davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
Statement by Hon. George d. Melkie-

Statement by Hon. George ID. Meikie-
John. Assistant Secretary of War.
Criticisms of the war department,
regarding the delays which have at
tended the mobilization, arming and
equipping of the troops, are attribut-
able to want of knowledge of the ele-
mcnts of the difficulT problem which
confronted the military authorities at
the outbreak of hostilities. AS mat
ter of fact, in the history of warfare
from the earliest days there has not
been such an exhibition of quickness
and resource in the placing of great
army in the field as has been offered
by this government during the last ten
weeks. 1t must be considered that this
army has been built up out of citizen
material, being called from all walks
of life, the millionaire's son enlisting
by the side of the clerk, fresh from the
counter, and the country boy sum-
moned from the pillow.
A special education is required to
make soldier, and to give this train
ing, requires time. Then the new re-
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
GENERAL STANTON.

other points of concentration. With
in three or four weeks everything will
be in thorough running order, and the
soldiers at home and abroad will get
their pay every month. One cause oil
the delays which have occurred has
been that troops assembled at one
rendezvous or another would not be
mustered in for some time after reach
ing camp, and their pay could not be-
gin until they were actually enrolled
in the army.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

l could do nothing until the actual out
break Of hostilities. Then, of course,
we lost no time in seeking to provide
everything that was required. Many
of the things we wanted, however,
were not on the market in quantities
such things, for example, as cases of
instruments, medical and surgical
chests, litters and folding cots, chairs
and tables for field hospitals. Time was
required to manufacture articles of
this sort, and thus it has happened
that the troops have lacked good
many things that they ought 10 have
had. At the same time, no troops have
gone to the front without ample med
icGl and surgical supplies, and none
Will take the field without everything
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

and quality Of food are concerned. All
that is needed is good cooking, and
this is of the greatest Importance to
an army, because the improper prep
aration of food means waste of sup
plies and i'll health among the troops.
1t is worth noting that in the regu-
lar army there has never been a COM
plant respecting the rations fur
nished. On the contrary, the allow
ance has been so liberal that it has
been customary for the men to make
considerable savings from it. You will
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
A Local North Pole.

A note from recent report to the
French academy by Mascart states
that a north pole had been found at
Kotchetooka, village in Russia. The
magnetic needle assumes a vertical 2o-
sition at this point, and the horizontal
needle remains in equilibrium in all
positions. The latitude is 50 degrees
north.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

titles off-hand, and 1t was the same
way with many other kinds of supplies.
1t is a fact that a great many sol
diers left their homes without single
shirt, and without one pair of clean
socks. Of course, they needed gar
ments Immediately, and they set up
an cutlery for them promptly the day
after they enlisted.
The element of time must enter into
a problem of this kind, but for this no
allowance has been made by some crit
les. Once started, there is no difficulty
in keeping up with demands, large as
they may be. For our army, as at pres
ent constituted, 5000 pairs of trousers
day are required merely to replace
those worn out, and ordinary wear and
tear calls for a supply of shoes per
diem. Some notion of the requirements
which we have had to meet will be af-
forded by the statement that up to
July we forwarded to single camp,
at Chickamauga, $1,000 blankets, 1884,
900 pairs of stockings, $4,000 pairs of
shoes, $4,000 cotton undershirts, no.
900 pairs of cotton drawers, and $4,000
flannel shirts. These are only few of
the items.
After the supplies have been deliv-
cred at the camp, it takes little time
to unpack and distribute them, and de-
lay in this part of the business has
been caused by the inexperience of
volunteer officers. If all the material
of every description that we required
had been ready at hand in storehouses
when war was declared, the distribu-
ton of it would have involved loss of
time. Cooking apparatus for the
troops had to be furnished, and it could
not be bought ready-made; the Buzza-
colt ovens, ETC., had to be manufac-
tured.
OF course, this department has
charge of all the business of trans
portation for the army. We had to
buy wagons, mules and harness. Great
bodies of troops had to be carried by
rail across the country--a vast under
taking, when the number of soldiers
and the distances traversed are con-
sidered. The volunteers were assem-
bled at points of mobilization with ex-
traordinary promptness and with re-
markable freedom from accident or
delay. Scores of steamships have had
to be chartered and specially fitted
up for troops, animals, and freight by
erecting hunks, building animal pens,
and putting in extra tanks for water.
In addition. contracts had to be made
for supplies of coal and water a t points
! where the volunteers were assembling.
So, when all these things are taken
into view, and the difficulty of the
problem is duly regarded, assert that
there have been no real delays in the
quartermaster's department.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
Statement by Brig. Gen. G. p. Eagan,
COmmissary General of Subsistence.


