The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-13

aid not act on such instructions. stains
II to be his place to order Inspection.
Further, the commission finds that, al
though several OF the officers OF this de-
partment were assigned TO duty In COM
mand Of troops IN the Held, still compe-
tent officers were left In charge OF the
department In Washington to perform
such duties as were assigned to them. The
organization In the field was ample, and
the inspectors made reports to the com
manding officers to whom they had been
assigned. Those reports were often not
acted upon and we're not forwarded to tho
war department.
The auarteriuaster's department, q. s.
A.. Brigadier General NJ. 1. Ludington,
lquartermastor general. U. s. A.. in charge.
-on March I. 1898. with the possibility
OF war with Spain. the quartermasters
department found itself charged with va
ried, numerous and In pcrtant dulles, Its
appropriation small and feeling the pr5ba-
tility of large army being soon organ
ized fer field service.
The department UP to March I, 1898.
found itself confronted with sections Sssa.
S7S2 and 370a of tho Revised Statutes,
which prohibit any government depart
ment from expenditure in excess of the APP
preparations and that purchases shall not
exceed the necessities of the current year,
and that all proposals shall be advertised
II was thus observed that the declara-
ton Of var threw upon the qusrtcrmas-
ter's department an amount OF labor aud
responsibility for which It was neither
physically nor financially prepared.
1. Clothing camp and garrison squi-
page.
The department has reported that on
April !, 1885, 1t was amply provided with
all necessary clothing and equipage sup
plies for three months for the army as
then organized. II appeared that within a
few weeks II became necessary to provide
for the clothing and equipping Of an army
oil moro than quarter OF mliiion men.
So soon as FUNDS were available, SO soon
as war was inevitable, SO soul as law per-
mitted, the Quartormaster's department.
undertook this enormous work. That the
quartermaster general threw the energy
or his department into this work when
funds were available seems evident. and
that his officers labored faithfully In their
efforts to aid him is plain to those who
have carefully studied their work.
In spite OF every EFFORT there were occa-
sicns where the troops from poor tentage
or lack of tentage and absence OF straw
for bedding, where clothing was scarce
suffered discomfort for lack OF shoest
shirts and other articles OF APP,
uarel. This was noticed even as late as
October in the camps at Admission, Hunts
vile and Lexington, while at Huntsville
and Fortress Monroe. Va, In spite OF cuoi
nights there was a lack OF stoves In the
hospitals and at Huntsville the supply OF
wood was short. With some Of the troops
-, III ftfsin I'm
shoes of proper size continued even up
to August 81.
At Santiago the deficiency at the front
appears to have been caused rather from
lack OF transp rtation from the coast than
from lack of clothing and tentage, O sup
ply Of which was equal to the trip.
The first complaint was made OF lack OF
TRANSPORTATION facilities at Montauk Point,
New York.
Many complaints were made in refer
ence to unnecessary delays and lack or
promptness OF the coniuissary department
in moving regiments and iii the care or
sick and cunvalescents returning home
either with their regiments or alone
Great complaint was made of the rail-
road congestion at Tampa and the absolute
lack OF ability to bring order cut of chaos
at that place during the early part of the
period of it's occupancy by the troops. The
major general commanding has stated that
supplies for "a. 900 men for ninety days
were ordered there and the confusion on
the railroad when he reached Tampa was
very great, 1000 cars being sideracked,
some ef them as far back as Columbia,
S. G.
1t is stated that In the hurry and rush
attending the commencement of this work
the contents of cars were unknown at
Tampa, that bills of Iadlng were not for
warded and that il seemed impossible for
time to determine where absolutely
necessary articles were located.
Colonel Bird of the quartermaster's do
pertinent testified that this was corrected
later en-, when the contents of cara were
clearly marked upon them and the bills
Of lading promptly forwarded.
The condition of the railroad congestion
during the early portion of the time
Tampa was occupied by troops seems un-
paraileled, showing an almost inexcuse-
able lack CT executive ability on the part
Of those charged with the loading and
unloading aud handling OF the trains.
Colonel Bird and General Humphrey
| testified that there were very poor faclli-
ties for transferring troops and supplies
arriving at Tampa via the Florida Cen
| trial railroad to the Plant system leading
| direct to Port TAMPA.
! Order was finally brought cut OF chaos
| the cars unloaded. the congestion overcome
| and vast amount of supplies OF every
4
! encampment.
Congestion also occurred at Chicka-
manga Park, probably with not SO scricu:
results as at Tampa, but complaint was
| made that materials of different classes
| bel nglDg to different departments. were
| frequently packed in the same car, rem
! dering 1t necessary to remove large pack
| ages of quarterrlaster's or commissary
| stores in order 10 obtain the smaller pack
| ages OF medicines aud medical supplies
There was also congestion and confusion
| in connection with Tho railroad facilities
! between the 9TH and 18th OF August al
| Camp Wikrff.
Water Transport.-The testimony shows
| that the first call upon the quarterrnastes's
department was for ships 10 transport
| 5000 men to Cuba, and soon after. the cal
was Increased and demand made for
! steamers to transport $4,000. Upon load
ing these vessels, concentrated az Port
| Tapipa, It was found that their capabilit,
had been largely oyerrated, and IT wai
Impossible to carry on them without greal
discomfort and danger more than 5000
men. with their equipments, artillery am
muniticn, subsistence, medical supplies
land 22s5 animals for q voyage Of 1898
1 miles. Even with this reduction, the YES
seig appear TO have been crowded.
In spite az tho efforts OF the quarter
masters department, many Of these yeb
sells were poorly equipped with sleeping
! accommo datirns; they were In many IN,
Il as.1 moi