The times., 1898-11-27
HQUIPPING THE ARMY
Quartermaster General Lud-
ington Makes His Report.
SHORT OF NEEDED SUPPLIES
Small Amount of Necessaries on
Hund mt tie Breaking Out of the
wnr-TO Make Required Prcparn-
ton. in Quick Time Was n Task
The Problem of Furnishing Tents

NJ l. Ludington. quartermasier general,
u. S. A. submitted his annual report TO
Secretary Alger yesterday.
OF the s50.OcoOOo appropriated b. act OF
March ., 1895, for the national defense,
the sum of 81, ,5eo, 526s5 was allotted TO the
auartermasters department to June 20,
1898. of which the sum of 81, H,4si 39i.6t has
been remitted 10 officers and transferred,
leaving a balance on hand on June 90,
1895, of s.1292S. Since the close OF the
fiscal year June 80, 1885, an additional
sum of 81 30 900 was allotted to this de-
partment from this appropriation; the
sum of 1915 .OsiS5 was remitted TO disburs-
ing officers, leaving balance on hand
September S. 1895. OF s. .2l2 1912.
Under the act approved July Z, 1895 de
ficiency), Congress appropriated for The
service of this department, under the
various heads OF appropriations. the sum
of siO3, ,2O0, OOO.
From July to August Is. 1875 the sum
of 500. .S25, ,212. .35 was remitted to disbI sing
officers by this department from ths ap-
propriations made therefor under the
various headings.
The report in part follows:
The matter of clothing and equippage
for the army was one of the most impor-
tant subjects that engaged the attention
of this department during the c-osing
three months of the last fiscal year.
On April l, 1895. this department was
amply provided with all necessary cloth
for he hrp N
existing small army of $500 men. but on
the 2Sd of that month, when the first cali
for volunteers was made. the prob EN- of
clothing and eQuipping an army of 125,-
OO0 men presented itself. Four days later,
on April &c, Congress increased the reg
ular army TO 6l, 1Si men. and month
later. on May 25 the second call for 75,-
600 volunteers was issued. To this was
added ten regiments of immunes. three
regiments of cavalry. three regiments of
engineers and one of the signal corps,
making Il grand total of about 2I5 900 sol
diers called into active service In few
weeks.
To properly clothe and equip this large
number of soldiers for active and imme-
date operations in the field was
problem of vast proportions.
The kerseys and fiannels of standard
quality used for making army blouses and
trousers were not to be had in the mar
ket, and it was necessary to have them
manufactured. In Tie meantime the de-
partment. as far as possible, endeavored
to procure articles conforming as nearly
as practicable to existing standards, but
had to resort at first, to some extent
to the purchase of dark blue trousers SO
that the men might be quickly supplied
The prompt supply of the large number
of tents required by the increased force
was a problem of difficult solution and
called for extraordinary endeavors.
At the beginning of the war there was
but little cotton duck to be found in this
country entirely suitable for military pur-
poses. the supply having been depleted
by the large demands for tentage for the
Krondike region and the extensive pur-
chases by the Navy Department. Ener
getic efforts Were promptly made in every
locality. East and West, wherever it was
found possible to obtain the material and
labor skilled to manufacture tents.
Under the order of the honorable the
Secretary of War. dated July Is. 1898, the
duties of this division consist mainly of
rail and water transportation.
During the fiscal year. ended June 30,
1898. transportation was furnished for 709-
6l7 persons 60, ,6S2 animals. and l,5295so tons
of materials.
The orders for the movements of the
regular troops to Chickamauga. New Or
leans. Mobile. and Tampa were: sent out
by the adjutant general of the army about
the middle of April 1898, and were ad-
dressed to the several department COM
manders. They designated the point of
destination and the time at which the
movement was desired to take place.
The chief quartermasters of the respec-
tive departments were Immediately
charged by the esquartermaster general with
all the necessary transportation arrange
ments. The troops were put in motion as
fast as arrangements with the railroad
companies could be perfected. and were
rapidly assembled at the points designated