The subsistence department is right
up to date in this war. There has
never been day or an hour since the
proclamation of hostilities when the
army, even to the smallest subdivi
sions of 1t scattered about in hundreds
of places, has been without adequate
food supplies, except In a few cases
where trouble was caused by the ig-
norance of volunteer officers who
failed to make the rations at hand
available for the soldiers. Such hap
pcnings, due to no fault of ours, have
elected some complaints, and difficult
ty has arisen also from the inability
of the troops and their officers to cook
and care for their food properly.
These matters are running more
smoothly now; the stores furnished
to the volunteers are being kept in
proper shape and distributed with
hardly hitch. Congress is about to
provide expert cooks for the company
messes, and pretty soon our men in
the field will be the best fed soldiers in
the world.
They are already the best fed SOL
diers in the world, so far as quantity
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

cruit must be provided with shelter,
clothing, equipments, arms, and food.
In this country there exist no great
plants. such as are found abroad, for
the manufacture of soldiers equip
ments and supplies. This nation is not
a military nation, and merchants would
not be warranted in keeping on hand
great quantities of uniforms, tents, etc.
Such things have to be manufactured
to order.
When all the difficulties encountered
are taken into consideration, we con-
slider that we have right to say that
there has been no delay in our prepare
tions for this war. On the contrary,
Europe to-day stands amazed at what
we have accomplished in the collecting,
enrolling, mastering, feeding, trans
porting and drilling of great army
created out of hand as by the sowing OF
the tabled dragons teeth. Those who
have constituted themselves critics of
the war department have failed to re-
alize that men cannot be taken from
the shop and the harvest field and con-
verified off-hand into soldiers fit to put
in the field against the veterans Of
Spain.
The military authorities are content
to know that they have done greater
work in the making and preparation of
the army than has ever been accom-
plished by any other nation in the same
length of time. History will give them
full credit, and its verdict will be their
reward.
Statement by Brig. Gen. M. I. Luding-
ton, Quartz rmaster General of the
Army.
Up to the very outbreak of hostili-
ties my department was held down
strictly to peace basis of expendi-
ture. All our arrangements had ref
erence to maximum of $4,000 men.
We had supplies on hand for only that
number of soldiers. Without days
notice we were called upon to equip
nearly 100000 meu.
To begin with, these 100000 men had
to be sheltered and clothed. We had
provide tents for them, though there
was hardly a yard of the proper grade
of canvas in the market. The Klon-
dixie demand had almost exhausted the
visible supply of tent-canvas, and the
navy itself, getting into the market
before we had any money to buy with,
was actually our competitor for this
grade of duck. Any sort of canvas will
not do for tents; we had to have spe-
cial quality. OF course, we bought up
all the tents that could be obtained in
the United States, and contracted with
manufacturers for as many as they
were able to furnish at the shortest
notice. There was delay, but it was
wholly unavoidable.
Most of the articles we required were
not in the market. and had to be man
ufactured. In many instances, the ma.
terial from which to manufacture
them had to be made. Of the goods
needed for making the light "kahki'
uniforms there was not any in the
country; 80 days bad to pass before
the mills could turn out the first yard
of the stuff. As an example of what
we have accomplished. will mention
the fact that we are now furnishing
these uniforms at the rate of 5,O0C
suits day. The sort of blankets we
needed were no. purchasable in guam
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
Statement of Orig. gen. T. II. stanton
Paymaster General of the Army.

