The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-06
pl,in F,e,l u. Mltiee.

che suffering OF our fOluuteeE SgAaAsAo
In the camps was due TO lack Of e1-
pedence with the requirements Of camp
life. ana, IN some cases, TO a lack OF ex-
perience on the part of the officers in
command, are at variance with the
testimony OF experienced men and the
evidence OF surgeons To Gay this Of
volunteers, who were suddenly taken
nom lives In which they had never
been called upon to observe the rigon
Of military camps and the care Of them
selves necessary In following soldier
life. Is no reelection upon their loyalty
nor upon their characters.
It Is true that General Miles used an
expression, quoted by the Register, to
the enect that whoever declared that
the men suffered because they liked It
lnsulted them." but nobody has ever
brought such q charge against our
troops. Neither has any one ever charg-
cd that all the disease and suffering was
becauoe the troops were DESTROYS Of Vi
olatIng sanitary and health laws It
has been true. however, and is being
brought out in the investigation, that
personalneglecton the part of the troops
and In many cases reckless disregard Of
these rules, were responsible for much
suffering. The men simply. through
lack Of experience, being unused 70
camp life were not as careful as expert
ence has since taught them to be, or
as trained soldiers usually are.
This IS no insult 20 the soldiers. It is
true the world over of fresh recruits Of
an army raised from civil life suddenly
to meet immediate emergencies. 1t was
true In the civil war, ana the statements
of mortality in the armies of Europe
bear it out. More men die Of disease
in every war in which great armies are
raised than In battle, the mortality
statements Of wars prove 1t. Our own
country's war history proves It NO less
than those OF otller countries.
All this Is borne out by the compare
tive suffering existing in the camps both
at the front and in this country among
the seasoned. trained and experienced
regulars and the volunteers many OF
whom totally lack training, seasoning
and experience. 1t is natural, and even
General Miles, recognized the fact. Vet
eran soldiers Of the country recognize 1t,
and are commenting on 1t. II the agi-
tation and the Remuneration Of these
unfortunate circumstances, and the mis-
representation and e1aggeration were
not 90 frequent. in past wars 1t was be-
cause the country was not then cursed
with the modern type of yellow Jour
nails, the stock in trade Of which is to
appeal to prejudice. TO agitate the pub
lie mind and to trafic in sensationalism.
AS the investigation by the commits
sioners appointed by the President
proceeds, there Is already cessation Of
the Misrepresentation that have been
INDUCED In. This Is due TO two reasons:
The commission has notified the yellow
papers to appear and make good thdr
charges so recdessly published, and the
fesamnoy Of officers OF high character
ls bringing out some facts concerning
the point we have referred to The con-
dltions OF camp life and the comparative
situations where strict discipline and
the conduct OF troops varied are pre-
senting contrasts that carry with them
their own lesson.
Incidentally, It may be wen to call
public attention to the statement of
General Joe wheeler before the invests
gazing commission on Tuesday. 1t de-
serves a careful reading. Tue charae-
tor of the man and his own splendid
record in the war carry conviction when
his statement eontradlcts the con-
,empuble Misrepresentation INDUCED
in by the sensational press. II Is fair.
lacks the slightest elements Of an APP
narent desire TO "whltewash" matters.
and gives what Is evidently the plain,
frank truth concerning the conditions.
We presume that this southern hero,
"a Democratic leader in Congress, a sim
cere and homes, man and patriot, whose
word carries conviction, is not open to
vlnIhcatlon as political favorite,"
nor to the charge of insulting our sol
diers, when ne declares:
'.The regulars had shown a greater
ability to take care Of themselves than
the volunteers. The volunteers were
more careless, but the volunteer cav
alrymen we're not 50 negligent as the
other volunteers, because they were
generally western men. VINO had been
used to camping. He thought thls fact
had strong influence In causing the
health of the regiments to be better than
the volunteers"
This Is the whole matter nom a brave
soldier, himself D volunteer, but expert
enced in a previous great war. He con-
firms the statements of other military
authorities. Let the Register open up
on General Wheeler as a ''libeller" for
utterng this truth, 80 plain to every
body except the political yulNres who
are making party traffic Of the suffering
Of inexperienced volunteers, who have
not been In the service long enough to.
learn the lesson Of experience, and who
deserve more substantial sympathy
than that inspired by malicious desires