Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-08-27
THE LACK OF SUPPLIES.
Why the Military Forces of the I'm
ion Suffered From It.

I'm all the criticism about our lack
OF supplies for the proper equipment
ard susteuauce Of our forces during
the war just closing, said an old
officer. now retired; who served many
years as quartermaster, II have not
yet seen the proper reason assigned
Tor the cause Of the conditions. The
whole trouble can be found in single
word--e o 0 m y which was the
tocsin Of the recent Democratic adj
ministration satfairs in all the branch
es OF the military service. don
mean this for criticism Of political
sort, but simply as the statement OF q
fact. The heads OF the departments
under the recent regime were simply
pessimists. This was especially true,
for instance, Of Secretary Herbert,
Estimates made by men Of experience
and knowledge We're cut down ruth
lessly, and Congress in its zeal for
economy cut them down still further,
and the result which was inevitable
was reached when the recent crisis
confronted us.
Il can relate one or two incidents
regarding the branches of the service
with which / am most familiar, he
continued. 1T had been the custom
for quartermasters to endeavor to
keep on hand supplies Of clothing,
equipment, and SO forth, to last at
least a year The estimates for the
appropriation for supplies for the
marine corps to use a specific case
were placed one year while Secretary
Herbert was in Office at 500. 900.
"The Secretary called for state
ment Of the supplies on hand and
found they amounted to $I2o 600.
Asking for an explanation ne was in
formed that it was customary to keep
such an amount ahead. He declared
it to be extravaganza. and further
said, as an additional instance of ex-
travagauce. that he had found that
there was enough canvas in posses
ion of the Navy Department to fit out
every ship in the British navy with
three sets OF sails. The estimates for
the marine corps were cut down to
$50, 900. The next year they were
the same. Then it became necessary
to raise again to 500, 900. When the
marine corps was raised from 2. 700 to
4, 500 men there was not clothing or
equipment sufficient, and when the
battalion went to Caba it wore wiuter
hannels and kefseys when it should
have had canvas uniforms.
1T will be remembered, continued
the officer, THAT board was appoint.
ed by Secretary Herbert, headed by
Admiral Dick Mead, of which Pay.
master Carmody of this city was a
member, to visit every navy yard in
the country and reporc on the sup
plies. The board found in the engi.
neering department a great deal Of
waste and betting; it found in the
equipment department the same
things. Separately. these articles
were not great in amount but taken
together they made considerable. The
result was that a new bureau-the
bureau of supplies-was created, and
the supplies cut down. The same
policy ruled in the War Department.
Consequently when it became neces-
sary to suddenly equip large addi-
tional force in all branches Of the ser
vice the error of the economical and
niggardly course persistently pursued
in the directions noted became appar-
ent. have no doubt the severe les
son taught by recent developments
will be we'll remembered hereafter by
those whose duty it is to look ahead
and not behind"