The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-06
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
Not Done in a Jiffy.


1t is related of Won Moltke that,
when awakened in the dead of night
with the announcement that France
had declared war against Germany, he
remarked:
"Look in my cabinet, file A, drawer
%; send off the kilograms you find"
Then he turned over and went TO
sleep again.
An army is like a snake; it has great
length of body ard small head. The
head is the fighting part, and one of its
most important duties is to protect the
body, which consists of wagon trains
and lines of supplies; for if the body is
injured the head be co mes powerless.
In time of war, or in preparing an
army to take the field, a vast amount of
supplies, forage and equipment must
be constantly on hand or in easy reach.
While the provisioning of company,
battalion or regiment of l 600 men is
perhaps not difficult task, the supply
ing of meal for 100000 men is far
different matter; and it is absolutely
essential that transportation from the
base of supplies should at all times be
uninterrupted and subject to no delays.
For this reason the Government would
assume control of such railroads and
vessels as might be nc cessary, and they
would be run temporarily as an adjunct
of the army, private business being per-
mitted only so far as it did not cor flict
with military necessities.
If war should be suddenly declared,
and it became necessary to put an army
-, 20 10 a ha Ga1d tho
eral in command, upon an order from
the secretary of war, would at once re-
cruit the regular military establishment
up to its full limit of efficiency.
These men, together with The volun-
teers who bad been requisitioned from
the Governors of the various States, or
had been raised by direct enlistment,
would be assembled at some convenient
point, where they would be formed
into regiments, brigades and divisions
under Ulcers of sufficient rank in the
regular army. Nc st of the volunteers,
when they reached the rendezvous,
would be found 10 be imperfectly
clothed and shod, and also in many
cases entirely ignorant of the simplest
features of the life Of a soldier in the
field. These men must be taught to
know what is expected of them on the
march and in camp and what they must
do to preserve their health.
With en- army in the field hardly one
day in Thirty is given to fighting. The
other twenty-nine days of waiting must
be lived through in order that every
thing may be in readiness for the one
| day of work. 1t is not the one day of
| Goh rph tho hoir nf
fficer gray, but the twenty-nine day IS
of anxiety for his men, the supply of
their food and clothing, and the main
| tenance of health and good spirits
among them. Men do not fight well in
battle on empty stomachs, and yet the
ordinary soldier rarely takes care of the
provisions which are issued to him for
| forced marches. He eats them ell at
once or throws them away on account
of their weight, and at the end of a
long days march he is hungry, with
nothing 10 appease his hunger. Then
comes the trouble. He does not rea-
son; he grumhles and expects to be
supplied with more.
In Quitting an army other things
must be looked to besides the men.
Horses and mules for cartpg, artillery
and transport service have to be sup
piled and trained. A cavalry horse
differs in weight and character from
one which is to serve with the artillery,
and as much knowledge is required in
choosing animals for military service as
in selecting men.
Medical officers also have to be COM
missioned and instructed in the peculiar
duties which will devolve upon them,
and supplies of drugs, medicines, hos
pital equipment and tents must be ar
ranged for. Where many new and un.
seasoned men are gathered there is
sure to be more or less call for the SER
vices of doctor. All that pertains to
the medical department of the army is
under the charge of the surgeon-gen.
eral. The drugs are all supplied by
contract.
Soldiers expect to be paid, no matter
how much they are fred by patriotism,
30 the paymaster-general and the Off.
GERS of his department must, through
re QUESTION on the treasurer of the
United States, see that the private sol
der receives his $13 every month.
In short, every department and every
officer fulfills certain duties, and it is or
the prompt and accurate adjustment o.
all the wheels of the complicated ma
chine that it goes and performs thu
duties for which it was created
Selected.