Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-22

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storm and lost. The navy supplied Vi
with lighters and one OF these was
wrecked. The army iiisembarked. getting
or portion Of ITS supplies and medical
stores. and Immediately marched to the
front to eight the spaniards.
The great dlficulty of landing supplies
subsequently, was that the wind sprans
up every morning at 10 o'clock and made
a high surf, rendering almost impossible
the use OF small boats with one lighter.
which was all they had left for this pur-
pose.
Ofthe packers who were employed. 60
per cent. soon fell sick. and heavy rains
falling every day, the roads III they
could be called such) became impossible
for vehicles. and pack animals had to be
employed to carry food to the army.
which. being extended to the right around
Santiago. Increased the distance from the
coast every day. and made the task more
| difficult.
However, the result and the subsequent
sickness that has broken out in the army
showed the great wisdom of Gen. shafter
| in moving forward to make the attack
while his men we're In vigor. 1t was a
movement bordering on audacity. but It
succeeded, and the persistence of the at
tack, l have no doubt. disheartened the
Spaniards. The result was one of the
greatest victories Of the men engaged, OF
modern warfare
Tho nf FOL
ed the attacking force by nearly two to
one. When yellow fever broke out and
the fever list Increased into the thou
sands. 1t was for time supposed that It
was principally yellow fever.
The bringing of troops North at once
after the surrender under such conditions,
would have been certain death to vast
number, but on inquiry 1t was ascer-
tanned that very few of these compare
lively were yellow fever. when 1t was at
once decided to bring the army home as
speedily as possible
Everything that human ingenuity could
ievise has been done to succor that army.
lot the ingenuity of the secretary OF war.
,ut the result of the combined counsel of
those who have had a lifelong experience
n the field
That some men have been neglected on
transports coming home is no doubt-all
against positive orders. due, perhaps, to
carelessness and negligence, but largely
IN account of not having the medical
sorce to spare (many of whom were sick)
from the camp at Santiago. Many medi-
cal officers sent with transports were
taken i'll on the way home.
To give you little idea of the work
that has been done, l append the fol-
lowing:
The work of the adjutant generals de-
'artment has been to muster and order TO
their station. to be precise. PIG. 400 vOlun-
GERS and 24.9o0 for the regular army. This
With reduced force, as many staff off,
,ers from all of the departments had been
promoted and ordered to the field.
The chief Of engineers reports an ex-
penditure- Of s, 0S0, 600 for hafbor defences.
building emplacements of heavy guns
Mortar batteries and mines.
The surgeon general has had the enor-
nous work of fitting up hospitals. organ
zing the medical corps. employing male
md female nurses. contract surgeons. be-
ng surgeons who are employed from civil
life, besides those commissioned as corps
iivision and brigade surgeons, furnishing
medical supplies and answering the de-
mands from all over the country and
from camps at Santiago. Porto Rico and
Manila. The work done In this line is
almost beyond comprehension.
The cOmmissary general had purchased
and distributed, up to Aug. 1, III. 9O7. 2235
pounds of rations. which have been trans
ported and distributed to all armies in the
ield here and at Santiago. Porto Rico and
Manila. besides the large quantity dis
ributed among the destitute Cubans.
The Quartermaster generals report Is
too long to even give an approximate
Idea of his work. In the way of trans
portation to Honolulu. Manila, Santiago
md Porto Rico. and return home. there
have been sent Sc, 63S men. with artillery.
equipment and supplies.
BY rail in this country there have been
transported 900 officers, 233.9G2 enlisted
men. also 4O.5S2 animals. besides thou
sands OF wagons. artillery and other
1uartermaster. commissary, ordnance,
medical and signal service stores.
The total number Of articles of clothing
and camp equipment distributed to the
lrmy by the quartermaster's department
has been 6.2744Ss. of which I can only
mention few articles. as follows: Blan-
kets. 2sS, 7s9; blouses, 2s3,762; trousers.
| 4O6, 1913; hats. s34 1O6 canvas field uniforms.
1 So 200: shoes. pairs, 511,37S; undershirts.
.o6. 965; tents, 1912, etc., etc.
The total weight of food and forage
distributed daily to the army is approxi-
/ mately 800 tons.
Added to this is the large fleet of trans
ports chartered and purchased. the man
agement of the same N conveying troops.
supplies and ammunition.
The paymaster has promptly paid the
army and is deserving of very great
| credit for his work.
The signal corps has provided most efh-
cient service, furnishing cable, telegraph.
| telephone and signal services to the diff
! ferent commands in the fields.
If you had a minute or two to spare
| would like to sandwich a little work for