The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-04-22
Editor, Waterbury Democrat,

Editor. Waterbury Democrat, Waterbury, Conn.
 Dear Sir: It is only when the aging Spanish-Wa veteran looks over the pages of his album of the war of '98 that he realizes with somewhat of shock how time flies. It seems only yesterday that he landed back in the Good Old U. s. A." all shot with the ravages of tropical diseases such as the yellow fever, malaria, typhoid fever and wounds, but all aglow with the thrill of the feel of the old sod under his much travelled feet.
 And that was just thirty-five years ago next Tuesday. April 18th, the day on which Congress passed an act declaring a state of war be- tween the United States and Spain.
 America was caught unprepared with a standing army of 27,500 men scattered from east to west and south to north. Spain had well equipped army in Cuba of 135,000 trained veterans. Since 1861-65 practically nothing had been done to fortify our sea coasts with heavy guns. The Spanish navy was supposed to be superior to ours. An army officer of high rank told President Mckinley that we had not enough small ammu- milton to fight 8 battle lasting two hours.
 The entire country was rocked with varying thrills of patriotic fever, apprehension and withal de- termination to see the great adven- ture through. The people of the United States were asked to sub- scribe to a war loan of $200,O0O,- 900 government bonds. The Civil War was forgotten and the South joined hands with the North in the common defense of the coun- try.
 The greatest volunteer army the war has ever known answered President McKinley's call to the colors. Not one man was con- scripted. It was the rebirth of the nation, and marked the eco- homie and industrial reconstruc- ton of the South.
 By the end of the calendar year the entire war loan of $200,000,- 900 had been subscribed. It was one of the successes of the war. By it our financial credit was tn- creased abroad hundredfold, as we'll as at home.
 The soldiers had poor equip ment, anticipated Springfield rifles, single loaders, black powder cart ridges, and the rations were wormy biscuits in which the mag ots cracked like fire-crackers un- der the teeth, and embalmed beef that was filter for clothes-lines than eatable by humans, as it could be stretched without break ing the width of street. according to the estimation of the soldiers who had to abide with 1t.
 In these degenerate days when patriotism seems at low ebb, and the pacifists are a power in the land-when veterans of the War of 1898 are required to prove they incurred their disabilities in actual service, thirty-five years after the war ended, letters like the follow ing copied from the files Of the war department will be Of inter- est to those concerned In dispar- aging the men of '9S and what they accomplished:
 Letter from General Miles, com manding the U. s. Army in Wash ington, to General Shafter, com manding the front battle lines in Cuba:
 Headquarters of the Army.
 Washington, D. c. July 3. 1898. General Shafter, Playa del Este,
 Accept my hearty congratula- tions on the record made of mag nificent fortitude, gallantry and sacrifice displayed in the desper- ate fighting of the troops before Santiago. I realize the hardships, difficulties and sufferings, and am proud that amid those terrible scenes the troops illustrated such fearless and patriotic devotion to the welfare of our common coun- try and flag. Whatever the re- suits to follow their unsurpassed deeds of valor. the past is already gratifying chapter of history. expect to be with you within one week with strong r&nforcements. Miles, Major-General Commanding.
 Later, General Mil6s to Secre- atry of War Alger. Washington. D. c. There is not e single regiment of regulars or volunteers witn General ghafter's command that IS not infected with yellow fever. from one case in the EiRsth Ohio to thirty-six in the Th.ty-third Michigan.
 After consulting with best med ical authorities 1t is my opinion