Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-04
TRANSPORTING TROOPS EAST
Plans Have Been Perfected BY the War De-
partment.
Canvas Uniforma to he Tried-Ar-
engagements Made for a Coast
and Gulf Signal System.

The War Department has perfected plans
for the immediate transportation Of all
the troops at posts east of the Rocky
mountains, together with full field equip
ments, to the Atlantic seaboard In case
of necessity. These troops are now resting
on their arms awaiting orders. The ma
jority of them will be modified at Allan
ia, headquarters Of the new department OF
the gull, and then distributed to points
wherever needed.
Gen. Miles says that facilities are ample
to move 100000 troops, If necessary, front
the lake region ard the Ohio valley to the
southern Atlantic ano gulf coasts in
twenty-four hours. More time will be re-
quired, of course, for the troops at more
distant points. Special trains will be Lsed
in the movement and ordinary traffic will
be subordinated to the emergency of the
case. In case hcstilHies assume serious
proportions, it is not improbable that Gen.
Miles will command the army in the field.
Otherwise the command of the forces in
the field will devolve either on Major Gen.
Merritt, commanding the department of
the east, present headquarters at New
York, or on Brig. Gen. Graham, COM
manding the department of the gulf, head
quarters at Atlanta. Unless otherwise Or
dered. however, Gen. Graham will have
command Of all the troops ordered to duty
in his department., which includes the
coast line from Norfolk to the Rio Grande,
and will organize them on war basis.
Troops Awaiting Orders.
The troops now awaiting emergency or
ders for field duty are the following: oath
Infantry (colored), Fort Douglas, Utah i;
25th Infantry (colored), under orders to
Key West; Sd Infantry. Fort Smelling.
Ivan. T,,F,
cago; 9th Infantry, Fort Thomas, KY;
7th Infantry, Fort Logan, Col; 9th In
fantry, Madison barracks, New York; 10th
Infantry, Fort Reno, Oklahoma; 18th In
fantry. en- route to Jefferson barracks
Mo-; 18th Infantry, Fort Niobrara, Neb. );
18th Infantry. Fort Porter, N. Y; 18th
Infantry, Columbus, Ohio; 18th Infantry,
Fort Bliss and San Antonio, Tex; 10Th
Infantry, Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich; Goth
Infantry, Fort Leavenworth, KAN; 21sl
Infantry, Plattsburg barracks, N. Y; 22d
Infantry, Fort Cook, Neb.: 23d Infantry,
Fort Clark, Tex; LIST Cavalry, Fort Riley,
Kan. Sd Cavalry, Jefferson barracks, Mo. !;
5th Cavalry, Fort Sam Houston, Tex, and
9th Cavalry (colored).
In anticipation Of a possible increase in
the enlisted force, requisition has been
made on the government printing office for
10000 blank regimental muster rolls. This
action may have a bearing on the proposed
mastering in of part of the National
Guard, including the District militia.
Canvas Uniforms to Be Tried.
Gen. Miles, commanding the army, has
ordered one hundred canvas uniforms. with
a view to their general introduction as
light and serviceable field uniform by the
United States army. 1t is a marked depar-
ture in uniforming the army. and one In
the interest of preserving the health Of the
men while in active service. The sample
uniforms already ordered are of strong
~ F,a favt hrrf dpyrp hi q
rial. The color is gray brown, said to be
particularly desirable in time Of hostilities,
as it is difficult to distinguish 1t from the
earth, grass, corn fields or dead leaves. 1t
is light and cool in summer and comfort
able in winter. 1t is also impervious to
water These canvas suits are already In
use among huntsmen and frontiersmen.
and are excellent for rough outdoor work.
Gen. Miles idea has been to combine this
serviceable hunting suit with enough color
and adornment to give 1t military aspect.
The final designs show the canvas suit and
buckskin leggins. with colored cloth cufrs,
collar, chevrons, and national coat-of-arms
above the chevrons The color OF the cuffs,
chevrons etc, denotes the arm of the ser
vice-blue for the infantry. red for the ar
tillery and yellow for the cavalry. The hat
is of light felt or canvas, similar to that
now worn, but turned up on the left side,
with colored rosette, indicating the arm
of the service, and a snort algrette or
ploom above the rosette. The knee breeches
and legg1ns complete this serviceable mill
tary field uniform.
The principal advantage of the new uni
form is that it will keep the wearer dry,
and so protect him from malarial and other
feyers Gen. Miles said that nearly two
thirds of the deaths during the war of the
rebellion were due to diseases resulting
from the wearing OF wet clothing.
New Military Signal System.
The Navy Department has completed ar
rangements for operating the new coast
and gulf line signal system by which COM
munication will be established between
ships near the coast and the Navy Depart
ment. An allotment of $1,000 for each state
has been made from the emergency fund
for erecting tall signal poles at the prin-
cipal stations, the construction OF sema-
phores and the purchase of flags and other
signal appliances. 1t has been practically
decided not to Use the light house stations
for signal purposes, In view of their liabili-
ty to be hit and destroyed by an enemy's
fire. Tall mast poles or signal stations of
skeleton pattern, from which the flags may
be displayed, will be used instead
Gun Cotton Adopted.
The government has adopted gun cotton,
one of the most powerful destroyers of the
age. as the service high explosive for the
great guns of warships and seacoast de-
lenses Recent tests at the Indian Head
and Sandy Hook proving grounds have
demonstrated the entire feasibility OF firing
from modern rifed guns. with smokeless
powder az the propelling agent, steel shells
carrying heavy charges of gun cotton. The
adoption of this destructive agent was
fastened by the threatened rupture with
Spain. 1t is regarded as one OF the most
| important measures taken within the last
! few weeks for Strengthening the national
lenses.
The Cost Of War.
A prominent officer of the army in speak
| ing today of the prospects OF war. said
| Taking no account Of the loss of life and
| the consequent increase in our pension roll
| it will cost about $1O0,OOO,OO0 month to
carry on a war. 1t costs about $780, fol
| instance, every time one of the big coast
| defense guns is fired, and an engagement
| between two battle ships costs about $780,.
| 600 an hour