The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-03
Says Accounts of Suffering and
PFiVatiOn
AMONG THE SOLDIERS
Are 0TerdraWn in Many In
stances.
Sampson Caused Hurried De.
parture to Cuba.

Major General Joseph wheeler mas
given the following to the Associated
Press:
Headquarters United States Forces.
Camp Wikoff, L. I.
The following is a sample Of the let
tiers we are constantly receiving re-
garding the soldiers in the camp:
In regard to my stepson, we feel
very uneasy about him on account of
the newspaper reports of the privation
and suffering inflicted on the private
soldiers. Although he has never utter
ed complaint since he has been in the
army, we hear from other sources of
the cruel and horrible treatment in
ficted on our soldiers under the pre-
tense of humanity for our neighbOrs.
and the whole country is in a state OF
terrible excitement
Il should not be surprised if the feeling
should lead to a revolution of some
kind, for I assure you I hear on all
sides the most violent and bitter de-
nunciatiOns of the war department and
the administration. 1t Is indeed a great
pity that the glory of our triumphs
should be dimmed by such a shameful
thing as the ill-treatment and Starva-
ton of our own brave soldiers, while
the Spanish prisoners have the best
treatment that the country can Afford
1t will be seen that this letter says
that not a word of complaint has been
received from this soldier, and so far as
my investigation goes, no complaint
has been made by any of the brave SOL
diers that have added glory to our
arms in the Cuban campaign. A great
many anxious fathers, mothers, broth
erS or sisters arrive here from all parts
of the United States to look after their
relatives, whom they say the papers
tell them are suffering, and many of
them have heard that their relatives
are in q condition of starvation. Most
of these people are little able to expend
the money for such a journey, and they
are surprised when they come here to
find their relatives surrounded with
everything to eat which can be pro-
cured by money; and if sick in the hos
pitaI they are gratified and surprised
to find that they are given every pos
sible care. In reply to a direct request
that I give the exact facts as I see
them, I will state:
Every officer and soldier who went to
Cuba, regarded that he was given a
great and special privilege in being per
mitted to engage in that campaign.
They knew they were to encounter yell
low fever and other diseases, as well as
the tOrrid heat of the country and they
were proud and glad to do so. They
knew that it was impossible for them
to have the advantage of wagon trans
pOrtatiOn, which usually accompanies
an army, and yet officers and men were
glad to go, to carry their blankets and
their ratiOns on their backs, and to be
subjected, without any shelter, to the
sun and rains by day and the heavy
dews by night. They certainly knew
that the Spaniards had spent years in
erecting defenses, and it was their
pleasure to assault and their duty to
capture the Spanish works.
They were more than glad to incur
the hardships and these dangers. They
went there and did their duty; each
man seeming to feel that American
honor and prestige was to be measured
by his conduct. The brave men who
won the victories did not complain of
the neglect of the government but on
the contrary they seemed grateful to
the president and secretary of war for
giving them the opportunity to incur
these dangers and hardships They re-
allied that in the hurried organization
of an expedition by a government which
had no one with any experience in such
matters, it was impossible to have eV-
erything arranged to perfection; and
they will testify that under the cir
cumstances the conditions were much
more perfect than any one would have
reason to expect, and that the presi-
dent and secretary of war and others
who planned and dispatched these ex-
petitions, deserve high commentator.
One reason why our army was lack
ing in some respects in equ1page was
that a telegram was received from Ad-
miral Sampson stating that II the army
reached there Immediately they could
take the city at once, but II there
should be delay, the fOrtihcatlonS or the
Spaniards would be so perfected that
there might be great difficulty in taking
it. On receiving this dispatch from
Admiral Sampson the war department
directed the army to move at once, and
as all connected with the army will re-
call, the orders were received after
dark and the army was in motion, had
Travelled nine miles and was on the
ships at daylight. When the expedition
sailed for Cuba it went there escorted
by a large fleet of warships. At that
time it was regarded as impossible for
a merchant ship to sail on the ocean
safely from any American port to San
tiago, but as soon as the Spanish fleet
was destroyed, so that it was possible
for unhampered ships to sail safely to
Santiago, the generous people of the
United States subscribed money with
out limit and dispatched ship after
ship loaded with 1uxuries and delica-
cies for the Santiago army, and every
thing that could be accomplished for
their comfort was done by the president
and secretary of war.
After the surrender had been COM
pleted and the arrangements perfect
ed for transporting the Spanish army
to Spain, the president and secretary of
war sent shipping to Santiago and
transported our. army to one of the
most healthful localities in the United
States. The point selected by the sec
rotary of war was so situated that
thorough protection was given the peO-
pie of the United States from the dam
ger of yellow fever contagiOn. The
soldiers, upon their arrival at this
place. received every care and bounty
which could be procured by money. The
president and secretary of war directed
that their health and comfort should be
cared for without reference to expense,
and in addition the people within cir
Gle of 100 miles Wed with each other in
shipping to them carloads and steam
boat loads of luxuries of all kinds.
have just finished my daily inspec-
ton of the hospitals.
With rare exceptions the sick are
cheerful and improving. I have nurses
and doctors to care for them, and in all
my many tours have not found a sin
gle patient who made the slightest COM
plant It is true there has been suf-