New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03
THE ARMY TRANSPORTS.
NEW SERVICE WHICH HAS PROVED A
GREAT SUCCESS.
FLEET OF VESSELS FITTED UP AS
TROOP sHlPs-EUROPEAN EXPERTS
ASTONISHED.

ASTONlSHED
Washington. April (speciaD.-The remarkable
success which has attended the trips OF the re-
.oaouoa TRANSPORTS Grant. Sheridan and Sherman
80. >auyork with achievements for General
90. =, Manila has attracted widespread atten-
80, 70 the equipment and operation Of a
Aorob of the service. 1t is the first time In his
49,. that the United States has operated what
oy he called a fleet OF transports and although
,ho ships used not especially constructed for
- rurrose American ingenuity and the ability
~ the officers charged with providing and operat
,,s the transports have overcome all obstacles and
have astonished the European experts by the ease
with which new requirements were successfully
,net with new ideas. In fitting up the transports
.be officials of the Quartermaster- Generals bureau
worked out the problem for themselves. Ad-
,sntaee was taken. OF course. of the experience
y, other nations in transporting troops. but the
accommodations provided for the comfort and
health OF the soldiers represent ideas and the
American innovations have all been found i'm
provements.
Last spring when with Spain seemed In
ovitabe and preparations for hostilities were be-
gun nearly all the divisions of the War Depart
rnent were caught unprepared But the tasks in
VOWED in recruiting and equipping an army were
no more serious than those which confronted the
Ouartermaster-General.w who was charged with the
added responsibility OF providing transportation for
the troops that would be sent abroad for service.
These new duties mastered with success
that warranted more attention ana commentator
than have been bestowed With the Navy having
blanket over all the more desirable vessels OF
American register ard Congress declining en-
nhaucally 10 relieve the emergency by granting
registers to foreign vessels. the Quartermaster-
General succeeded before the end OF last June In
chartering forty-three transports on the Atlantic
and fourteen on the Pacific, with water boats,
s.ooro lighters ocean tugs and deck barges. The
exnerience In moving troops to Santiago demon
e.rated however that the facilities were not sufi
cent and fourteen large steamships were pur-
chased and added 10 the transport fleet THESE
vessels conveyed during actual hostilties Sls5 men
% cuba L. 400 10 Porto Rico. 164O5 70 Manila and
COO To Honolulu and returned from Cuba 81 1855
men from Porto Rico 5.54 in addition TO the 1920
civilian employees transported. Since the close OF
hostlities with Spain there have been transported
n and from Cuba about 1900 men, TO and from
porto Rico about 1900 men and TO the Philippines
about $500 men. making total movement Of l5S4SS
men.
TO MEET AN EMERGENCY.
THE was however temporary service. The
vessels rad been prepared for the accommodation OF
$50, during the emergency. but the fruits OF the
mar ,roposed new duties upon the Quartermaster-
ce,eral's Department. The acquisition OF Porto
Rico and the Philippines and the temporary occu-
na,,on Of Cuba compelled the establishment OF
permanent system OF ocean transportation ana
when Aguinaido and his followers opened hre on
,rA American troops. starting rebellion which re-
ov,red the forwarding OF achievements to General
6,,s the work that had been done in the way OF
nro,.idinc fleet of transports received trial Inc
e., demands made upon the remodelled ships were
as irving as any can be. The United States which
- o1vva1s fought at home. with the exception or
The Mexican campaign. had a battlefield chosen TOT
Z, IN the other side of the globe. The experience
vras entirely new hut II has met with result that
IS satisfactory TO the officials. ana mas eA0i'eu
wonder and admiration abroad.
Tho rransport feet OF the United States now con-
eis,s ~ eighteen vessels all purchased from steam
shin companies with the exception OF two the
panama and the Rita. which were captured by the
NAVY and bid in by the Department when sold as
80 "a reAtted or are now in course Of trans
,o,,o, and have been renamed. follows: