The evening times., 1898-05-14

the island is in some measure retarded
by the scarcity of supplies.
The Commissary Department is the only
branch of the service that is not behind
in its work. 1t is shipping food and for
age to the points of concentration at the
rate of million dollars worth day, and
can continue to do SO indefinitely.
With the quartermaster generals de-
partment 1t is altogether different. 1t
is issuing clothing and camp equipment
as fast as il is received, but at present
none is being received.
The contracts of this department were
all made on the supposition that a small
force of men and supplies would be sent
to Gen. Gomez and that he would work
out his own salva:io till the rainy sea-
son was over. when a large army would
be sent from this country.
The change of plan has affected every
thing. The price of cloth has gone up
and canvass cannot be bousht.- There is
none on the market and the Government
Is having 1t made.
Some of the States are able to equip
their quotas with very little help from
thc SoNCf HAicAt,
New York, Pennsylvania. Michigan. Wis
consin and Illinois. These States have
always had a well-equipped and thor
Oughly-organized National Guard, and
the clothing and camp equipage Of these
organizations helped the Government
materially.
1t is largely the lack of equipment that
has retarded the movements of the Dis
trict National Guard. Some of the COM
panies which went into camp yesterday
are not fully uniformed. and many of the
men have no rubber blankets.
The quartermaster generals depart
ment Is rushing matters fast as il
can. 1t is calling for bids for tents. over
coats, trousers, shoes, rubber blankets,
WOODEN blankets and blouses. There are
with firms in every city all over
the country, and the factories are run
ming tweftS four hours a day, but they
cannot turn the goods out fast enough.
As soon &s.the garments are received
by the Government inspectors they are
shipped to the points of concentration
and held in readiness. At least, that is
the plan. But, so far, they have barely
received enough to ciothe the recruits
of the regular army, and the volunteers
will have to wait.
Yesterday morning the quartermaster
general received notice that 1900 pairs OF
shoes will be ready for shipment by the
end of the week. This is only drop in
the bucket however, as. in most cases.
contractors have asked for more time.
Tenting is the hardest commodity of all
to get. The supply OF canvass ran out
long ago. and the Government Is buying
it as fast as the looms can turn II out
This is one, Of the most important items
of the quartermaster's account. 1t is alb
soluteiy necessary to have tents before
1t is possible to concentrate any consider
able body of troops. Some of the States
that have camp. eauipage in accordance
with the army regulations VIII furnish
their own tents. but the number of such
States is very small. Many have not
even clothing and other necessaries- The
supply of little things that are very i'm
portant but which are apt to be over
looked is also short Canteens. haver-
sacks. hats etc. are as necessary as
oyercoats, but are not by any means as
easy to obtain. The factories that supply
these things are working day and night.
The contracts for rubber blankets and
rubber overcoats, very necessary things
for a campaign in rainy weather IN
Cuba. are being pushed as fast as pos
sible.
affairs is better. The volunteers will nor
all be equipped with the krag-Jorgensen
rifles the new arm adopted in the Regu-
lar Army 1t was reported that lOO.eOO OF
these guns were in the various Govern
ment arAeiials but this was an error, as
the number now on hand is barely enough
to arm the Regular Army. 1t has been
that the various factories which
make these guns were capable of turning
n =
estimate. Not anywhere near that num-
ber can be supplied in such n short time.
There are number of Winchester rifles
and ammunition for the same in the pos
session of the Government, and II is prob
able that these will be issued to the vol
unteers that are not already armed. Most
Of the National Guard organizations carry
the old style Springfield rifle and under
stand the use of it thoroughly. They will
probably be allowed 20 retain this arm in
the absence of enough of the krag-Jor-
gensen pattern.
This will give the American forces three
different styles of arms and ammunition.
The Krag-Jorgensen is of much small
er caliber than either the Springfield or
whose ammunition Is inter- |
This makes it very inconven-
lent for the Ordnance Department in ham
ding the several styles of ammunition.
The troops will not be equipped till they
reach the points of concentration and they !
cannot be concentrated till camp equipage |
IS found.
In the absence of enough tents the quar- |
ermaster general considered the plan Of |
building barracks such as were used by |
he Grand Army at their encampment |
lere some years ago. The plans for the |
buildings were delivered to the quarter |
master general yesterday morning and he |
vas closeted with the architect who drew |
hem. A. w. Burk. of this city, for an |
lour No decision was reached, however, |
md nothing could be learned. but 1t is
probable that the plan will be rejected.
Rev. A. ]. Diaz, the well-known Bap-
ist preacher, pastor of the largest Baptist |
.hurch in the world and called the "Apos-
lie to Cuba. Z" will return to Cuba on the |
itaff of Gen. Miles. This arrangement |
las Just been consummated. Three mis- |
sionaries from the Southern Baptist Con- |
It was also arranged at the same |
ime. will go with the invading army.
Many old soldiers now feel the effects
II the hard service they endured during |
he war. Mr.. Geo. S. Anderson, of Ross !
;ille York County. Pa, who saw the
hardest kind of service at the front, is |
low frequently troubled with rheuma-
ism. II had severe attack lately" he
'ays. "and procured a bottle Of Cham-
,erlains Pain Balm. 1t did so much GOOD |