There has been some delay in the
paying of thevolunteer troops, partly
owing To a shortness of paymasters.
From this time on, however, the troops
will get their money regularly and
promptly. Ny department has al
ready paid the expeditions to Cuba
and the Philippines up to date, and it
is rapidly disbursing the cash due to
the men at Tampa, Camp Alger and
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

completely prepared than we were at
the commencement of hostilities. All
we had to do was to expand the sys-
TEN already in actual existence and
use. The business of this department
is the transmission and diffusion of in
telligence, and to illustrate the per-
lection of our arrangements / need
only refer to what we have already ac-
complished. l may mention, as small
matter of detail, that at the present
moment we have actually in the skir-
mish line before Santiago telephones,
which, supplemented by cables, COM
municate directly with the white
house in Washington.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
Statement by Brig. {

Statement by Brig. Gen. John NJ. Will
son, Chief of Engineers of the
Army.
There has been neither delay nor
lack of energy in my department. We
have been carrying on with great ra-
pidity the construction of a large num-
Der of permanent batteries, the cree
ton of temporary lotteries at defense
less places, the overhauling of old arm
aments at existing works, the pur-
chase of submarine mines and search
lights, the maintenance of mine fields
and the buying of siege material, tools
and instruments. Emplacements have
been built for large number of coast
defense guns and about $500 subma-
rine mines have been placed in har-
bors. We sent lot of pontoon bridge
material with the invading army 20
Cuba, and since then we have secured
1880 additional feet of pontoon
bridges. Also we have provided i'm
mense quantities o: intrenching tools,
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
s6s a555 sScs Us US s'sSs3 s|5s sg6s Us an

find that the volunteers, as soon as
they get used to handling their ra-
lions and have cooks to assist in car
ing for the stores, will make savings
likewise out of their allowances. The
army has not been delayed minute
by lack of food ready at hand. In
deed, the movements of the troops
have been constantly anticipated by
the subsistence department, and at all
times millions of rations have been ly-
ing ready for the soldiers, in addition
to the supplies needed to meet cur
rent demands. In less than one month
after the declaration of war we loaded
~ solid miles of freight cars with pro-
visions for the troops. This included
19,123,945 rations for regulars and vol
unteers, weighing 32,1SO tons.
Statement by Brig. Gen. b. w. Flaaler,
Chief of Ordnance of the Army.
Up to within a few weeks of the
present time it was understood and ac-
cepted as fact that the militia of the
states was pretty well armed and
equipped. Though lacking in some de-
tails, the citizen soldiery was supposed
to constitute an army available at
short notice and provided at all events
with good rifles. But the actual out
break of war proved that this belief
was largely an error. A large percent
age of the guns furnished by the states
with their troops were found to be
worthless and had to be replaced with
good ones. Some time was consumed
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

miners and sappers' tools, drawing
and surveying instruments and ma
terial for the making of roads.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

Statement by John Tweednle, Chief
Clerk of the War Department., in
Charge of the once of the Secretary
of War.
: Certainly there has been no delay In
the Office of the secretary of war.
Everything here has progressed like
clockwork. Whatever money was re-
quired has been provided instantly on
demand, being placed to the credit of
the proper officers. All matters re-
ferred to the secretary by the various
bureaus of the department have been
put through without the slightest
wait. There has been no hitch in fur
nishing means for the purchase of ves-
sells, guns, or whatever was demanded.
Secretary Alger himself has been at
his office day and night, Sundays and
holidays. Every minute of his time,
in fact, has been devoted to the man
agement of the war. Nothing any
where has been permitted to be a
minute behindhand. Naturally, most
of the secretary's time has been occu-
pied with the organization of the army
and with appointments. Notwith-
standing his absorption in war bust
ness, he has been accessible to every
body. At the same time, the smallest
details have received his careful con-
sideration-even to such matters as
field cooking utensils and hospital
cots.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
Statement by Brig. Gen. Adolphus w.
Greedy, Chief Signal officer of the

l do not think that single criticism
of the work of my department in this
war has been uttered. There was no
unreadiness on our part; on the con-
trary, we could not have been more
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13

Statement by Brig. Gen. George M.
sternberE, Surgeon General of the
Army.
At the opening of the war we had in
our depots medical and surgical sup
plies for $4,000 men. My orders had
been to make no emergency purchases
until war was declared; consequently,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13
Sad Death of Walter st. John.
SHERMAN. ALA. Aue IN "a.

