New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-24


FOR HARDsH1Ps ENDURED BY SOLDIERS.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuyE.I
Washington Sept 2S.-1n THE Evening Star" ~
today the following letter from a non-commis-
stoned officer Of the LIST District of Columbia Nolun-
tecrs is published
To the Editor Of The Evening star
The continued malignant and unjust attacks upon
sscreaTy AgeT mo1e o Sy r P9 d limited Know
cdF" and ideas has aroused within me a desire 10
are This unseemIy abuse of the Secretary Of War
and 'hose Immediately under his Supervisor rev T
Aser acquainted with the daily routine or
Army NE even IN time OF peace ana 10 one VINO
attempts IN make political capital out NJ nothing
a not only hdeous for their efrontery and malice.
In The matter Of the published complaints Of en-
listed men alone the sensational press IN New orn
and other cities has been doing itself more than
i,l HI 'sferire Ir',sfe snth or rrovn is be-
comine an evesore in the columns Of more than
the real facts Of the case such interviews would
be- abandoned right speedily. From personal
/ am ablo to assert vim posItiveness and no fear
who make such brash accusations are me ones
who before tho were homeless nom DIS who
were recruited in tho missions and municipal
! lodging houses Of orr Eastern cities ,
should seek 10 win sympathy and help from 100
sympaihiznS peopi' ny lciat1ns bWtu' orignated
in tho brain Of him who tells i? Here et me
|
served i'm the lst tinted States Cavalry on ne
went through me t cam ,P Iasi !" Of T mS
company md regiment ] gave NJ paying Posff
ton ronQuishcd q life pension Of Ni a month eu
and sot . taste Of war am not citing these
things for my own laudauou but TO prove that h9d
would he among the number
INEFFICIENT OFFICERS TO BLAME.
sor,oi in Alger Thomas. Tampa and cuba and
] .ay this That o. per cent of the suffering and
Illness I'm the volunteer service was due to Inefficient
roglroental oficers ! challenge any man great or
small. 10 refute This assertion nv facts We who
went m cuba suffered hardships beside which tno'"
Of the troops IN thu big camps home we're as
| nauRht They had tents. clothing blankets and
the fun Army ration We slept ror several weeks
| under he heavens. rained continually, and lived
| on what We might And yet Regular soldier
has 20 my knowledge mad complaint Of any dis.
comfort he suffered during the campaign. Most ~
| us both Regulars and volunteers. who belonged 10
| the Fi,.h Armv Corps proud and glad to go
to Cuoa am soried IN the fsct that we were given
chance to endure. Those Of rs who had any
| knowledge o. military matters before TN" war "x-
! peotr1 ID suffer ~ know that war was hell IN
all Of IT, pn1ses ou' q" wanted iittie nell 49,
Gd not expect 20 attend picnic nor dln We eNp'cl
/ to 1--we IN European plan hoiels in the canPai,gn'
half expected 70 starve outright.
! We went m cuba. ana Their" began our froubles
| IN Tampa and ChickamauEa We had drawn ne , luli
| Army ne.d ration and grown 'at upom H. II 700
| par;men-sr 40 II The fault Of ineHp"rienc"d
| or lazy officers. who did NOT personally see 20 II
/
, plentiful and healthy. and evory soldier who VI al.
nit me truth must acknowledge that In America. ~
i, , a'ihs nT,,ioT 90 rho -oats-no trails
anl Door oroq A. maj made ~ Impossible for ms 70
cct fu rltions hu' affer he surr"nd"i 81 SANTIAGO
| dc Cuoa cyety regiment which mad efficient commits.
sarv and quarrcrmastcr departments had plenty ~
Regarding tho rain Is well 20 state nat soldiers
throw away her tents ana clothing Of TIER own
volnon on pushing 70 the front ind ms TOO;
! ne march from sihoney 10 the trenches thousands
/ % cans ~ beef. beans tomatoes. etc, were cast
: have hoped for. bat could any Government IN 20
| better3 bid England DO better in sending Kitch-
! euer's forces 20 Egypt No. no. no,
/ tho surrender. and one does not hear Regulars
compainlns And et me tell you n there had been
| Sscn the verv drst to enter protests. This talk
use vulgar term al al Al c ofreET
~ tnelr men. and th"y do so They are also 70
qlred. not supposed - report any ana az hata.
come. -t from MI The "' regulars 80
CAMP WIKOFF PRAISED.
! And 'he camps Let us look AT WlkoN much
mnlgned and criticised In All nv experience
| have never seen Aner more healthy camp.
| Tho water. ioe-cod. gushed from artesian wells
| from Two hundred 20 one thousand feet deep. The
hospitals We're excellent and the food good Who
| complained Why. homeslck. fovNr-prostrnted men,
VINO were ignorant ~ Army usages. customs ana
! around reporters and told dire tales Of want and
| suffering Talk % 0oorirgs for tents was foolish.
| We had no floors IN cuba
| General Wheeler himself than whom more ear
nest hard working and couscienticus soldier never
| wed would have been m" rrst to attack the De
| parfmcut had there been sufficient ground for ~
| Instead. 10 praised the camp arrangements 70 mo
! sky ,
The sensational press has 80 asi'aied the mothers,
| wives and sisters of tho country mat they are
rcatv 70 belieyo ANYTHING OF secretary Aleer. and
| vet ae he himself SAYS and as avery Regular
| Army officer Will corrOhorato. much OF m" sickness
! of fhc volunteers was caused unntcntonally. II IS
! true hv these same mothers and sisfcrS. VINO sent
hugo boxes ~ dcllcacies 10 their soldier relatives.
! N,ety per cont az the sickness IN our own regt-
/ mcr' m Tampa caused nv this one thing
! Civilian phvslcians viii also tell YOU that The
! to.re since coming from cuba has been caused ny
! too much eating with stomachs unac"ustomed %
| r.cl food the boys unthinkingy stuffed them
selves with good things upor their arrival ~ their
| homes and suffered IN consequence
Lei reason once more sway the American people,
| and cease an tbs foolish. malicious talk against
Secretary Aieer Il be- allfallacous. and only holds
| fq ilp 10 tho ridculo Of foreigners With nine
| 'onths ~ tho American volunteers. who are manly.
| truthful mon. ! stand ready N through tho
| same experiences II need be. tomorrow. and YOU
| may be suro that. man % education and IN
telUgencc would not say this n thought "" had
| 10Y 7. OCACKENBUSH,
| Late First Sergeant Company Z. lst Regiment
! Infantry District ~ Columbia Volunteers.
| Washington. u g.. Sept. q 1905