The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04

the Egbert. The vessel has been used for
the transportation Of supplies to Alaska
| during the past summer. and is now at
Tackled to the Pacific transport fleet.
THE transport Hancock was reftted
during the year, In Sab Francisco. by the
Union Iron Works. at cost of $i56. 42O5 81
| She is now a modern troopship and doing
| excellent service. Q.
Two large transports, the Buford and
Fitzpatrick. are now beftg reitted for serv-
ice on the Pacific. The Newport News
Shipbuilding and sDrydock Company, of
| Virginia. is reftting the Buford under
| contract. at cost OF 1897 ,637, and the John
n. Robbins Company, of New York. is re-
fitting the Fitzpatrick under contract, at
cost of S4GS,0O0. Both these transports
will be completed about October 81. 1900.
and are scheduled to sail from New York
to Manila via Suez Canal route, the early
! part of November, 1900.
| The transportation of the Spanish
| prisoners from the Philippine Islands to
| Spain, under the terms of the treaty of
peace with the Spanish nation. has con-
| tinued under the contract with Messrs ].
| u. Cabalos & Co., as the prisoners have
| been released from the hands of the Fill
pinos and brought to Manila, from whence
| they are shipped to Spain.
| The bills presented for the services
there have been transported from the
Philippine Islands to Spain 1889 officers
| 1S,477 enlisted men, and 2,30S other per-
sons total of 1871: prisoners. Settle
| ment of these bills has been made in part
by the payment of the sum of 81 ,304, $3.50.
Supplies for Troops in China.
CAS- soon as it was determined to send
our military forces into China, with
view to rescuing our legationers at Pekin,
steps were Immediately taken to establish
a quartermaster's depot at Taku. China.
where an ample supply of the various arti-
cles of clothing and equpage and other
Guartermaster supplies. Including hospital
and other tents, means of transportation.
ETC., were promptly shipped for use of our
troops while serving there. Capt. ]. C.
Byron. assistant quartermaster. U. S. A,
now major and quartermaster. United
States Volunteers, was at once despatched
from Manila to Taku to take charge OF the
preliminary work.
THE climate of certain parts of China
being very cold in winter special precau-
lions were taken to provide an adequate
supply Of extra warm clothing and heat
ing stoves for use of such of our troops
as might be required to remain there |
during the winter. Considering that the !
regulation conical tent stoves are adapt |
eu only 10 burning WOOur anu owing 10 |
the reported scarcity Of this class CT fuel |
in the country referred to, this Office d.
vised a cast-iron tirepot and crate suit
able for soft coal, to be placed inside of |
the conical tent stove. Experiments with
Japanese coal demonstrated that the |
same answered the purpose fully. A sup
ply of these pots has been procured and
ordered to be shipped. and it is believed
they will in the future prove valuable
adjunct to the equipment Of the army.
There has also been sent to China for
use of the troops serving there fifty Wa
terhouse- Forbes water sterilizers, also six
small distilling plants of 6oO gallons ca
pacity each twenty-four hours. also
large distilling plant Of $500 gallons per
day capacity, with the various spare
parts. which, if not required theTs, will
be sent to the Philippines.
Lieut.. Col. CT. Humphrey, deputy
quartermaster general. U. S. A., is now
on duty in China as chief quartermaster
of our forces serving there, and has TO
assist him in the performance CT the
quartermaster's duties six other officers
of the department. In the event of re-
ductIon of our military forces in China.
the surplus quartermasters now on duty
there will be sent to the Philippines"