The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-14

We're also two regiments OF Voluntccr
infantry. about . coo men altogether.
the Second regiment OF cavalry from
| Mobile. 500 men, and two Suuaar~1nI
each from the First Third. sixth.
Ninth and Tenth cavalry, about /. goo
men: eight troops ~ volunteer cavalry.
taken from Roosevelts rough riders
500 men: four batteries ~ light artil-
lery 500 men and l6 guns. two batteries
OF heavy artillery, eco men and l6 guns;
! the battalion Of engineers, goo men:
signal and hospital corps. etc. about
500 men; a grand total ~ about 1900
men. The regulars We're practically
picked men. as not a single recruit was
taken, the regiments carrying only the
old seasoned troops.
on the sides and on the snrpkestacks
IF every one Of the transports which
formed the fleet were painted large
white numbers and by these numbers
the boats We're officially known, their
original names beingk discarded This
was for the purpose Of facilitating sig
mailing between the flagship and tho
other boats OF the fleet.
Washington. June 12.-Secretary AL
ger today gave out for publication 4
statement showing with cxactncss Just
what has been done by the war depart
ment up to this moment in preparing
the United States army fer war.
The figures run into vast amounts:
for instance, the subsistence depart
ment showing that 1t has since May
l4th loaded twelve solid miles Of freight
cars with provisions for Uncle Sans
army. This included 1929 $40 rations
for the regular and volunteer troops.
The ordnance department. worked
under peculiar difficulties as the sup
plies required are not articles OF COM
merce and Il Is not easy to induce prl-
Vate manufacturers to take up their
manufacture, involving, as il does the
installation Of new machines and tools,
and the education of workmen in
special lines. Still, the deliveries from
the contractors have been steadily in
creasing and are now about sufficient
to meet the demands.
Prior to April 21st, in anticipation OF
the present emergency, this department.
had been accommodating small arma
cartridges for some time and had about
10000, 600 Of all kinds on hand. There
have been procured many Millions
more by manufacture and purchase
since April 21st, and the manufacture
and delivery Of small arms cartridges
will soon reach 100000 per day There
have been issued to the army small
arms Of all kinds and the supply ls
sufficient for anticipated wants.
Since April 21st the old regular bat
teries have had their armament in
creased from four guns and caissons tu
six guns and caissons. The new reg
ular batteries have been supplied with
six guns and caissons and battery wag-
ons and forges. Heavy field guns with
their caissons and harness have also
been issued. Sixteen volunteer bat
terieS have been supplied either I'm
whole or in part.
Since the beginning OF the war, thd
department has sent to the field a largo
number Of 5-inch siege guns and 7-inch
siege howitZers, with their carriages.
limbers, platforms, implements, equip
ments and tools complete. All OF this
siege material is Of the latest pattern
and newly made. Three 6-inch field
mortars which had been distributed for
ractice have been collected and sent
to Tampa These are supplied with an
ample quantity Of ammunition.
There have been shipped to the for
tifications since April 2lst many sea-
coast carriages, guns for which are al
ready provided. Rapid fire guns and
an ample supply Of ammunition, Cart
ridges, shell, shrApnel fuses and smoke
less powder for the same, have been
purchased, and a portion OF them has
already been installed at permanent
works.
The transportation branch Of tho
quartermasters department took ad-
vanced precautions to secure steamers
to carry troops to Cuba. An expert
enced officer was early sent 10 New
York to consult with the steamship
companies and inspect the vessels
His work was SD complete that W hen
the call came the department was III
position to secure from the companies
the ships that were needed. The policy
was to divide the call among the vari-
Gus coasrwise lines with a view of not
interfering seriously with their COM
mercial interest. Consequently, the de-
partment has been able without friction
10 secure the most reasonable charters
that the government has ever made.
Up 10 this date there have been char
tered forty-One first class steamships
for transports on the Atlantic coast,
four water vessels. one tug. three light
ers. All these had 10 be fitted for
vice. All thes lad 10 be fitted for
troops. animals, and freight 10y erec-
ings hunks, building animal pens and
putting in extra tanks for the water.