The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-13
WAR DEPARTMENTS BIG WORK
A REVIEW OF WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE Up TO THIS TIME.


for Twelve Miles Coupled To-
gethcr Loaded With Provisions
for the Army-EnOrmOus Quanti-
ties of weapons and Ammunition
secured by Ordnance Department.
securing of Transport Ships and
Railway Transportation.
Washington, June 12.-Secretary Alger
to-day gave out for publication state
nent showing with exactness just what
has been. done by the war department up
TO this moment in preparing the United
States army for war.
The Secretary said this matter, which
had been carefully prepared by the heads
of the various departments, of course
omitted thousands of detail. but still it
might convey to the American people
some idea of the vast work accomplished
nv the department up to this time in as
sembling and equipping the mighty army
which is now ready to carry out the will
of the country in driving Spain from her
last foothold in the western hemisphere.
The statement comprises reports made
bv Ouartermaster Ludington, Commissary
General Egan, Chief of Ordnance Gen.
Flagler and Chief of Engineers Gen. Will
soh
The figures run into vast amounts for
instances the subsistence department,
showing that it has since May IA, or in
less than a month, loaded twelve solid
miles of freight cars with provisions for
Uncle Sans army. This included 1928 45
ha
troops. These weighed 64,36O,952 pounds,
or 81 $50 tons.
The ordnance department worked under
peculiar difficulties. as the supplies requir-
ed are not articles OF, commerce and it is
not easy to induce private manufacturers
10 take up their manufacture, involving,
as it does, the installation of new ma
chimes and tools and the education of
workmen in special lines. Still, the de-
Iveries from the contractors have been
steadily increasing and are now about suf-
1icient to meet the demands
Prior to April q, in anticipation of the
present emergency. this department had
been accommodating small arms and cart
ridges for some time and had about 90
100000 of all kinds on hand. There have
been procured many millions more by
manufacture and purchase since April q,
and the manufacture and delivery of small
arm cartridges Will soon reach 100000 per
day. There have been issued to the army
small arms of all kinds and the supply is
sufficient for anticipated wants.
Issue of all equipments and arms has
been intorfered with by delays in obtain
ing Information in regard to what of these
stores regiments have brought with them
bA 81 al toe md ba lima ~
exactly what was required TO complete the
armment and equipment, and by the ne
cessity for so making the issue as to pro-
vide for future settlement between the
states and the United States for the por-
ton furnished by the states.
Since April q the old regular batteries
have had their armament increased from
four guns and caissons TO six guns and
caissons. The new regular batteries have
been supplied with six guns and caissons
and battery wagons and forgess Heavy
field guns, with their caissons and har-
ness have already been issued.
Sixteen volunteer batteries have been
supplied either in whole or in part
The increased output from the arsenals
and contractors is such that no difficulty is
to be expected in supplying all anticipated
calls for guns, carriages, caissons and har-
ness for light batteries
Since the beginning of the war, the de-
number of 5-inch siege guns and finch
siege howitzers, with their carriages, lin
bers, platforms, implements, equipments
and tools complete.
All of this siege material is of the latest
pattern and newly issued. Three 6-inch
field mortars which had been distributed
for practice have been collected and sent
TO Tampa. These are supplied with an
ample quantity of ammunition
Smokeless powder is now being issued for
all field and siege guns, although the first
supply sent was sphere hexagonal black
nodded powder, except that for the field
mQrtars which was of the smokeless vari-
ETY..
A supply of field and siege ammunition
has also been issued and new supplies have
been ordered and are being delivered rap
idly. The supply of ammunition already
ordered for field cannon as considered suffi-
Gent for the present time
There have been shipped to the fortifi-
cations since April q, many sea-coast car
Tiages, guns for which are already pro-
vided
Rapid-fire guns and an ample supply of
ammunition, cartridges, shell, shrapnel
fuses and smoxeless powder for the same
have been purchased and portion of them
has already been installed at permanent
works.
The transportation branch of the quar-
termaster's department took advanced pre-
cautions to secure steamers to carry troops
to Cuba. An experienced officer was ear
ly sent to New York to consult with the
steamship companies and inspect the YES
sells. His work was so complete that when
the call came, the department was in po-
sition to secure from the companies the
ships that We're needed.
The policy was to divide the call among
the various coastwise lines with a view of
not interfering seriously with their COM
mercial interests.
Consequently the department has been
able TO make without friction the most
4 reasonable charters that the government
has ever made. Up to this date there have
been chartered forty-one first class steam
ships for transport on the Atlantic coast
four water vessels. one tug, three steam
lighters and one steamer for the signal SER
4 vice. All of these had to be fitted for
troops, animals and freight by erecting
hunks, building animal pens and putting in
extra tanks for water
In addition extra contracts had to be
made for supplies of coal and water at
points where troops were accumulating
Il The government has now made most ac-
ceptable contracts for coal at New Or