The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-27
NOT DONE IN A JIFFY.

NOT DONE in A JIFFY.
1t takes time to Equip an Army for
Service in the Field.
1t is related of Won Moltke that, when
awakened in the dead of night with the
announcement that France had de-
clared war against Germany, he re-
marked:
''Look in my cabinet, file A, drawer
20; send off the kilograms you find
Then he turned over and went to
sleep again.
An army is like snake; it has great
length of body and small head. The
head is the fighting part, and one of it's
most important duties is to protect the
body, which consists of wagon trains
and lines of supplies; for if the body Is
injured the head becomes powerless.
In time Of war; or in preparing an
army to take the field, a vast amount
of supplies, forage and equipment must
be constantly on hand or in easy reach.
While the provisioning OF a company,
battalion or regiment of one thousand
men is perhaps not difficult task, the
supplying of a meal for one hundred
thousand men is far different matter;
and it is absolutely essential that
transportation from the base of sup
plies should at all times be uninterrupt-
ed and subject to no delays. For this
reason the government would assume
control Of such railroads and vessels as
might be necessary, and they would be
run temporarily as an adjunct of the
army, private business being permitted
only SO far as 1t did not conflict with
military necessities.
If war should be suddenly declared,
and it became necessary to put an
army in condition to take the field, the
general in command, upon an order
from the secretary of war, would at
once recruit the regular military estab-
lishment up to it's full limit of ef1lcien-
cy.
These men,, together with the volun-
teers who had been requisitioned from
the governors Of the various states, or
had been raised by direct enlistment,
would be assembled at some conven-
lent point, where they would be formed
into regiments, brigades and divisions
| under officers of sufficient rank in the
regular army. Most of the volunteers
when they reached the rendezvous
would be found to be imperfectly
clothed and shod, and also In many
cases entirely ignorant of the simplest
features of the life of soldier in the
field. These men must be taught to
know what is expected of them on the
march and in camp and what they
must do to preserve their health.
With an army in the field hardly one
day in thirty is given to fighting. The
other twenty-nine days of waiting must
be lived through in order that every
thing may be in readiness for the one
day Of work. 1t is not the one day OF
fighting which turns the hair of an of
ficer gray, but the twenty -nine days OF
anxiety for his men, the supply of their
food and clothing, and the mainte-
nance of health and good spirits among
them. Men do not fight well in battle
on empty stomachs, and yet the ordi.
! nary soldier rarely takes care of the
provisions which are issued to him fol
forced marches He eats them all al
once or throws them away on account
of their weight, and at the end of a
long days march he Is hungry. Their
comes the trouble. He does not rea-
son; he grumbles and expects to be
supplied with more
In Quitting an army other things
must be looked to besides the men
Horses and mules for carting, artillery
and transport service have to be sup
piled and trained. A cavalry horse diff
! fers in weight and character from one
which IS to serve with the artillery, and
as much knowledge is required in
choosing animals for military service
as in selecting men.
Medical officers also have to be COM
| missioned and instructed in the pecu-
liar duties which will devolve upor
them, and supplies of drugs, medicines
hospital equipment and tents must be
arranged for. Where many new ant
| unseasoned men are gathered there is
sure to be more or less call for the ser
vices of a doctor. All that pertains tc
| the medical department of the army is
under the charge of the surgeon-gene.
raj The drugs are all supplied by CON
| tract.
Soldiers expect to be paid, no matter
| how much they are fired by patriotism
so the paymaster- general and the Of
| ficers of his department must, through
! requisition on the treasurer of the Uni
ted States, see that the private soldier
receives his thirteen dollars every
| month.
In short, every department and every
officer fulfils certain duties, and it is or
the prompt and accurate adjustment OF
| all the wheels of the complicated ma
chine that it goes and performs the du
ties for which it was created.-Sar
| Francisco Call.