New-York tribune., 1899-02-15
CONDITIONS AT CAMP WIKOFF.
sAMrEL l. PARRISH WANTS TO KNOW WHO WAS
TO BLAME FOR THE st-FFERINGs OF THE
SOLDIERS AT MONTAUK POINT.


To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir. As private citizen, untrammeled by mill
tarv etlquet with nothing either 20 hope or fear
from the war Department. may be allowed TO
make a few observations on the report OF the war
Investigating Commission. so far as MontauK IS
concerned? I passed over TWO weeks Al Narnp
Wikor and IN order that my recollection In re-
gard TO matters Of detail might not be at fault
took notes each night Of what had seen and neard
during the day.
Following the statement Of the Commission. It
appcnrs that on August :. men, horses ana mules
hogan 20 arrive from the South, without tents or
coulpment OF any kind. and with only travel
retions a synonyme I presume. for no rations al
all when they had arrived at the end OF theT
Journey.
Following this statement comes the testimony o.
General Young who IS reported as saying that thls
state Of affairs gave rise to great deal o. uh-
necessary scandal in view OF the fact that the men
did not suffer Unbiased witnesses Of the terrible
eoanos az Nontauk will take most emphatic eXcep-
tlon 10 this extraordinary statement Of General
Young and the prominence given by the toInfnls-
sion 10 this notoriousy incorrect testimony VIII eo
far among responsible and Wei-intormed people ~
dlscredit the whole report. particularly such Pa''
as relates 10 favorable camp conditions
According to the Commission. 1t was aoout TWO
weeks before Camp Wikoff was in tolerap'e rum
ming order" Just what conditions constitute 0
erahle running order in the minds OF the Commits
the most ntolerebe and appalling conditiohs eA-
listed far into September. six weeks after the camp
WAS established. Simply as a sample regiment,
take the condition Of the % Regular Infantry IN
Septernber II out of tota4 of less lhah s'A nun
dred nep there were 200 on sick report many OF
them very Ill., and all lying on the ground OF oei
.c,,s practically without serious medical attention
1-non this date two Of the surgeons IN charse Oh
separate regiments each indepenoen'S ., uI'
o,ber IN the midst OF hundreds Of very SICK SOL
diers told me they were very nearly "Ne" ''9''''
b,, the conditions which surrounded thNH|
PM II Il useless 70 multiply statements IN Ie-
rrd - the shocking conditions prevailing at amp
Wiko1 so well known now 10 the ~hoe pody ol ''e
people -.. .oe,,uOor, NJ
| Genera Wheeler (and his best trien's may
gteh FOR the sake Of his own brilliant reputation
that he had al least kept sienU. the commission
somewhat grudeingly admits that thete may ""''
been neglect al camp WikoH. ,,,oa, "a who is
Sow what the country wants 10 Know, ~ VIZ VIZ - -
responsible for This neglect me eeheII. 90 90 1pt
thai the War Department was ,s1ni,s @ essortjal 49,.
complete srasp 9i 'he s.Ia"4 ,,n Of The army
a. rnf e-'fnclent Who gave the order that rea-4el
In landing taolsanas %, ,Iisuk ,l' without food or
eClVtrIent Of any kind? Who was responsible iot
& sHJ .oi6ters wing On the ground for DAYS and
weeks without hospital aceomH"9a%t % loI % - Cre ,.s
and other relief societies 10 prevent them IRON
J GV.rg by the hundred The Amer an peoi.s'
gh
9ouhfeflv only themselves 20 blame Ior much or tle
misery caused hy the general inefhctny OF ,ar
W. DeDartment, nut there were certainly Spe.ILD
SHORTCOMINGS which cannot DE thus tl"SStI "N'l'
An ordinary business corporation dedi ilhe M h.'i
rh.r,iise and conducted on Montauk methoas
! v,oud have been In the hands of receiver IN
,or.rt,-four hours and the receiver appointed 10y
a., c6rnefent court would certainly not nave neen
our present Secretary OF War. But here ne mer-
CGar9ise was the health and ives OF American
soj,o-e returning victorious 20 thelr own c"unr
ent H. ie1 lltfle over one hundred miles from ue
citv ~ New -YOrk On dine or prolourl pence
f,st 90 ~ tho memory Of the dead ar wei as the
,rscrest ~ the living requires searching IN
,r.o class Of Questions omitted from con
No. .,on hy the Commission. as well a. tho'e
mon which they have seen nj 10 comment. h"-
ivs fh. President did his best. 50 far as Iea7' a
The recent war inquiry is concerned. II "',,s ,not
,nrch for the conditions which confronted n!in
/ v,ore bovond the power OF one man 10 cope VIZ
f.t us hone however. that the American p'"Ll'
r-,1 continue 10 ask certain questions ahoNt tue
"o,''5,,+ of olr late war with spain unul tht} ar"
ne, cforlv answered by competent auin0lE-
In ,i,w of the many important questions ila' uAEr
e,r,e arisen let Us not forget those WhIrp I"gsCr
I culinary conditions would be all important -.
I 0rf ccish To- know who was Responsible lor 'le
/ trcepfiou and conduct Of Camp NlkoH, I0unu y"
- hosn dispraceful. even by the late 'oulls-
Hi,e -, tte a. Of generally favorable testimony
.o,, bigh official quarters The country WIN
si.ngrlar unanlmitv has laid the blame upon Sc
,,sr, Alger o. the responsible head oi tne w tl
I,euar,reut Justice 10 him. az wei! as 70 hs SUI SUI
ortnates and the country at large. REQUIRES @ sDlIIe
Kind of Judicial inquiry II ne vas nQt IpISIi -
mon who was "a MI ri l." 'i''N''
Nou-York Feb. II, 1899.