Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-28

WE'RE TRANSPORTED BY RAIL
OVER SEVENTY SHIPS CHARTER
ED-SOME INTERESTING FACTS.
Washington, November 27.-the an
nual report of Quartermaster General
NJ /. Ludington reviews the operations
of his Office to the close of hostilities
with Spain. Treating the of the wal
as affecting the Quartermastcr Gen
erals Department, he says:
ITO properly clothe and equip this
large number of soldiers for active and
immediate operations in the field was
a problem Of vast proportions. Many
difficulties were in the way. Contracts
were promptly entered into for all the
articles of clothing and camp equipage
for which there would be an early de-
mand, great care being taken to pre-
vent the supply of articles Of inferior
quality. The Kerseys and iannels of
standard quality used for making army
blouses and trousers were not to be
had in the market and it was necessary
to have them manufactured. In the
meantime the department, as far as
possible, endeavored to procure articles
conforming as nearly as practicable to
existing standards, but had to resort,
at first, to some extent to the purchase
of dark blue trousers, so that the men
might be quickly supplied.
"The prompt supply of the large
number Of tents required by the in
creased force was a problem Of difficult
solution and called for extraordinary
endeavors.
cat the beginning of the war there
was but little cotton duck to be found
in this country entirely suitable for
military purposes, the supply having
been depleted by the large demands for
tentage for the Klondike region and
the extensive purchases by the Navy
Department.
with all the perplexing difficulties
confronting the department in the mat
ter of clothing and equipage supplies in
the short period of three and one-half
months an army of 275,0O0 men was
equipped with such supplies, and the
army in Cuba, consisting of 10000 men,
leaving their tentage behind, arrived
at their camp at Montauk Point, New
or MI
of tents and clothing ready there for
them"
During the war period animals were |
purchased costing 1881 $50 and wag- |
ons and harness costing $685., 499. Dur
ing this same period SPOTS tons of coal |
were purchased. General Ludington |
discusses in detail transportation uur-
ing the war.
He says:-
prom April /, 1898, to the breaking |
ND Of Camp Wikoff, the aggregate
movement of troops by rail amounted |
to 1865 officers and 435.569 men. Low |
rates were secured by the quartermas-
ter's department in making these |
movements, generally not exceeding Ia
cents per mile for passengers, and IN
many cases much less, and about one
half the prevailing tariff rates for tariff
in excess of $50 rounds per man car
ried free. From the declaration of war
to June 80, 1898, this department char
tered for service on the Atlantic and
Gulf waters, forty-three vessels, with
a total tonnage of 104,201 and a carry
ing capacity of 1887 officers, 22,335
men, with their arms, ammunition,
equipment, medical and subsistence
supplies, and 6,746 animals. There
were also chartered four water boats,
with a total capacity of $4,000 gallons,
three lighters, two tugs, and one barge;
also two barges purchased.
Fourteen ships were chartered to
June 80, 1898, on the Pacific coast,
having a total tonnage of 41,152 and
carrying capacity of 629 officers and
1909 men wit their complete outfit
of camp and garrison equipage, arms,
ammunition, medical and subsistence
stores for voyage of over 1000 miles.
THE combined fleets on the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts at the close of the
fiscal year consisted of So vessels of
various classes, with a total tonnage
of 1883 tons and carrying capacity
of over $4,000 men.
''The total expenditures for fitting
up these vessels (as far as reported)
to June 80, 1898, amounted to $1S6,632.
The payments for services of the YES
sells under charter to June 80, 1898,
were as follows:
"On Atlantic coast and Gulf waters,
$1,0O7, 1852; on Pacific coast, $319,764.
THE DREYFUS CASE.