The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-05
ALGER PRAISES W|KOfF
Sickness and Death Was a Beau
tiful Picture.
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN
II VIII Be Memorable in the Military
History OF the World-The Warm
est Kind of Praise for Gem
eral Shafter

Washington. Sept. 4.-Secretary AL
ger. who returned last night from New
York, commented tonight on the con-
dition Of the camp and stated the result
of his visit The secretary said:
Il feel certain after a careful exam
ination of Camp Wikoff and a thorough
investigation Of its conditions that
everything possible is being done for
the men, both sick and well, who are
detained there. The camp is an admir-
able one-the best l think I ever saw.
The site is ideal. 1t is beautiful with
out being picturesque 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 In the cir
| cumstances-even better than | ever
knew them TO be in camp-a shade of
/ gloom is cast over the encampment by
! the physical condition OF the men. Sick
| ness, suffering and death mar what
/ would otherwise be a magnificent mill
! tary picture. Those conditions, however
| are not the result of the situation of
| the camp itself. but Of the terrible cam
| paign through which the troops have
! just passed. That campaign of SANTA
| go viii be memorable in the military
| history of the world. II was wonderful
! both in its conduct and the results ac-
| complshed. Few military experts ex-
! pected, when the campaign was inaugu-
| rated, that such success could be
achieved in so short a time. 1t was
tremendous undertaking to begin a
campaign in a tropical country during
| the rainy season against position nat
| urally so strong and so well defended
as was Santiago. That success
was achieved so soon and with
a loss comparatively so small is due TO
the energy and ability Of General Shaf-
ter and his commanding officers and to
the dash, bravery and splendid fighting
qualities Of the men Of General Skaters
corps.
Il talked yesterday with General
Shafter," continued the secretary, "and
he discussed some of the obstacles which
had to be overcome in the Santiago
campaign. Just now he. by the way, is
suffering from the effects of the cam
paign himself. While | chatted with
him, his face was flushed with fever and
he was really a sick man. Upon his
arrival at Montauk Point he went into !
the detention camp with the other SOL !
diers, and like the true soldier that he !
is, he asked nothing better for himself (
than was being received by the men |
whom he commands. The time of his |
detention expired to-day and he expect |
ed, upon leaving the detention camp TO |
assume command of Camp Wkoff. | |
have not heard whether he took COM
mand to-day or not.
He said that when he arrived in
Cuba and realized the conditions that /
confronted him and his men he knew
that the campaign must of necessity I
be one OF days rather than weeks and
months. He had lost nearly all of his |
lighters and was thus seriously handi-
capped in effecting a landing OF both
his troops and the stores and supplies
which the fleet carried. The tremend-
Gus rains, which set in Immediately af-
ter his arrival. rendered 1t next to i'm
possible for either the troops or supplies
to be gotten forward. He felt, however
that whatever were the difficulties, he
must press forward. and If possible. end
the campaign in the briefest time. The
climatic conditions were such that TO
lose any time meant the destruction OF
his command by Illness and the conse-
quent failure Of the expedition. He took
no chances on delay therefore. but swept
his gallant army upon the Spaniards
with such irresistible dash that victory
was won almost before the Spaniards
realized what they had to encounter.
1T is perfectly evident now that had
General Shafter waited until his army
and his supplies could have been sent
forward. with ordinary delberation. the
expedition against Santiago would have
failed utterly In a measure. II was his
disregard for military conventlonalities
that enabled him to carry the campaign |
10 a brilliantly successful issue.
During all the time the troops were
ying in the trenches before Santiago, !
despite the immense difficulties expert
anced in getting supplies to ,
he front, the men suffer
"a very little from lack OF
provisions. or course. they did not have
what they are now receiving al Mon
aux Point but they had the actual
OF life. Notwithstanding the !
newspaper reports to the contrary.
Doubtless. there were individual cases
" suffering because Of the scarcity of {
supplies. but as rule the men had all I
hat soldiers Of the union army had at {
lines during tho civil war. While the G
ederal soldiers were lying in the y
before Petersburg they suffered :
L times during those seven months for c
-ood food. but like the heroes before /
santiago, they endured without COM t
,laint. {
1T Is particularly noticeable" contin- d
ed Secretary AlEer. that the men who
we're actually engaged In the Santiago
are not complaining Of their
reatment l talked with scores Of !
hem-I was about 10 say hundreds :
nd not a breath Of complaint did hear ;
rom any Of them. They suffered. they :
re suffering yet. but they endured and
re enduring their trials like Spartans. y
here may be individual cases Of COM Il
laiuts 1t would indeed be strange II II
here We're not. but as a body. the army =
2 General Shafter Is not only satisfied
18th the situation. but immeasureably
roud II its marvellous achievements.
The president was very solicitOus q,
bout the condition Of the men who are >.
I. He went 10 Camp Wikoff 10 ascer- T
ain for himself whether the men in ir
he ranks needed anything that they ir
-ere not getting. His orders were / >,
nat they should want for nothing. but I -
. desired personally TO know whether / q
hose orders We're being carried out / "A
fter several hours Of patient investi- q
atInn and carafuL examination ha | tr