The San Francisco call., 1898-06-13
SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT
 OF THE GOVERNMENT.
How an Immense Army Has Been Created and Supplied Within
 Six Weeks.

DIX w eeRS.
 WASHINGTON, June 12.-Secretary Alger to-day gave out for publication a statement showing with exactness just what had been done by the War Department in preparing the army for war. The report of the subsistence de- partment shows that it has, since May IA, or in less than a month, loaded twelve solid miles of freight cars with provisions for the army. This included 19, 126,945 rations, or 32,1S0 tons for the regular and volunteer troops.
 Prior to April 21, in anticipation of the present emergency, the department had been accommodating small arms and cartridges, and had about 20,00O, 900 of all kinds. There have been procured many millions more by manufacture and purchase since April 21, and the manufacture and delivery of small arm cartridges will soon reach 100000 a day. There have been issued to the army small arms of all kinds and the supply Is sufficient for anticipated wants.
 Since April 21, the old regular batter ies have had their armament increased from four guns and caissons to six guns and caissons. The new regular batter ies have been supplied with six guns and caissons and their battery wagons and forges. Sixteen volunteer batter ies have been supplied either in whole or in part. The department has sent to the field a large number of 5-inch siege guns and Finch siege howitZers, with their carriages, timber, platforms, inn plementS, equipment, tools and chests o1C
 Smokeless powder is now being issued for all field and siege guns. The sup ply of ammunition already ordered for field cannon is considered sufficient for the present time. There have been shipped to the Qualifications since April 21, many Seacoast carriages, guns for which are already provided. Rapid fire guns and an ample supply of am munition, cartridges, shells, shrapnel, fuses and smokeless powder for the same have been purchased, and DOT ton has already been installed at the Government works.
 There have been chartered without seriously hampering the coastwise lines forty-one first-class steamships for the transports on the Atlantic coast, four water vessels, one tug, three steam lighters and one steamer for the signal service All of these had to be refitted to a greater or less extent.
 The Government has made most &C., ceptable contracts for coal at New Or leans, Mobile, Tampa, Key West, Sa- vannah and Fernandina, and also coal afloat to follow the transports to Cuba and Porto Rico.
 It has been most difficult to secure ships on the Pacific Ocean, not be- cause of unwillingness of the steam ship companies to give their ships, but from the fact that they were not avail able, for the reason that most of the companies were trading across the Pa cific and as far south as Panama, and we could get the vessels when they ar- rived in port. In many instances these companies have had to charter other vessels to replace those it was neces- sary for the Government to have to transact its business. American regis try was required for number of ships. but there was no difficulty in getting all the vessels necessary for transporting troops to the Philippines.
 Because of the long distance these ships had to go some delays were caused in fitting them out as transports. 50 Tar ten vessels have been chartered
 The movement of troops to the ren- dezvous points was vast undertaking The volunteer troops have gone to their destination with promptness and with remarkable freedom from accident or ueiay. Ailoseeher, the troops trans ported, regular and volunteer, were 126 regiments of infantry, 34 regiments. battalions of troops of cavalry and 20 batteries of artillery.
 Some of the purchases by the quartermaster's department includa S810 cavalry horses, 12,802 draft mules 21O9 pack mules, 800 small mules. 150o small horses, 4O90 wagons, 425 ambu- lances. 17,052 single harnesses, 15oO sad dles and brides, 1497 pack saddles. 31Oo halters, 1755 artillery horses and 544 draft horses for siege trains, 1os .66S blankets, 123,12S blouses, 25,73O canvas coats and trousers, 55,5S0 canton flannel drawers, 123, ,9O5 summer drawers. I21. .70e campaign hats, 23,950 canvas hats. go ss4 leggins. 105.2S7 paunchos, 13O.7s5 flannel shirts, 192,656 leather shoes. 30.- s99 cotton socks, 24,270 woolen stock