SHERMAN, ALA, Aug. 10, '9S.
Editor of the Beacon
Nothing has ever so shocked and
grieved this community since the tragic
death of James j. Adams in 1894, as
did the similar fate on Monday after.
noon, of the youthful Mr., Walter st.
John, a promising cadet of Professor
Wright 8 school at Mobile.
Mr.. st. John had been in this neigh
borhood not more than a week, the
guest of his school mate and friend.
Charley Weir, and on the afternoon
mentioned he, with his friends, the
Wier boys and Others, were bathing in
a brook near the residence of Mr.. C. N.
Weir. There had been a heavy rain
and the stream had overrun its banks.
which forced a rapid current into the
narrow but deep channel. Mr.. St.
John, not being a swimmer, was wad.
Ing along the bank in shallow water.
when unfortunately he slipped or step
ed over the bank into deep water,
threw up his hands and called for helm.
the last word he eyer uttered. Messrs.
G. N. Wier and W. S. Oliver leaned TO
his assistance and made every possible
effort to rescue him. Mr.. Oliver, es.
pecially, made heroic efforts, to the
eminent peril of his own life, and gave
up only when himself was exhausted
and he could do no more, but all with.
out avail. The great hindrance was
the powerful current between p%recipi-
GUS banks and in an open space with
out anything to lay hold on.
By his gentility, sprightliness, mod.
ssty and perfect decorum. Mr.. st. John
!eft a pleasing impression upon society
wherever he went in this vicinity, and
n their very trying ordeal his family
Ind friends haye the heart felt sympa-
Of this entire community.
T. PFEpI Fc
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13
tuesday, August 0.

The Confederate Veterans, the Daugh
tiers of the ~Confederacy and the Ladies
Hospital Aid Society had all combined
to have a grand celebration in Macor
August 8, and the clerk of the weather
did all he could to thwart them in theil
good work, AT the houl appointed q
large crowd of old soldiers and many
ladies and citizens of the county assem-
bled at the public school house and lis
tened to a fne address from the ranking
Confederate Generals. D. Lee. While
giving credit to the old C~onfederates fer
their bravery on many hard fought bat
tie fields. and their many soldierly quail
tiles in contending so long against a SUI
perior force, he said they had grace
fully and manfully accepted the changed
conditions brought upon them by the
fortunes of war, and were now the loyal
citizens of a united country.
After the speech ike large crowd
heartily enjoyed a dinner that every one
praised. 1t was noted for its abundance
and variety and we are glad to know
that all were satisfied.
After the dinner the rain again set in
interfered with the Flag raising.
Gen. Lee spoke again on this occasion, |
and while standing with barred head in
The rain like an old soldier he recalled
he grand achievements of American
arms under the banner which the ladies
we're about to float to the breeze.
The disappointment at night was still
for only a small audience ven.
ured out in the rain to the entertain.
nent given for tho relief of the Soldiers
Hospital Fund. But for the Indictment
Weather a large crowd would have
urned out, if only to help a cause
which appeals so strongly to the sympa- Z
HES Of the people. |
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13

The Philadelphia Ledger, which
has been famous for years as an ex.
tremely cautious and conservative
organ OF public opinion, is supreme.
ly disguised and refers to the situa-
ton as follows:
Criticism Of the conduct of the
war has been generally withheld 50
long as there was any danger that
such criticism might give aid and
comfort to the enemy. But now
that peace is within sight, patriotic
purposes can best be served nv a.
thorough exposure Of the incapacitv
OF the Secretary of War, and the
great injury he has done the army
by permitting his personal and poll
teal favorites to guide his admins.
tration of the office.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13

