, l ever saw. The site is
ideal. 1t is beautiful without being pic
turesque and is certainly as healthful a
camp location as could be found in the
eastern country.
while the conditions are as good as
could reasonably be expected under the
knew them to be in a camp-a shade of
gloom is cast over the encampment by
the physical condition of the men. Sick
ness, SUFFERING and death mark what would
otherwise be a magnificent military pic
ture. These conditions, however, are not
the result OF the situation of the camp
itself, but of the terrible campaign
through which the troops have just
passed. That campaign OF Santiago viii
be memorable in the military history 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
success could he achieved in so snort a
time. II was a tremendous undertaking
TO begin campaign in a tropical country
during the rainy season against position
naturally so strong and so well defended
as was Santiago. That success was
achieved SO soon. and with loss COM
paratiyely so small, is due TO the energy
and ability of General Shaiter and his
commanding officers. and to the dash.
bravery and splendid fighting qualities of
the men of General Shafter s corps.
Shaftef" continued the secretary, and
he discussed some of the obstacles which
had TO be overcome in the Santiago cam
paign. Just now he, by the way, is SUI
fering from the effects of the campaign
himself While l chatted with him, his
face was flushed with fever and he was
really q sick man. Upon his ARRIVAL at
Montauk Point he went into the detention
camp with the other soldiers and, ike the
true soldier that no is. he asked nothing
better for himself than was being received
farpnr1 4 a
time of his. detention expired today and
he expected, upon leaving the camp, to
assume command of Camp Wlkon- L nave
not heard whether he took command to-
1iHe said that when he. irrived in Cuba.
and realized the conditions that con-
fronted him and his men, he knew that
the campaign must of necessity be one
Of days rather than weeks ana months:
lie had lost nearly all OF his lighters ana
was thus seriously handicapped IN Ell
fectine- landing of both his troops and
the stores and supplies which the neet
carried The tremendous rains which set
in Immediately after his arrival rendered
it next TO impossible for either the troops
or supplies to be gotten forward. He felt,
however, that whatever Were the dill
culties, he must press forward and, If
possible, end the campaign IN the brief
est time. The climatic conditions were
such that to lose any time meant the de-
struction of his command by illness ana
the consequent failure of the expedition.
but swept his gallant army upon the
Spaniards with such irresistible dash that
victory was won almost before the Span
iardS themselves realized what they had
to encounter.
TT is perfectly evident now that had
General Shafter waited until his army
and his supplies could have been sent
forward with ordinary elaboration, the
expedition against Santiago would have
failed utterly. In q measure. it was his
disregard for military conventionalities
that enabled him to carry the campaign
TO a brilliantly successful issue.
During all the time the troops were
lying in the trenches before Santiago, de-
spite the immense difficulties experienced
in getting supplies to the front, the men
suffered very little from lack of proViS-
ions. OF course they did not have what
they are now receiving at Montauk point,
but they had the actual neceSSar1eS of
life, Notwithstanding the newspaper re-
ports to the contrary. Doubtless there
Were individual cases of suffering because
of the scarcity Of supplies, but as a rule
the men had al that soldiers of the
Union army had at times during the
civil war. While the federal forces were
lying in the trenches before Petersburg
they suffered at times, during those
seven months for good food, but like the
heroes before Santiago, they endured
without complaint.
1T is particularly notable" continued
Secretary Alger, that the men who
were actually engaged in the Santiago
campaign are not complaining or Ine1r
treatment 1 talked with scores Of them
I was about TO say hundTeus-ana liOt a
breath of complaint did L hear from any
of them. They suffered, they are sur
fering yet, but they endured and are en-
during their trials like SDartanS. There
may be individual cases of complaint. 1t
would, indeed be strange if there We're
not: but as a body the army of General
Shafter is not only satisfied with the sit
uation. but UNNECESSARILY proud of it's
marvellous achievements.
The president was very SolicitOuS about
the condition Of the men who are ILL., He
went 10 Camp Wik0M to ascertain for
himself whether the men in the ranks
needed anything that they were not get
ting. His orders were that they should
want for nothing. but he desired person.
ally to know whether those orders were
being carride out. After several hours of
patient investigation and careful exam
lnaIion, he left camp satisfied that the
men were being as well cared for as they
could be in a field hospital. He took
no officials word for anything. He had
gone to the camp to see for himself and
his conviction as to the conditions was
reached only after he had come in person
al contact with those conditions. In the
hospitals he went from ward. almost from
cot to cot, stopping every few seconds to
talk to the sick men and cheer them with
kind expression or grasp of the hand.
1t was an experience not soon to be for
gotten Such visit as President Nc
kinney made TO Camp Wikof is almost
unique in military annals. He went to
the camp equipped with knowledge, judg
CATION. He had served in the camp and
in the field himself and he knew Just what
ought TO be expected in the circumstances.
That he was reasonably well satisfied
with the conditions as hefound them IS
guarantee that they are not far wrong.
Conditions have changed materially
during the third of a century since the
civil war. This was noted especially by
every one of the old soldiers. in our L.arty
yesterday. In the hospitals at Camp
Wikon the patients have plenty OF ice,
milk. lemons and many delicaeies which
were seldom seen IN the field hospitals
during the last war. Then too, the cot is
supplied with fresh, clean sheets and pill
lowcaseS each day and there are trained
etlenu. These things now are the tribute
graSetuI government pays to its splendid
Soldlers VINO, IN adding luStre to the fame
of their country, have Won for them
selves a glory that time Will not dim
Secretary Alger said there was no in
tention OF abandoning Camp Wikoff. The
troops viii be kept there so long. as ii
may be deemed desirable to keen uD the
camp. He pointed out that it was essen
italy Il detention camp. q place of recup-
GRAFTON and not camp of mobilization.
Naturally, therefore, as soon as it had
served its purpose it would pass away as
a military camp.
A rumor was given currency that the
camp, having been found by the presi-
dent 10 be unsuitable for its purpose, was
to be abandoned Immediately. This. Sec
retary Aiger pronounced to be without
foundation. 1t probably grew out of the
order issued by the president that the
regulars at Camp Wiko1f, whose former
posts had been east of the Mississippi
river. proceed as soon as possible to their
old stations. Secretary Aiger said that
this order had been decided upon ten
days ago and had no possible relation to
the condition of the camp.
EN- ROUTE FROM PONCE.