Evening star., 1898-08-18
THE LACK OF SUPPLIES
Why the Military Forces Of the UniCn suf-
fered From It.
The Policy of Economy Credited With
the Conditions Recently Com
fronting the Country.

In all the criticism about our lack of
supplies for the proper equipment and sus-
tenance Of our forces during the war Just
closing said an old officer, now retired.
who served many years as a quartermas-
ter. Il have hot yet seen the proper rea-
Son assigned for the cause of the condi-
tons The whole trouble can be found in
a single word-economy-whic was the
tocsin of the recent democratic admins
tration's affairs in all the branches of the
military service. 1 don't mean this for
criticism of a political sort, but simply as
the statement of fact. The heads of the
departments under the recent regime were
simply pessimsts. This was especially true
for instance, of Secretary Herbert. Esti-
mates made by men OF experience and
knowledge were cut down ruthlessly, and
Congress in its zeal for economy cut them
down still further, and the result which
was inevitable was reached when the re-
cent crisis confronted us.
Il can relate one or two incidents re-
garding the branches of the service with
which l am most familiar he continued.
1T had been the custom for quartermas
ters to endeavor to keep on hand supplies
of clothing, equipment, and so forth, TO last
at least year. The estimates for the ap
preparation for supplies for the marine
corps to use a specific case were placed one
year while Secretary Herbert was in office
at 10000
'The Secretary called for statement of
the supplies on hand and found they
amounted to $4,000. Asking for an ex-
PLANTATION, he informed that it was GUS
tomary to keep such an amount ahead. He
declared 1t to be extravaganza, and further
said, rs an additional instance of extrava-
gance, that he had found there was enough
canvas in possession of the Navy Depart
ment to fit out every ship in the British
navy with three sets of sails. The esti-
mates for the marine corps were cut down
to $4,000. The next year they were the
same. Then 1t became necessary to raise
again to $4,000. When the marine corps
was raised from 2 100 to $500 men there
was not clothing or equipment sufficient,
and when the battalion went to Cuba II
wore winter fiannels and kerseys when it
should have had canvas uniforms.
1T Will be remembered, continued the
officer. that q board was appointed by
Secretary Herbert, headed by Admiral
Dick Meade, CT which Paymaster Carmody
of this city vas q member, to visit every
navy yard in the country and report on the
supplies. The board found in the engineer
ing department a great deal of waste and
nent the same things. Separately. these
articles were not great in amount, but
taken together they made considerable.
The result was that 4 new bureau-the bl!-
reau of sappiies-wds created and the sup
plies cut down. The same policy ruled in
the War Department. Consequently when
it became necessary to suddenly equip a
large additional force in all branches Of
the service the error of the economical and
niggardly course persistently pursued in
the directions noted became apparent. /
have no doubt that the severe lesson
remembered hereafter by those whose duty
It is to look ahead, and not behind"