The postmaster at Free Trade in
Leake county was charged with being
short in his accounts with the govern
ment, and was arrested and carried be.
fore "A commissioner at Jackson. The
postmaster, Eugene %Stribbling, exhib-
tied a receipt, which covered more than
the supposed shortage, and the commits.
sioner decided that the postmaster had
only made some technical mistake in his
monthly report and dismissed him on
his own recognizance to appear next
term of the Federal Court. Mr.. strib.
bling is an honest man and one of tho
best citizens of Leake. 1t is our opin.
ion the higher officials in the depart.
ment need watching more than the post
masters.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13
Hashuqua Bridge,

We had the pleasure of joining the in.
spection committee when they went on
to Hashuqua creek to inspect the iror
brloge put up by the Canton Bridge
company with Mr.. S. D. Brady as man
ager. This is the third iron bridge Mr.
Brady has put up in the county, and
the thorough and conscientious manner
IN which he has executed his work. has
won for him the confidence and re pect
OF all who have had business with him
The best interest of the company in
this section is in safe and competent
hands.
The main span over the creek is fifty.
four feet, the total length 119 feet and
the weight of the bridge to the lineal
foot is greater than any other iron
bridge in the county, The only wood
about it is the flooring, which is two
and a half inches thick and the best
tlmi er that could be procured. The
flooring is put down so that worn or
damaged pieces can BE- easily replaced
by the road hands. 1t is a fine piece of
work and we hope it will prove to be as
economic as wooden bridges.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13

People often wonder at the rapidit,
with which so many thousands of news,
paper are printed and distributed sew
eral times daily, but the most remark
able achievement in the printing line
we have heard of lately was accom-
plished IN the government printing Office
iu printing the Maine report of the
Board Of Inquiry, THE bulky volume
OF 800 pages, illustrated by twenty full
page half tone engravings, and by many
diagrams made by order of the Board
OF Inquiry, and containing even an in.
dex, was prepared in a single night.
The manuscript, containing over 100, -
0O words, did not reach the printing of.
flee until 6 o'clock in the evening,
With it were the materials for the illus
trations and at s O'Clock next morning
the printed volumes We're delivered to
the Foreign Affairs committee of the
House and Senate. The only rea son
they were not delivered S ooner, said the
foreman, was that there was nobody at
the capitol to receive them. 3"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13
To Fair Minded Puhllr:

If the etail price of -four, coffee
sugar and all other provisions is al
vanced according to the price yo1r gro
Ger has to pay for it. why should an.
one express surprise at the advance Il
he price of meat, when it is s well
known fact that cattle of all kinds ha.
almost doubled in value. By pash, en-.
terprise and large expenditure Of money
We have succeeded in establishing in
Macon a market second to none in the
State and we are attempting by buying
the best cattle possible. by feeling, Ivy
careful butcherihg by the use If a fine
refrigerator and by careful trimming of
all meats we sell, to have the goods of
u market in keeping with its appear
ance. Only the best 81. loin and round
steaks sell at 12 lie; all the balance,
with pork and muffin, sell at tie same
old price of l0c. As Mrs. Partington
says
COMPARISONS ARE oDIsUM'
but in contrast with this is the country
wagon meat, which in a majority of
cases is poor, scrubby, grass fed cattle,
brought to town a few hours after kill
Ing, with the animal heat still in it.
no means of keeping off the flies, and
sold without trimming.
Now, We leave it to a fair minded
public if, with our facilities for feed
ng, killing, refrigerating and ,riming.
'ur meat is not worth more than the
Ibove mentioned. Respectfully.
KEYEs g. CLINE.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13

Letters have recently been received
from the war boys, Messrs. l.. B.
Nets, 7. L. Hathorn and Tom Webb.
from near Santiago de Cuba, where
they are encamped. The last heard
from them was a letter from Lem to his
father, Capt. Nets, written July 18th,
in which he describes the fighting be.
fore Santiago as horrible, but says they
Nets, Hsthorn, Webb and the two
Carter boys came out without a wound,
and up to the date of the letter they
were all well, which their many friends
here are delighted to know, louisville
journal.