New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-08
THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.

AN ARMY OFFICER GIVES HIS VIEWS IN
FAVOR OF KEEPING IT IN THE ARMY.
In regard to the plan which has laid before
Congress in the form a bill to transfer the trans
port service from the Army to the Navy United
States Army officer writes
Reference is frequently made to the British sys-
tenn and many people who not familiar with
Sne tacts IN the matter think that we are far be-
As a matter of fact. the English have no trans
port service In the sense that We have, their
troops being moved on private ships hired by the
ton or for the particular service or voyage.
LORD woLsELEY's VIEWS
Lord wolseley says on the subject:
Under existing regulations the transportation Of
control a system which most soldiers who have
The plan to have the n transpot O Service under
me Navy is Objectionable for several reasons. the
sibility.
The country will have difficulty to place the re-
Spohslb1uty for failures mishaps, the War
department. Will have the control of the troops
the arrangements for the shipping. The War De-
partment when it desires TO troops,
on another department of the Government of
ordinate power and Importance, while military
not enough of orders
that it would give to the Navy too much Control
over military operations, and that it would in
crease the friction between the two services.
writer who has served in many parts Of the
book on the uee5 Sr2c si"e ms v v1g" ~ n tba
hired ship, compared with the government
oficers and crew on the troopshps come from the
atoyai Navy. and take great care to impress this
on the troops who happen TO be travelling under
their charge. So deeply imbued are they with a
ton that the unfortunate soldier on such occasions
comes TO regard himself as the most favored of
He complains of the great of work the
naval officers and their men demand of the soldier
throughout the day in swabbing decks, shifting
In the American Army the plan has always been
followed foil OF having the ships; whether owned by
der the control Of the War Department.
SCOTS FAMOUS LANDING.
In the invasion of Mexico General Scott made
what has always been considered of the most
successful landings on an enemys coast He had
some eighty transports. sailing and steam vessels
and landed his army on the open beach with the
aid of large number of surf boats specially
his army and its stores all furnished by the
Army the Navy rendering assistance under Com
of the Army furnished for the Of Scott's army
1s3 vessels at New-orleans and on the Texas coast
where the divisions embarked from the land forces
Movements by water a gigantic scale were
oo1Ui ~ Jul Sl'Ii w ar ehons me most mi
portant being the change of base Of the army
under Mcclellan from around Washington TO the
weeks from the time that the order given
this army, of than 10000 men. with 14OOO
other vehicles. moved by water to its
all furnished by the Quarter1naster;e Department
of the Army, and consisted of steamers schooners
and barges, several hundred in number.
This is one of the largest movements Of troops
by water in history, and of the most success
ful, from the rapidity with which IT organized
and the skill and freedom from accidents mis-
haps characterizirg its execution.
During the years 1854 and 1865 the Army had
der its control by purchase or charter feet of
steam vessels. sail vessels, tugs and barges
than five hundred in number
THE SHIP OWNERS ADVANTAGE
In any country the ship owners at the outbreak
OF a war, when the demand for their ships is 50
movement of troops. will take advantage OF the
government and demand a. large price when their
vessels are chartered for use. There has often
been this outcry to the high price. in this
try and in England after an expedition has been
the ship owner like any other merchant. from tax
ing advantage of the market that chance thus
offers him.
To keep hand in peace a large number of
transport ships in order to obvlate hiring them
on the outbreak OF a war, would be unwise,
Wei as well nigh impossible, for country can
tell how many ships may be wanted the same
time 1t does seem the policy Of wisdom. how
ever. TO keep in hand and owned by the Govern
movements between home and island ports in or
der to obvate perpetual charter of private vessels
transports 1t has bought and fitted up since the
Spanish
a number Of vessels have been purchased and
rer1tted in manner that they can be used for
years for the Regular service in connection with
the maintenance OF troops abroad. In this respect
American transport fleet is much superior TO
that owned by any nation
1t Is a much less risky policy, also. for nation
Ike England with its enormous mercantile fleets.
be for US TO put our entire dependence in such
means. And we have seen that even in England
the troops were assembled and ready to go to
South Africa before the large number OF ships
could be hired and fitted with the special app-
ances needed before any ordinary vessel can be
used as transport for troops