The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-05
The Announcement Came on Account
of Certain Troops Mr. Mckin-
ley Ordered Sent Home.
FRESH PRAISE FOR SHAFTER
HOW HIS DAsHING VICTORY AT SAN
TIAGO WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
Shade of Gloom the Result Of the De-
biIitated Army That Came
Back from Cuba.

4
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-Secretary Alger.
| who returned late last 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 to-
night on the conditions of the camp. and
stated the results of his visit The secretary
| said:
II fell certain, after a careful examina-
tion of Camp Wikoff and a thorough in
vestigation of it's conditions, that everything
| possible is being done for the men, both
| sick and well, who are detained there. The
camp is admirable one-the best, / think,
/ ever saw. The site is ideal. 1t is beauti-
full without being picturesque, and is GER
| tainly 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 circumstances
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. Sickness, suffering ana death
mar what would otherwise be a magnificent
military picture. These conditions, how
ever, 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 Santiago will be
memorable in the military history of the
world 1t was wonderful both in it's con-
duct and in the results accomplished Few
military experts expected when the cam
paign was inaugurated that such a success
could be achieved in so short time. 1t
was a tremendous undertaking to begin a
campaign in a tropical country during the
rainy season against a position naturally
| so strong and so we'll defended as was San
| tiago. That success was achieved so soon
and with loss comparatively so small is
due to the energy and ability of General
| Shafter and his commanding officers and
to the dash, bravery and splendid fighting
qualities of the men of General Shafter's
corps.
Il talked yesterday with General Shat
| ter continued the secretary, land he dis
cussed 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 campaign himself. While 1
| chatted with him his face was flushed with
fever and he was really sick man. Upon
| his arrival at Montauk Point he went into
the detention camp with the other soldiers
| aad, like true soldier he is, he asked moth
| ing better for himself than was being
| The time of his detention expired to-day
| and he expected, upon leaving the deten-
ton camp, to resume command of Camp
Wikoff I have not heard whether he took
| command 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 cam
| paign must of necessity be one of days
rather than of weeks and months. He had
lost nearly all of his lighters and was thus
seriously handicapped in effecting a landing
of both his troops and the stores and sup
plies which the feet carried. The tremen-
dous rains which set in Immediately after
his arrival rendered it next to impossible for
either the troops or supplies to be got
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 de-
struction of his command by illness and the
consequent 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 them
selves realized what they had to encounter.
1T is perfectly evident now that had
General Shaftei waited until his army and
its supplies could have been sent forward
with ordinary deliberaton the expedition
against Santiago would have failed utterly.
In measure, it was his disregard of mill
tary conventionalities that enabled him to
carry the campaign to brilliantly success
full 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 a lack of provi-
sions. OF course, they did not have what
they are now receiving at Montauk Point,
but they had the actual necessaries of life.
notwithstanding the newspaper reports to
the contrary.
Doubtless there were individual cases of
suffering because of the scarcity of sup
plies at the front. but, as rule, the men
had all that the 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 complaining
1t is particularly notable" continued
Secretary Alger, earnestly. that the men
who were actually engaged in the Santiago
campaign are not complaining of their
treatment. talked with scores of them
/ was about to say hundreds-and not a
breath of complaint did / hear from anv
of them. They suffered-they are suffering
yet-but they endured and are enduring
their trials like Spartans There may be
individual cases of complaints. 1t would.
indeed, be strange If there were not; but
as body the army of General Shafter is
not only satisfied with the situation. but !