The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-22
NOT DONE IN A JlFFy.
1t Takes Timeto Equip an Army for Ser.
vice in the Field.
tFrom San Francisco Call. }

III.
1t is related of Won MoItke that, when
akened in the dead of night with the
announcement that France had declared
war against Germany, he remarked:
Look in my cabinet, file A, draw %;
end off the telegram yoN find."
Then he turned over and went to sleep
again.
An army is like aYsnakei it has great
length of body and small head. The
head is the fighting part, and onei 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 in
jured the head becomes powerless.
In tins of war. or in preparing an
army to take the field, 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 1000 men is
perhaps not difficult task, the asupply-
ing of meal for 100, 600 men is far
different matter; and 1t is absolutely es-
sential that transportation from the base
of supplies should at all times be unin-
tergupted and subject to no delays. For
shis reason the Government would as
sumo CONTROL Of such RAILROADS and YES
sells as might be necessary, and they
would be run temporarily as an adjunct
of she army, private business being per-
mitted only so far as it did not conflict
with military necessities.
If war should be suddenly declared, and
it became necessary to put an army in
condition to talks the field, the General in
command, upon an order from the Score
tary of War, would at once recruit the
regular military establishment up to lbs
full limit of efficiency.
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 convenient
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 inperfeotiy clothed and shod, and
the simplest features of the life of a
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 everything
may be in readiness for the day of work.
It is not the one day of fighting which
turns the hair of an officer gray, but the
twenty mine days Of anxiety for his men,
the supply of their food and clothes and
the maintenance Of health and good
e5x,fr ttc +Aar,~ Aoy, do ,ot A-H%
well in battles on empty stomachs, and
yet the ordinary soldier rarely takes care
of the provisions which are issued to him
for forced marches. He eats them all at
once or throws them away on account of
, their weight, and at the end of long
days march he is hungry. with nothing
to appease his hunger. Then comes the
trouble. He does not reason; he grumbles
and expects to be supplied with more
In ortfttlng an army other things must
be Looked to besides the men. Horses and
mules for carting, artillery and transport
service have TO be supplied and trained
A cavalry horse differs 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 commits
stoned and instructed in the peculiar
duties which will devolve upon them, and
supplies VI drugs, meolo1nes, hospital
equipment and tents must be arranged
for. Where many new and unseasoned
men are gathered there 1s sure to be more
or less call for the services of a doctor.
All that pertains to the medical depart
ment of the army is under the charge of
the Sprgeon-General. The drugs are all
supplied by contract
Soldiers expect to be paid no matter
how much they are fired by patriotism.
SO the Paypaster- General and the Off GERS
of his department must, through REQ uisi-
ton ION the Treasurer of the United
States, see that the private soldier receives
his S13 every month.
In short, every departments and every
officer fulfls certain duties, and 1t is oh
the prompt and accurate Sadjustrnens 6f
that 1t goes and performs the duties for
which it was created.