The evening times., 1899-11-02
HEAVY PURCHASES MADE
The Governments Vast Shipments
TO the Philippines.
Thousands of Rifles and Millions of
Cartridges. Already sent-Artiilery
aud COmmissary Goods Going on
the Thomas Saturday - Infantry
and Cavalry Equipment Needed.

The activity shown by the War Depart
ment during the past few weeks in making
arrangements for shipping large quantities
of ordnance, ammunition, and stores to
the Philippines, presages a campaign OF
magnitude in the island, and gives an idea
CT the task which now confronts the
American army.
During the present month, ordnance
supplies and ether equipment amounting in
value to several millions of dollars will be
shipped. Especially is this activity signifi-
cant. in view of the fact that the supplies
in the military stCrehouses at Manila and
other points in the islands are sufficient
for the present, and for some time TO come.
The supplies which are being sent nov are
purely fer future use.
If the subjugation of the insurgents were
as simple a matter as it has been repre-
sented by the commanding general in the
Philippines il is thought that such eXten-
siye preparations as have been made and
are still being carried on would be un-
necessary.
The supplies now being forwarded or in
preparation for shipment, are for all
branches OF the service. A large consign
ment CT rifles for the infantry will be
shipped in a week or two from the Rock
lSldIu AIseudl 10 Sdu fTduclScOr NuSTe
they will be loaded into the transports.
Seven million rounds of rife ammunition
will be sent for distribution among the
volunteer regiments. This will be shipped
by the way of New York.
The first consignment will 60 on the
transport Thomas, which leaves Saturday.
and the remainder on the Meade and Lo-
gan, one of which leaves about the middle
of the month and the other toward the lat
ter part.
The cost of this ammunition is about
$25.C6e for each million rounds, or a total
of S625, 900. In addition to the infantry
the Secretary of War has given to General
Otis nine batteries of 3.2-inch fed guns
each battery consisting of six guns. The
cost of a battery and its equipment is
placed at $50, Geo making the total cost OF
the nine batteries $4,000.
They are 10 have l eco rounds OF ammu-
milton for each gun. The ammunition con-
sists largely of shrapnei costing S. a round.
1t is estimated that the ammunition for
these batteries will cost an additional
S270,O0O
The Philippine army has also twelve
Colt automatic guns with an aggregate
ammunition supply of 100000 cartridges;
thirty-three gatling guns with more than
1000, 900 rounds of ammunition, abo-t one
third of which is smokeless powder; twen-
ty-one two-pounder mountain guns; twen-
ty-two twelve-pounder mountain guns
with 1000 rounds of ammunition for each
gun and twelve Sims-Dudley dynamite
guns.
Orders have been issued by the Chief of
the Bureau of Ordnance for the shipment
10 Manila of $4,000 sets of infantry equip
ments, consisting of blankets, bags, straps,
knives, forks, spoons, and meat cans;
1000 cavalry equipments. including sad
dies, briGles, lariats, leather buckles, and
rings, and twenty-five cavalry forges.
Orders have also been issued for supply
ing the field mortars and siege guns now
in the Philippines with the necessary am
munition for the coming campaign.
1t was said today that at the present
time the Government is able to manufac-
ture nearly all of its infantry equipment.
and but little of the work is being done
under contract. There is now only one
contract, and that Insignificant, for small
arms, outstanding.
The twelve Colt automatic guns were
made by the Colt Manufacturing Com
pany of Hartford. Conn, and the twe.ve
Maxims were purchased is England.
There is considerable activity in the
Commissary Department, and the commits
sary agents stationed in the provision cen.
tres of the country are making heavy pur-
chases. 1t has been decided to buy the
best bacon obtainable. and this is being
done at a considerably greater cost than
heretofore. The general provision mark
is low, and the Government is able to save
considerable money.