The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-13
Statement from Secretary AIger
Showing the Nature and Extent of
the Preparations for War.
NO UNNECESSARY DELAY
ALL KINDS OF SUPPLIES GOT TO-
GETHER QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
Arms and Equipment for Infantry and
Cannon and Outfits for Artillery
Many Transports Chartered.


to-day gave out for publication statement
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 that this mat
ter, which had been carefully prepared by
the heads Of the various departments, of
course, omitted thousands of details, but
still it might convey to the American people
some idea of the vast work accomplished
by 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 by
Quartermaster General Ludington. Commits
sary General Egan. chief of ordnance, Gen.
Flagler, and chief of engineers, General
Wilson. The figures run into vast amounts,
for instance, the subsistence department,
showing that it has since May IA, or, In less
than month, loaded twelve solid miles of
freight cars with provisions for Uncle
Sans army. This included 19,123,945 rations
for the regular and volunteer troops These
weighed GA, 800, 952 pounds, or altogether 80 $50
tons.
The ordnance department worked under
peculiar difficulties, as supplies required are
not articles of commerce, and it is not easy
to induce private manufacturers to take
up their manufacture, involving, as it does
the installation of new machines and TOOLS
and the education of workmen in special
lines Still, the deliveries from the contrac-
tors have been steadily increasing, and are
now about sufficient to meet demands. Prior
to April 21 in anticipation of the present
emergency, this department has been ac-
cumulating small arms and cartridges for
some time, and had about 20, 900 of all
kinds on hands. There have been procured
many millions more by manufacture and
purchase since April q, and the manufac-
ture 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 an
t1clpated wants Issue of all equipments
and arms has been interfered with by de-
lays in obtaining information in regard to
what of these stores regiments have brought
with them from the States, and the deter
mlnatlon or exactly what was required to
complete the armament and equipment
since April Il the old regular batteries
nave had their armament increased from
Tour guns and caissons to six guns and
calssons. The new regular batteries have
been supplied with six guns and caissons
and their battery wagons and FORCES. Six
teen volunteer batteries have been supplied
either in whole or in part. The increased
output from the arsenals and contractors
is SUCH that no no, difficulty is to be expected
IN supplying all anticipated calls for guns,
carriages, caissons and harness for light
batteries. Since the beginning of the war
the department has sent to the field large
number of tive-inch siege guns and seven
inch siege howitzers, with their carriages,
nmpers, platforms, implements, equipments,
tools and. chests complete, also seven-inch
mortars. All of this siege material is of
latest pattern. Smokeless powder is now
being issued for all field and siege guns.
A supply of field and siege ammunition
mas also been issued and new supplies have
been ordered and are being delivered rapid
~. me supply of ammunition already or
oered for held cannon is considered suffi-
Gent for the present time. There have been
shlpped TO the fortit1cations since April u
many seacoast carriages, guns for which
are already provided. RapId-fire guns and
an ample supply of ammunition, cartridges,
smell, shrapnel, fuses and smokeless powder
portion OF them have already been installed
at permanent works. The transportation
branch of the quartermaster's department
took advanced precautions to secure steam
erS TO carry the troops to Cuba.
Up to this date there have been chartered,
and without seriously hampering the coast
Tor 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 fitted for troops, animals
and freight by erecting hunks, building ami
NAL 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 accumulatfrg
me government has now made most ac-
Mobile, Tampa, Key West Savannah and
ternandlna. and also for coal afloat to fol-
low the transports to Cuba and Porto Rico.
1t mas been more difficult to secure the
ships on the Pacific coast; not because of
unwillingness of the steamship companies
to give their ships, but from the fact that
they were not available for the reason that
most of the companies were trading across
the Pacific ocean and as far south as Pan
they arrived IN port In many instances
these companies have had to charter other
vessels to replace those that it was neces-
Sary for the government to have to transact
Its business. American registers were re-
CURED for a number of ships, but there will
be no dlfnculty In eventually getting adj the
troops to the Philippines. Because of the
long distance these. ships had to go some
delay was caused in fitting them out as
transports. So far ten vessels have been
chartered. The procurement of the coal for
the expedition has been left to the quarter
offers by dealers on this side of the CONT
nent being declined, as the distance was too
great.
The movement of the troops to rendez
yous to the points was vast undertaking.
On May Is the adjutant general sent to the
QudrtermdSter general his first order for
the movement of volunteers, and the order
was quickly passed along to each of the
subordinate officers, it's execution being re-
ported by wire. In no case has unnecessary
delay been reported and the volunteer
troops have gone to their destination with
promptness and with remarkable freedom
from accident or delay. Extremely low
rates for transportation were secured, gen.
orally not exceeding 113 cents per mile for
passengers and about half the prevailing
tariff for freight. In some cases rate as
low as one-half cent per mile was given
by the railroad company. The regular
troops were assembled with the most salts
factory dispatch and entirely without ac-
cident, through the chief quartermasters
of the army departments.
A special outfit mas been provided under
orders of the secretary of war to be used
by the surgeon general hospital train.
This train will consist of ten tourist Sleep
ers. two kitchen and dining cars and COM
bination 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
mated by the proper medical officers Upon
discharge of the sick and wounded in each
case 1T will be returned TO Tampa for SINH
lar service, as required.
Altogether the troops transported, regular
ana volunteer, were 126 regiments of In
fantry. "a regiments. battalions or troops of
cavalry, and 20 batteries OF artillery. Some
or the things purchased by the quarter
masters department out OF the very long
mules, 2,lO9 pack mules, 500 small mules 500
small horses, 4.oe0 wagons. 425 ambulances
n Oo2 single harnesses, 1900 saddles and
DrtdleS, l.497 pack saddles 2 100 halterS, 1.755