Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-09
Achievement of the Quartermaster's
Department.
OYER ZOO, 900 PERSONS TRANSPORTED
Caring for Comfort and Health OF
Troops.
BRINGING HOME THE DEAD

The report of Quart eTmaSter General Lud-
ington made public today shows an I'M
meuse amount Of work accomplished by
that department IN connection with the
military operations OF the past year. This
includes not only The organization of a
great transport fleet. the moving of two
armies to the Philippines. in addition to
the troop transported 10 Cuba and .'orto
Rico. tn, repatriation of over 5000 Span
ish soldiers from the various islands cap
tured. tF., care and transportation of the
immense quantities OF animals and supplies
necessary for the support of own sol
diers anu the disnterment and return to
the United States Of over 2,O soldiers and
civilians who died in the government serv-
ice In Cuba, Porto Rico. Hawaii and The
Philippines
Over 100000 Persons transported.
Gen. Ludinston gives a list of thirty
seven vessels Of al classes now inc. uded
in the transport fleet. During the fiscal
year these vessels have carried 202IsI pas
seugeUs between Cuba. Porto Rico, Hawaii.
the Philippines and the United States. AL
this has been accomplished without the loss
Of a single life through accident. There
have been carried .1,::ti animals and 81, 100
tons Of freight.
All Of the vessels bought or chartered for
the Use Of the quartermasters department
LdN D-Et HtlEu up Win eSilt't!dl reference
to the ass Of service in which they have
been engaged, and have excited the most
favorable comment from the officers of the
army and navy in all Of the foreign ports
at which they have touched.
The transportation of the Spanish pris-
OnerS from the captured possessions was
accomplished with dispatch and 10 he sat
Isfactlrn of the Spanish government. about
1000 having been so far returned from the
Philippines and $500 shipped from Ha-
VaC1-
The work of sanitation and reconstruc-
ton accomplished in Cuba and Porto Rico
has been immense, but of such character
that any detailed account Is Impossible in
a limited space. 1t has included the con-
StruCtiOn of water works. the rebuilding
and purifying of barracks and the build
ing OF wharves and cleaning of whole
towns and cities.
In tn Philippines two distinct armies
have been landed and one returned to the
United States. The handling of this great
force has been accomplished with small
delay in the face of great natural obSta-
cles, lack of wharves and landing facilities
hostile natives and armed Spaniards.
Comfort and Health.
Since the occupation of Luzon and the
adjacent islands the same work of build
ing and sanitation has been prosecuted as
in Cuba and Porto Rico. In addition to
distIlling plants for water and mechanical
devices for coallng ships the department
has begun the installation of refrigerating
plant AT Manila with a capacity of manu-
featuring forty tons of ice a day, and con-
tanning l $50 tons of periShable provisions.
Material has been forwarded from the
United States for bridge over PaSsig river
and the railroad has been repaired and OPP
Grated over such parts of the line are
in the hands of the American forces.
Dead brought Home.
4 total Of 1214 bodies of soldiers and
others dying abroad have been returned to
the United States from Cuba, Porto Rico.
the Philippines and Hawaii, many of them
returned u their friends al the expense OF
the government and the remainder inferred
in national cemeteries, mostly at Arlington.
This has been a labor nf great difficulty.
but large number of the remains have
been identified and many pieces of property
belonging 10 the deceased have been Tecov-
cred. marked and returned 10 friends and
relatives. or are being held at present in
the department. waiting reclamation by
those who are entitled TO them.
Higher Rank Needed.
In closing his report Gen Ludington says:
Il wish to invite special attention TO the
fact that uLder existing law the highest
rank provided for officers Of this depart
meut holding volunteer rank is that of ma
jOr. In my opinion the very important and
responsible duties attaching tC the quarter
mast er'S department merit. a. least in the
eases Of those occupying positions chief
officer If this department on the staff of the
handing general II foreign stations a
higher grade Of volUn teer rank than is now
authorized. In the case Of Cuba and the
Philippines, the rank of colonel. consider,
Is deserved and warranted. 1t is hoped and
rec orum. ndcd that Congress will at its next
session priVide for a higher grade of volun-
T.lT n such