The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-18
TO SUPPLY THE TROOPS.
Preparations by the Commissary and
Quartermnster's Departments.

preparations ny the tOmmtssuFy anu
Quartermnster's Departments.
Washing ton, July 1.-THE Adjutant Gen
erals office tonight made public detail
ed statement showing the provision made
by the war department in the equipment
of the expeditionary force sent by the
United States to China.
The strength of this force. in all The
arms of the service. aggregates 1865. 1t
is possible that this force may be further
augmented 10 the extent of 1000 or 5000
men, as was forecasted at the cabinet
meeting to-day. but the general prepara-
lions here by the quartermasters and
commissary departments hold good for
whatever army may be dispatched
The commssary general has made all
arrangements for feeding the Chinese
force from the base already established
at Manila. The Sixth Cavalry, nov
afloat, and all the other troops following
them from this country will carry sixty
days field rations.
Owing to the fact that the Gulf OF
Pechili is icebound about the first of No
vember, preparations have been made
10 land at Taku before that date, six
months supply of commissery stores. Fiji
ty thousand dollars in gold for use in
China has been invoiced to the chef
commissary at Manila, and Maj. II J.
Gallagher. of the commlssary department,
who made an excellent record during the
Cuban campaign. has been detailed to re-
port 20 Gen. Chaffee as chief commissary
of the troops in China.
The commissary department has made
inquiries as to the possibilities of secur-
ing fresh meats and vegetables for the
troops in China. and this detailed infor-
nation has been forwarded to Maj. CAL
lagher Owing to the probable scarcity
or fresh supplies on shore. the depart
ment has had recourse again to canned
beef, but for the present campaign it has
been put in the form of beef stew corned
beef and corned beef hash and sufficient
vegetables such as potatoes and onions,
have been canned with il to obviate the
difficulty experienced in Cuba, where the
troops were forced to eat beef from the
cans without further cooking.
The Bureau of Naval Intelligence and
the Bureau of Military Information have
informed the commissary general that
the Russian government has two large
and specially constructed vessels for use
as ice crushers, one now located at Port
Arthur and the other at Vlsdivostock and
The commissary general suggests that it
might be possible to procure the services
of these vessels to keep open communi-
cation in winter with some of the ports
on the Gulf Of Pechili in case of a COM
bined movement of the allied forces
Every preparation that has been possible
he's been made by the commissary gener-
al to secure an abundant and suitable
| supply OF food for the American forces
while on shore. even though all commu-
nication should be blocked by the ice
| during the winter months.
Troops leaving the states for China will
| carry a complete outfit of comfortable
| clothing, in addition 10 their regulation
| clothing and tentage. Owing to the severe
weather that may be expected in Northern
| China during the winter, the expedition
| will carry 1,400 Sibley stoves, $500 over
coats, 5000 pairs Of arctic overshoes. 5000
blankets, lined canvas hoods and other
extra heavy winter clothing in proportion
| sufficient for the 5000 men
| To secure suitable drinking water for
| the troops on shore. 100 sterlizers of a
| capacity of twenty-five gallons per hour
| are being manufactured and will be sent
| by express 90 San Francisco as soon as
| possible. Eight will be ready 10 ship or
| the Meade on Aug. i. The Meade aise
will carry two distilling plants of a ca
pacity of 600 gallons per day each 1t is
| contemplated to send additional distilins
| plants by succeeding transports as rapid
| ly as possible. having in view the supply
| for at least 5000 men.
| Inquiry is also being made in Japan to
! know whether small cast-iron stoves suit
able for burning the soft Japanese coal
can be secured in Japan for the use of 'he
| troops in China. These will be in addition
| to the Sibley stoves already mentioned
Animal ships have been chartered and
| will be fitted up as fast as possible to car
| ry about 1900 animals. Preparation have
| been made to send whatever lumber thf
army may need from the United States.
The chief of ordnance reports there is
| an abundant supply of ammunition foI
| small arms and machine guns of rifle cal
| iber on hand for a prolonged war on q
| large scale.
Ample provision has been made by the
| medical department for surgical and hos
| pital appliances and attendants, and The
| signal corps will also be we'll represented