Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-06-14
platforms, Implements equipmen,A,


inch mortars. All this siege material
is of the latest pattern. Smokeless
powder is now being issued for all field
and siege guns. A supply of field and
siege ammunition has also been issued
and new supplies have been ordered and
are being delivered rapidly. The sup
ply of ammunition already ordered for
field cannon 10 considered sufficient for
the present time. There have been
shipped to the Notifications since April
Fl many seacoast carriages, guns for
which are already provided. Rapid fire
guns and an ample supply OF ammuni-
, ton, carriages, she'll, shrapnel, fuses
and smokeless powder for the same,
have been purchased, and portion Of
them have already been installed at
permanent works.
Many Trnnsports Secured.
The transportation branch of the
quartermaster's department took ad-
yanced precautions to secure steamers
to carry the troops to Cuba. Up to this
date there have been chartered, and
without seriously hampering the coast
wise lines, Al first-class steamships for
transports on the Atlantic coast, four
/ water vessels, one tug, three steam
lighters and one steamer for the sip--
nal service. All of these had to be fitted
for troops, animals and freight by
erecting bunl:s. 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 aecumulat-
ing.
The government has now made most
acceptable contracts for coal at New
Orleans, Mobile. Tampa, Key West, sa-
vannah and Fernandiua. and also coal
atioat, TO follow the transports to Cuba
and Puerto Rico.
1t has been more difficult to secure
the ships on the Pacific ocean; not be-
cause of unwillingness of the steamship
companies to give their ships, but from
the fact that they are not available, for
the reason that most of the companies
were trading across the Pacific ocean
and as far south as Panama, and we
could get the vessels only when they
arrived in pert. In many instances
these companies have had to charter
other vessels to replace those that it
was necessary for the government to
have to transact its business. American
registers We're required for number
of ships, but there will be no difficulty
in eventually getting all the vessels nee
essary for transporting the troops to
the Philippines.
Vast Undertaking..
The movement of the troops to the
rendezvous points was vast undertake
ing. On May 10 the adjutant general
sent to the quartermaster general his
first order for the movement of volun.
teers and the order was quickly passed
along to each of the subordinate off.
GERS, its execution being reported by
wire. In no case has unnecessary de-
lay been reported, and the volunteer
troops have gone to their destination
with promptness and with remarkable
freedom from accident or delay. Ex-
tremely low rates for transportation
were secured, generally not exceeding
W. cents per mile for passengers and
about half the prevailing tariff for
freight. In some cases n rate as low as
one-half cent per mile was given by the
railroad company. The regular troops
were assembled with the most satisfac-
tory dispatch and entirely without ac-
cident through the chief quartermas-
tiers OF the army department.
A Hospital Train.
A special outfit has been provided un.
hp 81
to be used by the surgeon general as q
hospital train. This train will consist
OF ten tourist sleepers, two kitchen and
dining cars and combined passenger
and baggage car. 1t will be furnished
by the medical department placed in
charge of its trained nurses and kept
permanently at Tampa, except when
carrying sick and wounded to points
designated by the proper medical Off
GERS. Upon discharge of the sick and
wounded in each case it will be returned
to Tampa for similar service as re-
quired.
Altogether the troops transported,
regular and volunteer, were 126 regi.
ments OF infantry, 81 regiments, bat
talions or troops of cavalry and 20 bat
teries OF artillery. Some of the things
purchased by the quartermaster's de-
partment out of the very long list has
made the following:
Eight thousand, eight hundred and ten
cavalry horses. 1882 draft mules, 2,lO9
pack mules. 500 small mules, 1900 small
horses, 4.oso wagons. 426 ambulances, IT,
Oo2 single harnesses. 1900 saddles and
brides, 1.497 pack saddles, 3,l00 halters.
l.7b5 artillery horses and 544 draft horses
for Siege train. 1OS.3s2 blankets, 123.12s
Dlouses. 25.739 canvas coats and trousers.
$3.50 canton flannel drawers, 125, 1905 sum-
mer drawers. 121,709 campaign hats, 23,s5o
canvas ca rs hats ieggings los psf paunchos.
s00. 1893 cotton stockings. 24,270 wooden stock
ings. A.ss0 hammocks. SIPS helmets, $3.50
mosquito bars. 1000 head nets. {, O06 common
tents. 141, 562 shelter halves, 1852 wall tents
and ESQ conical tents.
1t will readily be perceived from the
above statement, says Secretary Alger,
which after all is only portion of the
work that has been done to put the
army in condition Of war, that the gen.
eral public has had very inadequate
idea of the enormity of the undertaking
thrown upon the war department for
execution in the very brief space of
time that has elapsed since the decla-
ration of war.
We are under obligations to con-
gresham Updegraff for copy of the
act to provide ways and means to
meet war expenditures as amended by
the senate. also the message OF the
president in resDOnsa tn the resolu-