The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-05

men on a moments notise. The report
which Major-General Coppinger has made
TO the War Department upon the supplies
that have been furnished to his corps.
contains a great zeal tina, claims earnest
attention. We have already printed a
synopsis OF his report, but 1t will bear
printing again. as follows:
The General says that in his judgment,
the quality of subsistence furnished by
the department was good and the Quanti-
~ ample The volunteers I'm many cases
messed badly. but this. he says, was
owing 10 the ignorance Of the ineNpori-
enced officers. who did not know how 60
procure or care for the rations, and the
ignorance OF the cooks who did not
know how 10 prepare them. The regular
troops lived well
Clothing, camp. and garrison equip
monts were sometimes Of poor quality,
tho report states the natural result Of an
effort 10 equip some 225 900 men when sup
plies had been prepared for 5000. lie
considers that a great deal OF the diff
Guilty in this line was caused 7y The lack
OF knowledge on the part OF slAit officers
fresh from civil life. ignorant OF the
methods and manner Of supplying an
army.
The quality Of the team mules was very
good The treatment they received in
many instances was atrocIous. lie as
cribed this condition Of affairs 10 the
lack Of experienced men.
General Coppingor considers the United
states clothing on hand at the declara-
ti0n Of war as good and satisfactory.
Some Of the dark-blue trousers and shirts
produced on emergency were Of poor
quality, but he thinks no blame can be
attached 20 the quartermastcr depart
ment for this.
In regard 20 the medical department.
the General says be believes the surgeon
general has accomplished am arduoua
task under very trying circumstances
The report closes with a reference 90
the work of tho ordnance department,
that states that no blame attaches TO the
CHIEF Of ordnance for the failure 10 equip
i'm d frst-class manner 225,00 men In the
short space Of time allowed him. some
OF the soldiers were armed with muskcts
OF antique pattern. interesting in mu-
scum. but out Of place I'm "a battle. Gem
cral Coppinger thinks tho chief or ord
nance was given an impossible task
The Investigation Commission viii, o.
course. keep this line Of thought well be-
fore its mind. All that the public wants
is exposure Of men who have prosumted
these places for private gain. 1t is ready
10 forgive any shortening whatsoever,
that resulted from lack Of experience or
knowledge of what was to be done. 1t
demands honesty but will overlook blun-
dcrs.
But the london dispatch as 10 General
Kitchencr's report contains % vast deal
Of food for thought it brings into elar-
ing contrast the results accomplished by
an ignorant aud inexperienced army STAFF
and those secured boy the work of 81
trained andl experienced one The Eng
dish learned by their experience $50 the
Crimean war that no army however
brave. can accomplish great results, with
out fearful losses. unless the supply de-
partments of that army are subjected 90
as rigid discipline and control as the line
is. They have availed themselves of that
knowledge, and hence General Kitchener
has been able TO secure one Of the most
magnificent trumphs of the age when
disastrous failure must have been the
result if his staff had been what ours
was.