Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-13

all anticipated calls for guns, carriages,
les.
Since the beginning of the war the
number of 5-inch siege guns and Finch
4 siege howitzers, with their carriages,
limbers, platforms, implements. equip
ments, tools and chests complete; also
Finch mortars with carriages, plat
forms, implements, equipments and
tools complete All of this siege mater
ial is of the latest pattern and newly
issued
Three 6-inch field mortars which had
been distributed for practice have been
collected and sent to Tampa. These
are supplied with an ample quantity
of ammunition.
Smokeless powder now being issued
for all field and seige guns. although
the first supply sent was sphere-hexa-
gonal black powder, except that for the
field mortars which was of the smoke
less variety. A supply of field and
siege ammunition has also been issued
and new supplies have been ordered
and are being delivered rapidly.
The supply of ammunition already
ordered for field cannon is considered
sufficient for the present time There
have been supplied to the Notifications
since April y, many scacoast carriages.
guns for which are already provided.
Rapid fire guns and an ample supply of
ammunition, cartridges, shells. shrap-
mel and smokeless powder for the same
have been purchased and a portion of
them have already been installed as
permanent works.
The transportation branch of the
quartcrmaster's department took ad
vanccd precautions to secure steamers
to carry the troops to Cuba. An cX-
perienced officer was early sent to New
York to consult with the steamship
companies and inspect the vessels. His
work was so complete that when the
call came, the department was in po-
sition to secure from the companies the
ships that We're needed. The policy was
to divide the call among the various
coastwise lines with a view of not in
terfering seriously with their CONNER
ciaI interests, consequently the depart
ment has been waiting to take without
friction the most reasonable charters
that the government has ever made.
PIP to this date there have been char
tered Al first class vessels for trans
ports on the Atlantic coast, four water
vessels, one tug, three steam lighters
and one steamer for the signal service.
All of these had to he fitted so troops,
animals and freight could be carried.
by erecting hunks, building animal
water. In addition extra contracts had
to be made for supplies of coal and
water at points where troops We're
accumulated.
The government has now made most
acceptable contracts for coal at New
Orleans, Mobile, Tampa, Key West,
Savannah and Fernando and also f"r
Golfers to follow the transports to
Cuba and Porto Rico. 1t has been
more difficulty to secure the ships "nd
the Pacific ocean, not because of I'M
Willingness of the steamship companies
to give their ships but from the fact
that they were not available, for tho
reason that most of the companies We're
trading across the Pacific ocean and as
far South as Panama, and We could on
ly get the vessels as they arrived in
port.
In many instances these companies have
had to charter other vessels to rcpl3c,
those that it was necessary for the gov
eminent to have to transact it's business
American registers were required Tor
number of ships, but there was no odA
Guilty in eventually getting all the vesscl
the Philippines. Because of the long dis
tance these ships had TO go, some della,
was caused in fitting them out. SO IA
10 vessels have been chartered. The pro
curemcnt of the coal for the expedition
has been left to the quartcrmaStcr of Gen
Merritts staff. favorable offers by dealer
on this side Of the continent being Ac
clined. as the distance was too great. Tn
movement Of the troops to rendczvou
points was Il vast undertaking.
On May t. the Idiutant general son
to the Guartcrmaster his first orders fo
the movement Of volunteers and the Or
der was quickly passed along to each o
the subordinate officers, its execution he
ms reported by wire. In no case has IN
necessary delay been reported. and tn
volunteer troops have gone TO their dc4
tination with promptness and with rc
markahe freedom from accident or lie
lay. Extremely low rates for transports
ton were secured, generally not exceedin
y cent per mile for passenger and abou
the prevailing tariff from freight. |
some cases rate rs low as = cent 30
mile was given by the railroad compan,