The record-union., 1898-09-05
Secretary AIger Satisfied With Its
Condition.
Thinks II the Best Camp He Ever
Saw.
Certainly as HeaIthful a Camp Lo-
cation as Could Be Found in
the Eastern Country and the
Men Well Cared For-Why
Shafter Rushed the Campaign
at Santiago.

at Santiago.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4. - Secretary
Alger, who returned last night from
New York after his inspection through
Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point with
President Mckinley and several of the
bureau officials of the War Depart
ment, commented tonight on the con-
ditions of the camp and stated the re-
suits Of his visit The Secretary said:
1 feel certain, after aI~areful exam-
ination of Camp Wikoff and a thorough
investigation of it's conditions that
everything possible is being done for
the men, both sick and we'll, who are
detained there. The camp is an ad-
mirable one-the best, I think, 1 ever
saw. The site is ideal 1t is beautiful
without being picturesque, and is GER
tainly as healthful a camp location as
could be found in the eastern country.
That success in the campaign was
achieved SO soon, and with loss COM
paratively so small is due to the en-
ergy and ability of General Shafter and
his commanding officers, and to the
dash, bravery and splendid fighting
qualities of the men of General Shat
ter's corps.
L talked yesterday with General
Shafter," continued the Secretary, land
he discussed some of the obstacles
which had to be overcome in the Santi-
ago campaign. Just now he, by the
way, is suffering from the effects of the
campaign himself. While l chatted
with him his face was flushed with fe-
Yer, and he was really a sick man.
Upon his arrival at Montauk Point he
went into the detention camp with the
other soldiers, 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
expected, upon leaving the detention
camp, TO assume command of Camp
Wikoff. / have not heard whether he
took command to-day or not.
He said that when he arrived in
Cuba and realized the conditions tina;
eenfronted~hira and his men he knew
that the campaign must of necessity 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 tremen-
dous rains which set in Immediately
after his arrival rendered it next to
impossible for either the troops or sup
plies to be gotten forward He felt
however, that whatever were the diff
culties he must press forward and if
possible end the campaign in the brief
est time. The climatic conditions We're
such that to lose any time meant the
destruction of his command by illness
and the consequent failure of the expe-
dition. He took no chances on delay,
therefore, but swept his gallant army
upon the Spaniards with such irresist-
ible dash that victory was won almost
before the Spaniards themselves real
ized 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 deliberation the
expedition against Santiago would have
failed utterly. In a measure. it was
his disregard for military convention
alities that enabled him to carry the
campaign 10 brilliantly successful is
sue.
During all the time the troops were
lying in the trenches before Santiago,
despite the immense difficulties expert
enced IN getting supplies to the front,
the men suffered very little from a lack
of provisions. OF course they did not
have what they are now receiving &t
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
supplies. but, as a rule, the men had all
that soldiers of the Union army had al
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 COM
plant.
TT is particularly noticeable" con-
timed Secretary Alger that the men
who were actually engaged in the San
tiago campaign are not complaining OF
their treatment / talked with scores
of them-I was about to say hundreds
and not a breath of complaint did
hear from any of them. They suffered
they are suffering yet, but tney en-
dured and are enduring their trlals
like Spartans. There may be individ-
uaI cases of complaints 1t would IN
deed be strange if there were not; but
as a body the army of General Smarter
&c not only satisfied with the situation
hut immeasurably proud of its mar
yelous achievements.
1.-The President was particularly So
Hcitous about the condition of the mer
who are Ill. He went to Camp Wikofl
TO ascertain for himself whether the
men in the ranks needed anything that
they were not getting. His orders were
that they should want for nothing, bu'
he desired personally to know whether
those orders were being carried out
After several hours of patient inVesu-
cation and careful examination, he lef'
camp satisfied that the men were De-
ing as we'll cared for as they couIo
he in a field hospital. He took no ON
ciaI's word for anything. He had gone
70 the camp to see for himsef, aho
biseconviction as to the conditions was
reached only after he had come IN Per
e,naI contact with those conditions.
..In the hospitals he went from Waro
20 ward. almost from cot to cot, stop
rsng every few seconds to talk to the