The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-15
PROVISIONING THE ARMY.
OPERATIONS OF THE sUBsTsTKNCE
DEPARTMENT DURING THE WAR

Provision Made for the Regulars in Antici-
patton Of Hostilities-A supply of nations
Sent with Gen. shnfter to Santiago to
Last His Command for Four Months.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 14.-The report OF the
CommIssary General OF the Army for the rs
cal year ended June 30 last was made public
to-day. The report shows that the expendi-
lures OF the department during the fiscal year
were S6.00S. 715.1 but this amount docs not.
OF course. include the most Of the extraordi-
nary disbursements due to the Spanish war.
Regarding the operatlonssof the Subsistence
Department during the war. Gen. Egan says:
Already. in anticipation Of the actual break
ing out OF hostilitles between the United States
and Spain. the acting Commissary- General OF
Subsistence had. at the beginning OF the month
u April. 1893. advised all chief and purchasing
commissaries to have at all posts travel rations
adequate to the wants OF the full garrisons II
ordered to move. and 10 ascertain and list the
houses from whom articles VI the ration and
Of the travel ration could be had at once IL
wanted In large quantities..
by actual inspection Of the returns OF sub
~sistence stores for the preceding month on file
In the office OF the Commissarv- General OF Sub
~sistence there were found to be on hand at
each post moro than thirty days supplies for
the number OF men at each and thirty days
supplies OF stores classed as perishable. be-
sides supplies for sales (canned goods. &c.) In
Equal or greater quantities. It had also at that
time been recommended by the acting Com
missary- General Of Subsistence that orders
which might issue directing any garrison to
change station should include a requirement
that, IL the whole garrison moved. all sailed
meats should be taken with it, and proportion
ately II only a part moved. and that at least
thirty days rations texciudinE fresh beef
should be taken.
Some movements Of the artillery toward
the seacoast had been ordered during the
month of March. 1898, but It was not until
April Is. 1893. that orders were issued from
directing a general movement Of the regular
army from the posts scattered thronghout the
the en MILITARY area de ef t6e GaftIeS Sosss sa + f to sss
tional Park, New Orleans, Mobile and Tampa.
troops in all cases to take with them thirty
days, field %rations, and an order Of the follow
and stores for sales at the various posts on
railroads. where economy would be subseryed
for the troops retained at the posts. to be In
voiced and shipped to the commissaries at the
camps to which the troops Of each most we're
Of the troops with as little delay az practica-
BILE. This was with the view Of utilizing the
R1i ths f hands Of p the as5 aeplsete edH aar r @ssssE'or'''
Eean says; "A very serious freight b6io;cfsde
at and in the neighborhood of Tampa. In May
and June, 1898. was caused by the CELEBRITY
concentrated at. that place In preparation for
the invasion OF the island of Cuba. This block
AIDE was q matter OF grave concern to the Sub
the most peremptory orders Of the Commits
sary-General OF subsistence to unload the cars
and TO hire warehouses. il necessary. that the
officers OF the department on, the spot were
enabled. with. unfiagging zeal and u~ntiring
energy. to so far extricate the department as
to permit the taking by. the Fifth Army Corps.
SUFFICIENT to last the command Of 10000 en-
listed men for four mopths, and the sendinG
subsistence stores taken on transports with
the Fifth Army Corps when 1t sailed on June
Ia. and continues:
afoat at the base OF supplies in Cuba. the en-
listed men were at any time hungry. not the
entire personnel of the Subsistence Depart
ment was at fault. The supplies OF subsist-
ence stores supplied for the use OF the army in
mediate needs. Besides being available Tor
Cuban army, and to the destitute population
preparations for its destruction had been
made. The official returns from Cuba. show;
ing in detail the issues made to these, several
Glasses OF persons and others contemplated by
law have not yet beer received. and there is
, lIsh sO on the y sIS{ee Sro Of The p pro st%I S. Of the
Montauk Point. further than that there was
fiaa abundance Snd H1cf,f 81 subsistence stores in San
The report then shows that there was an
OF Subsistence supplies at Montauk
Point. the Depot Commissar y there reporting
Other statements show that the provisioning
OF the army in camp was at all times ade-
quate.
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