New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-04

weapon. ana It's SmOKeless
special efficiency whether or no equal 70 our uth
or better il is magazine rife and Is p%dsn are
held in a clip and are detached from the peI' anu
placed in the rife in one molten .o,a,o~ con.
sists of blouse and trousers OF light blue drilling.
with fine white vertical stripes goohh e s they
seem to use no tentage their protection from me
weather being by means of their blockhouses. or
S5Te as they can get by putting up temporary
structures OF palm leaves Their fo9d so tar "a, as
trenchments after they had left. consisted mostly
of rice ard a coarse. hard hread OF "''"''''
color
THE CUBAN SOLDIERS
In the beginning the Cuban soldiers were largely
used as ou,posts on front and tanks There
has been a great deal Of discussion among officers
of this expedition concerning the Cuban soldiers
and the aid they have rendered. They seem 10
have very little organization discipline. and they
DO not. of course fight In the battle line Win 'ui
troops Yet in every skirmish or fight Where they
are present they seem to have fair proportion or
killed and wounded They were Of undoubted as
sistance In our first landing. and in scouting our
front and TANKS II Is not safe. however 10 rfN
upon their fully performing any specinc du'y' d.
cordng to our expecta tion and understandings uhes-
they are under the constant supel vision ana dlrec
ton Of Of own officers as our me an r
views are so different and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. "
our troops seem to have been reduced TO mini
mum Of protection from the weather that 'hr
ro tb nature p Of the case they ofen suffered
grent deal from unavoidable exposure DOT IIoi.
was necessary for them TO hivouac without putting
up their shelter tents In other caSe1 M s mo
tected from II, nnd they have been obliged 10
remain for days and nights 'oeensF IN not Of me
men tho officers in no case having gieatst pIo i
9a 'sa9 70 d,re sdaouae a q the STRAITS
and disconforts even suffering. 10 whicn inaioiun
hcVop1
hase Of supplies In the trenches II was ether very
h%t o." or ever very wet on rany days rencpes
partly filed with water. A. Ies,' c.'', ,nr ,ha
trouble being mostly in the nature Of fever no,
always malarial. but fever maj WAS P'''e "7'
and lasted from three to six days
HAMMOCKS AND TOOLS A BURDEN.
W. were told when Ne entered upon this cam
noirn that # was necessary above all things 10
sleep off the ground and hammocks we're recon-
rncnded 10 secure this end. Some were seen in
the original bales on the transports and u -
doubtful whether the soldiers could have carriei
hammocks in addition 10 what they already nave
TO carry Even such heavy nrenching TOOLS a.
were on hand were felt TO he a burden. perhaps
+, IS possible to make hammock that VIII at
once furnish shelter and keep tho soldier from
the ground which would have n material erect IN
preserving the health OF the soldier during the
rainy season in this climate.
That there should be any suffering or I'll health
along the 1rlDg line LOT lack OF loJb' 'tV''''"r'
modern arms or other supplies may appear either
temporarily necessary or hardly credited. accord
ing to the point OF view. especially during the Gays
when seemed at no tes Tnd on ou] The advance
or hshting line The need Of witnesses from every
corps and bureau Of the Army may not have been
appreciated. H. indeed. any were needed what
the Army cheerfuly endured and accomplished
with its valor deserves the clearest appreciation,
and has doubtless received IT, and protection
against unnecessary deprivations IT, OF course al
some men notably among the volunteers. started
out carrying Cvercoats. These Were lett on M
even blankets, blouses and undertaking were
thrown away. Knapsacks were strs%n along Inc
roa dsides And yet il is almost az dlncuit IN TINS
climate to keep warm at night AS It Is 70 Keep cooI
In the DAYTIME as there Is haody Nh nxn .a coth
ing worn. and never day when the usua! cIothhs
sob nT nao9S66 syeTtr left vii possibly
a problem TO to solve.
VALUE OF THE EQUIPMENTS
The Khaki uniform worn by many officers quick
~ loses its shape and dandy color. anu Is NOT
strong enough TO Withstand the thorns constantly
met with beside the roads and IN the underDrush
through which K is often necessary TO pass. Many
wear workmens suits or the brown canvas uni
forms as more suitable In this sort OF country
service and climate than the blue II is perhaps
and tear The blue flannel or black shirt. campaign
na nrown eamy1 h rsp meat can Knife
fork and spoon. however, seem TO give ialr satis-
fact!on. The knapsack. or pack OF whatever nature
seems 70 disappear, and al. come down naturally 70
the plain blanket roll. The lineup Is OF proper size
OF It's being 81 unhandy the purpose Of boiling
coffee. WHAT 1t requires Is n bail. in addition 10
the handle II now mas, and nesting qualities ana q
model tor patent has been seen THIS would add
but very lI'te TO It's weight, and would make the
cup very handy for one OF rs principal uses l. e..
cooking. II mads TO nest with countersunk top
IL would be improvement.
A serious question that seems ever to return Tor
if,icient consideration IL. What shall be done with
@ Id c heavy PriS S Tn" ne S2ss n Kim down
in the charge and pursuit or shal! ne throw II
ties OF July and 2 II became in most cases a
physical necessity 20 throw me pack ASIDE. In
roadside and marched some miles after the battle
10 recover them again. In others packs were
cases were never recovered by their proper owners
Apparently The Cubans and sick found some com
Tn, heid Transportation accompanying This Army
was hardly sufficient. or else there would have
packers were overworked. II was some time before
had 10 he brought up by pack animals At one
d to aken lines and oat Of the
trenches 10 do their work AS an indication OF the
arc furnished by the post exchanges and commits
saries. were at any time furnished by the Commits
Instance as piockecombs ;oothbrushes shoestrings.
m me- pGG room and are Of nery sm Kali o 9Tt
hut OF incalcuable comfort TO the soldiers The
Ten, about insufficient coffee officers without
shirt to their backs ard clusters Of them in ragged
ncre than reference
SMOKEIESS POWDER NECESSARY.
T. has certainly been clearly demonstrated in
this war that smokeless powder Is an absolute
necessity for both small and field guns. often
fought for hours against invisible enemy.
who was firing fatally upon all the time The
volunteers. soon the Spriughelds were fred.
st once revealed their csit;on and drew the fire.
Of the enemy. besides hiding the enemy from their
view They 70 ND IT difcuI. 20 .oHtend with an
Invisible enemy. pouring in an effective FIRE from
Caprons battery al FL Caney had ideal posi-
tlon being beyond the range Of the infantry 1re
and yet within compa ratively easy range for IT'S
own guns. Although firing black pow der and sta
toned upon hill within plain view Of the n
emys infantry IL never received a shot during tho
entire day The moral effect OF Are that cannot he
returned prevented IN any way. Is sure he
very great. The enemy had no artillery at III