The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-13

nave u0u tntlT dT11dIntnt 1uCFtdStu
from four guns and caissons to six guns
and caissons. The new regular batter
les have been supplied with six guns
and caissons and their battery wagons
and forges. Sixteen volunteer batteries
have been supplied either in whole or in
part. The department has sent to the
field large number of five-inch siege
guns and seven-inch siege howitzers.
with their carriages. timber. platforms,
implements, equipment tools and chests
complete: also seven-inch mortars.
Smokeless powder is being issued for all
field and siege guns.
The supply Of ammunition already or
dered for field cannon Is considered suf-
ficient for the present time. There have
been shipped to the Notifications since
April 81 many seacoast carriages. guns
for which are already provided. Rapid
fire guns and an ample supply Of am
munition. carriages, shell. shrapnel.
fuses and smokeless powder for the
same have been purchased and a por-
tion of them nave already bee ninstalled
at government works.
There have been chartered without
seriously hampering the coastwise lines
IL first-class steamships for transports
on the Atlantic coast. four water ves-
sells, one tug. three steam lighters and
one steamer OF the signal service. All
OF these had to be refitted to a greater
or less extent. The government has
made most acceptable contracts for
coal at New Orleans, Mobile. Tampa.
Key West. Savannah and Fernandina,
AMI also coal afioat to follow the trans
ports to Cuba and Porto Rico.
1t has been most difficult to secure
these ships on the Pacific ocean. not be-
cause OF unwillingness of the steamship
owners to give their ships. but from
the fact that they were not available.
for the reason that most of tthe COM
panies were trading across the Pacific,
and as far south as Panama. and we
could get the vessels only when they
arrived in port. In many cases these
companies have had to charter other
vessels to replace those that IL was
necessary for the government to have
to transact its business. American
registers were required for number of
ships, but there was no difficulty In
eventually getting all the vessels neces-
sary for transporting troops to the
Philippines. Because of the long dis
tance these ships had to go some de-
days were caused in fitting them out
as transports. So far ten vessels have
been chartered. The procurement of
the coal for the expedition has been left
to the quartermaster on General Mer-
ritt's staff. favorable offers by dealers
on this side of the continent being de-
clined because the distance was too
great.
The movement OF troops to the rem
devious point was a vast undertaking.
The volunteer troops have gone to their
destination with promptness and with
remarkable freedom from accident or
delay. Extremely low rates for trans
portation were secured, generally not
exceeding one and one-half cents per
mile for passengers, and half the pre-
vailing tariff for freight. Altogether,
the troops transported. regular and
volunteer. were 12s regiments of infan-
try "a regiments OF cavalry and 20 bat
terles of artillery. -
Some of the things purchased by the
quartermasters department out of the
long list made are S.s10 cavalry horses.
12,s02 draft mules. 2.109 -"ck mules, 500
small mules, 1.500 small horses. 1880
wagons. 425 ambulances and 1852 sim
gle harnesses. 800 saddles and brides,
1.497 pack saddles. 3,100 halters. 1.155
artillery horses and 544 draft horses
for siege trains. log. 1852 blankets. 123. .12s
blouses. 25.73o canvas coats and trous-
ers, $3.50 canton flannel drawers. 123.-
905 summer drawers. 121, 700 camping