The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-07
AMERICAN METHODS THE BEST.
ear aua-termaster and Commissary
Service UneauaIed.

service UneauaIed.
Colonel Miller, of the Army Quarter
masters Department, has received a
letter from Major Frank Dew. Ramsey,
Chief Commissary of the American Elk
peditionary Force, that assisted in tie
relief of Pekin, in which he compares
the United States Commissary and Guar
termaster's Departments with those of
other nations of the army Of relief Ma
ior Ramsey says:
"Pekfn, China, Aug %.
''My Dear Colonel Miller:
For some time l have intended writ
ing you some things connected with the
China expedition. We arrived in the bay
on the evening of July g. On the 18th
l had everything, both from the Logan
and Port Albert, at Tientsin / used
large lighters directly TO Tiectsin, except
IN one emergency, when / unICadsd some
wagons and ambulances in small boats
at Tong Ku, and marched them overland
Admiral Remey strongly opposed the pos
sibility of unloading wagons in navy
boats; but my experience around the
Philippines soon convinced him. Or
transportation was an object of great in
terest, and the general opinion was that
We could not use it in the campaign: but
the critics were wrong for it q came
through TO Pekin without the less Of an
animal or wagon, The only transporta-
ton on shore, when We started was mine.
and in conjunction with our river boats,
we are now supplying with it the Ninth.
Fourteenth, a regiment of marines, and
squadron of the Sixth Cavalry
The same way with all other stores. It
was mighty well l brought a good supply.
for it had to do for all. With my usual
good luck, I was appointed Chief Commits
sary and Bryan and Wood had TO stay
behind, I was also Chief Quartermaster
during the advance. The troops carried
but one days rations and did not lose
meal. Our train started hours after the
Japanese and Russian train, but inyaria-
bly, caught up with them before the end
of the march. Pack trains in this country
are very expensive. The train of fifty
pack mules and fifteen riding animals
with its fifteen employees carrying exactly
what l carried on two wagons arrived
here played out, while the wagons
turned about and went back to Tong Ku
for more rations. I have had an opportu-
nifty TO study the transportation of the va
rious armies, and think our wagons su-
perior to anything else, but there could be
an improvement by supplementfng them
with some OF the Jap carts and Russian
cook carts.
The laps excel in every military
branch Everyone comedies it. IN dis
cipline, means of supply. medical attend
ance, everything. They have not only
won the admiration but the affection Of
our officers and men, and a little Jap pri-
vate dropping into our camp is shown the
consideration due d major general 1t
viii be extremely difficult to supply the
troops at this point during the winter.
Under ordinary conditions there Is much
suffering by the people, and there are no
surplus supplies. Unless the railroad is
repaired, 1t Will be impossible 10 maintain
over 3,O60 troops AID coo animals at this
point, and that will strain river and was
OF transportation TO the utmost. How
ever, We know nothing yet regarding the
policy. As is always the case, We like
the last place best.