New-York tribune., 1899-06-09

cartridges OF their own reloading This has
been done In the crudest manner so their fire
erect is much diminished thereby. They fur
ther rob themselves. fortunately for us. OF much
or the real value of their arms by using overhead
unaimed fire. In other respects. notably the use
or volleys at long range they have made a
great advance since the war began: II is not
unusual to have them open up at distances ex-
ceeding one thousand yards. Recently the regi-
ments OF volunteers of the Eighth Corps have
been partially equipped with magazine rifles.
calibre 30. and the former superiority OF the
insurgents over the old Springfield has been
wiped out The employment Of shareholders
by the natives has l think been exaggerated
and what appear TO be sharpshooters are but
individuals out of control and are not expert
marksmen.
LATITUDE IN DRESS.
The great heat makes It imperative that much
latitude be allowed the men in matters Of dress.
A careful provision Is made that makes choice
OF wool or cotton. both for under and outer cloth
Ing, possible. Most Of the men wear the blue
flannel shirt with khaki trousers and leggings.
but gingham shirts are supplied. Lightweight
woollen undercothing is worn by most of the
men, their experience having taught them the
undeslrability OF cotton when stin breezes blow
on man whose clothing is perspiration- soaked.
Though the thermometer rises to 96 10 9S In
midday. the nights in the field are uncomfort-
aply cool. and the men seldom throw away their
blankets. while the heavy dews make the poncho
or rubber blanket the most valued article Of the
soldiers equipment. The campaign hat that is
Many of the officers bought at Colombo or Singa-
pore helmets Of pith, of cork or fibre; some
ered with white CLOTH some with the drab khaki.
out ripping through bamboo thickets or falling
over the rice dikes has made US all go back to
wearing the hat that we tried In the Texas chap
arral or in the burberry thickets Of Montana:
the nat that Remington has pictured. the one
Gibson "raked" so accurately on his mo Hero"
A man can sit on 1t, can lie down with II on or.
III tne canteen be empty, can knock in the crown
and dip and drink therefrom Tommy Atkins
introduced n nd Dds hut
ne looked with longing eyes on our drab hats.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RATIONs.
1t is perhaps in the list Of supplies furnished
by the subsistence department that the greatest
and best changes are made. Formerly the ration
as Issued for field service varied greatly from
the one that company commander could draw
in garrison. but here in the Philippines variety
Of food is furnished such as no soldier Of the
'lOs or sos ever dreamed would be included in
straight issue" Heretofore II a captain desired
TO give his men such articles as evaporated
fruits. prunes. split peas or condensed soups.
they were bought by him from the company
fund; but now the depot commissary turns such
articles over TO regiments in great plenty Fresh
beef OF an excellent quality comes from Aus
tralia, as do also the potatoes. Cabbage. though
not issued, comes from Hong Kong, and not
freighter or transport arrives that does not dis
charge into the great storehouses. for sale 10
messes or individuals. enormous stores OF
canned fruits, tobacco. pickles. jams other
craved-for products Of home manufacture. even
scores Of barrels Of pop" or of ginger ale. We
are devoting much thought to the comfort Of
men who can and do march by night through
thickets Of bamboo brier: who charge at
dawn through villages infested with smallpox
and fringed with Mausers, whose minute puffs
OF snokeless powder are so f1eeting that they
add to uncertainty-all the while chatting or jok-
ing the butt of the company. at times wonder
ing If the "old man" will round Aggie UP this
time" The American soldier requires much
working Of the mechanism that promotes disci-
pline when peace is abroad. but let him go afled
with Krag or Springfield on his shoulder, and
double row of originals around his waist and
you will hear but little OF ten dollars blind"
"a month and month" The docket Of the sum-
mary court is blank. and judge-advocates are
but creatures to swear affldavits / doubt not
that charges against ten enlisted men would
comprise the total number preferred In Mac
Arthur's and Lawtons divisions since the ad-
vance on Malabon began. on March %