Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-11

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! absolute necessity, for upon them de-
pends the solution of the various tech
nical uuestions which arise from time
F., to time This office is also now enabled
| to satisfactorily settle all differences of
| opinion between contractors ana tne
| inspecting officers at depots upon tech
meal points. by sending the textile IN
! spector to the factories to examine into
| and adjust matters. This feature IN
| the new inspection system has met
with much favor on the part of the con-
| ira actors. as tending to avoid any uh-
necessary controversy
! OF the several kinds of headgear is
sued to the enlisted men of the army
| more appear to give better satisfaction
than the campaign hats Col. Patten
| speaks of the tests OF nainSOok. cotton
ana Jean underwear for army use. and
SAYS that this question is still in an
| experimental stage.
! According to the commanding officer
| OF the Department of Northern I.uZon.
| the uniform now furnished is as near
| suitable for service in the tropics as
any that can be devised. Marching
| with or without clothing with the mer
curry al 100 in the shade" he says. is
| uncomfortable, and no uniform can he
made that will enable troops to march
| without exhaustion and fatigue in such
| Il temperature. The less experience Off
| GERS have the more readiness they as
sumo TO make suggestions. Ii is prob
| able that long service of our troops in
| the Philippines may result in expert
| enCe that will Justify slight changes in
| the uniform now issued for service
| here"
col. Patten says that the military
occupation OF Alaska presented a new
| problem as to the particular clothing
| needed to comfortably protect the men
| in garrison or on the trail from the
| rieorS of that trying climate The fur
and other heavy clothing furnished
| ortops al the most northern posts in
the states being manifestly inadequate
for the purpose, a supply list of extra
| heavy clothing was made up for Alas
| kan service. The cost of this extra sup
ply per man was about $50. and the see
retary of war authorized that amount
| to be added TO the clothing allowance
| OF enlisted men serving in Alaska.
Based upon experience il has been
found advisable TO eliminate from flu
ll!lt lSSlltS ltt -NldShst, Mia W pNVi
| coats. shoe and boot pacs. felt boots
wildcat caps and sweaters. Mackinaw
clothing not having proven entirely sat
isfactory. especially in severe weather.
| 4 double -brea sted canvas blanket-lin
pea jacket, blue in color, with trousers
| Of the same canvas. but having a light
er weight blanket lining. has been de-
vised more fully meeting the re-
| quirements of the country, and Will. il
| is believed. eventually supersede all the
| HaCkinaW garments.
| For field or trail purposes a garment
| called u parka. made Of blue denim
| having a hood trimmed with wolf skin
| ANA Il lining nj the cuff of the same
! kind Of fur, has been specially manu-
fad tured and furnished 10 meet an eX-
! sting need not filled by the outer gar
ments heretofore supplied
| Colonel Patten says that the khaki
| clothing manufactured for issue TO
troops is. taking all the circumstances
into consideration. as nearly perfect
| as il is possible 70 produce. The diff
| ,ulties Of the department in securing
| I material. the color Of which shall be
| proof against the effects OF sun. PEI
I spirdIion and washing. have, it is be-
1 iieVed. been almost overcome. Owing
TO the great demand for khaki clothing
! foi the troops in the Philippines and
| cuba the department has not been
able to supply any of this clothing TO
! the militia of the states. and in only
few cases 20 troops stationed AZ "X-
treme southern posts in the Central
| states.
In January. 1900 a Khaki colored wall
tent was erected near the war depart
nent with q view to ascertainine its
general qualities. The tent stands. to-
day. 1t has been exposed during a
! Period of 10 months to all kinds of
| Wea thar and the results Of the trial
Colonel Patten SAYS. have been very
satisfactory. The tiy has somewhat
faded. by the underside Of the fly. as.
Well as the tent itself. still retains its
| color But what is most remarkable
according to Colonel Patten. is the ah-
s0iute absence of mildew. FIe SAYS
thar any white tent would have been
rendered valueleSS long before this. II
has therefore. been decided Ia pur-
chase only khaki-color.d duck for I'll"
manufacture ot tents III the future.
on The recommendation Of Gen.
tcha-fce commanding the Division of
the Philippines. tn" secretary Of war
has issued orders for q reorga anZatiDn
nt 1hat division. TIP to this time the
iuiVision has comprised four military
departments. as follows: department
OF Northern LuZon. comma nded 10y
Me ior General Lloyd Whea ton. Depart
rn,nt of southern LuZon. commanded
by Erig. Gen. J. r. Wade: Department
uf th,. Nisayas commanded by Brig.
Gen. K. +. Hughes, Department "f
Mindanao and Joio. commanded by
| Brig Gen q. W. Davis.
In accordance with the action of the
! war department. the division will be
divided into only two military depart
ments. To include within their limits
the entire Philippine archipelago. They
will he known as the Departments OF
Northern and southern Philippines.
The northern department VIII be COM
manded by Major Gen. Wheaton ana
will include the islands of LuZon, Min
dora and Masbate and all the inter
Vening territory.
The southern department. which VIII
be commanded by Brig. Gen. Wade,
will embrace the remainder OF the