The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-09-09
EoRE FROM ALGER.
Fhs EeoreiaEy OF War Tells OF HIS Tlslt 90
Camp WtkoR and OF the condi-
fIons there

Washington, Sept 6-Secretsry AL
ger, who returned late Saturday night
from New York after his inspection
tour through Camp WilzOf at MOntauk
point. with President Mckinley and
several Of the bureau officials Of the
war department, commented last night
upon the conditions Of the camp and
stated the results Of his visit The
secretary said:
IfeeI certain. after careful examination Of
Camp WTlzOG and thorough investigation Of
its conditions that everything possible IS BE-
Ing done for the men. both sick and ven, Who
are detained there The camp Is an admirable
ane-ths best, think. I ever saw The site Is
deal Itis beautiful without being picturesque,
snd IS certainly as heathful camp location
as could be found in the eastern country
While the conditions are as good as could
reasonably be expected In the cirCum-
stances-even better than ever knew them 20
be IN camp-a shade Of gloom IS cast over the
sncampment By the physical condition Of the
men Sickness suffering and death mar what
would otherwise be magnificent military Pic
tura These conditions. however. are not the
result Of the situation Of the camp itself, but
Of the terrible campaign through which the
troops passed That campaign at Santiago
viii be memorable in the military history OF
the world II was wonderful both in It's con-
duct and In the results accomplished Few
military experts expected when the campaign
was fnauEurated that such 2 success could be
achieved in 50 short . time II was trench
dous undertaking to begin a campaign In q
tropical country during the rainy season
| AGAINST a position naturally 50 strong and 50
/ well defended as was Santiago That success
| was achieved 50 soon and with . loss compare
lively so small is due 70 the energy and ability
| Of Gen Shafter and his commanding otncers
| and 90 the dash, bravery ana splendid fighting
I qualities Of the men Of Gen Skaters corps
| I talked with Gen ShafteT and he discussed
I 80 IL rrfnH- nnH n 10
/ come in the Santiago campaign BE said that
| when he arrived in Cuba and realized the con-
| ditions that confronted him and his men, he
! knew that the campaign must OF necessity be
| one Of days rather than Of weeks and months
| he had lost nearly al his lighters and was
| thus seriously Handicapped IN erect
/ ing q landing Of both his troops
| and the stores and supplies Wnlcn
! the feet carried The tremendous rains which
| set in Immediately after his arrival rendered
| il next 70 impossible for either the troops OF
| supplies 70 be gotten forward He felt how
| ever that whatever were the difficulties, he
| must press forward and II possible end the
| cauuafs-n in the briefest time The climatic
! conditions were such that 70 lose any time
! meant the destruction Of his command By ILL
| ness and the consequent failure OF the expedi-
| ton He took no chances on delays, therefore
/ but swept his gallant army upon the SPaniards
/ with such Irresistible dash that victory was
/ won almost before the Spanisrds themselves
| realized what they had TO encounter
| 1t IS perfectly evident now that. had Gen
! Skater waited until his army and its supplies
could have been sent forward, with ordinary
| elaboration, the expedition against Santiago
/ would have failed utterly. In q measure Il
| was HIS disregard for military conventionalt
/ ties that enabled him 70 carry the campaign Z
a brilliantly successful issue It is particularly
/ notable that the. men -EhO-tTSre actualtJ en-
/ eaged in the Santiago campaign are not com
| planning OF their treatment talked viii
/ scores Of them-I was about saying hundreds
| and not breath Of complaint did hear IRON
any Of them They suffered. they are suffer
ing yet. but they endured and are endurinl
| their trials like Spartans- There may be in
diVfdual cases Of Complaints It would tndee'
be strange II there we're not; but as o body tn
| army Of Gen. Skater is not only satisfied viii
the situation but UNNECESSARILY proud OF II
| marvellous achievements
The president was particularly solicitor
| about the condition Of the men who are III
! He went 20 Camp WikOG 10 ascertain for him
self whether the men in the ranks needed any
| thing that they we're not getting his order
! were that they should not want for nothing
I but he desired personally 20 know Whethe
those orders we're being carried out Ate
| several hours Of patient Investigation and care
| ful examination. he left camp satisfied ina
. / The men we're being as well cared for as the
could be in field hospital He took no olicta
! word for anything. Such q visit as Presiden
| Mckinley made TO Camp Wtkon is almOs
l unique IN military annals He went 70 cam
j
] rience 20 make an investigation He had serve
in the camp and in the field himself and b
knew what ought 70 be expected in the circum
/ stances That he was reasonably well satiste
with the conditions as he found them is q guar
antee that they are not far wrong
Conditions have changed materially durln
! the third Of a century since the civil war Tn
was noted especially b. every one Of the Of
soldiers in our party yesterday In the no;
pitfalls a. Camp YTilzOh the patients have plent
Of ice. milk. lemons and many delieacies Whic
we're seldom seen in the feld hospitals duriu
the last war Then, too, each cot is supple
with fresh clean sheets and pillow eases eac
[ dav and there are trained female nurses
look after the wants Of every patient Thes
| things now are the tribute grateful govern
ment pays to its splen lid soldiers, who, IN add
, ing lustsr to the fame Of their country, haI
won for themselves glory that time VIII n
1 dim
Secretary Alger said there was n
: intention Of abandoning Camp WikOf
The troops will be kept there so Ion
as it NAV be deemed desirable to kee
mp the camp. A rumor was given Gu
> rency that the camp, having bee
found by the president to be insult.
bic for its purposes, was to be abal
doned Immediately. This Secretar
: Alger pronounced 10 be withOJ
7 foundation
: MRS. DREYFUS' APPEAL.