The Washington times., 1901-10-23
EQUIPMENT OF THG ARMY
RepOrt of the QuarteTmaster Gen
eral Made Public.
The Clothing. transportation and
Qunrtering of Troops During the
Last FiscnI Year Rcviewed-Ix-
perimeuts With Khaki Uniforms.


ounrtering of Troops During the
Last FiscnI Year Rcviewed-Ex-
perimeuts with Khaki Uniforms.
The annual report of the Quartermaster
General of the Army for the fiscal year
ended June 30 1901, prepared by quarter
master General Ludington before his de-
parture for the Philippines, was made pub
lie yesterday by Col. Amos 5. himbail
Acting Quartermaster General. The re
port contains a complete statement re
garding army equipments, transportation
and quartering of troops during the past
year General Ludngton says:
The sum of S10g 1883 was available
during the past fiscal year for use in
providing clothing and equipage supplies
foE the army and militia. OF this amount
50, ,SS3 Si6.25 was remitted to officers of the
department and requisitipn for S,596.6l is
sued on settlements made by Treasury
on account of claims, leaving a balance
on hand June 80 1901, of Sl,56O, ,036.61. The
! department during the past fiscal year
has promptly met all demands made upon
| It for the various articles of clothing
and equipage supplies, and special care
/ has been taken TO have such supplies con-
! form to existing standards and specifica-
tions.
There were issued to the militia of the
! District of Columbia, under the act ap-
proved March l. 1899, supplies amounting
| to S2,9S1.33, which sum will net be reim-
| bursed. There were also sold to the
militia during the fiscal year, under the
| act approved February a. 1897, clothing
and equipage supplies to the amount OF
| S7,1SLS3.
May &C. 1900, making appropriation for the
support of the Regular and Volunteer
Army for the fiscal year 1900-l901 which
provides for the replacement of such
quartermaster supplies as were furnished
by the States and brought into the serv-
ice of the United States by volunteer
troops during the recent war with Spain,
claims for clothing and other quarter
master stores IN kind to the value of
s2sS 417.33 have been allowed by this De-
partment up to June 30, 1901, and supplies
representing this amount have been
turned over to the Governors of the re
speciIve States and Territories interested
in settlement.
mo issues of clothing and equipage
were made to the Apache prisoners of
war located at Fort Sill, Okla, it being
the intention to make these Indians self
supporting.
General Ludington states that the
khaki clothing manufactured for issue to
the troops is now very satisfactory. The
khaki material is the very best the de-
partment can secure, and the color is al
most wholly proof against the effects of
sun, washing. and perspiration. The
khaki dyed cotton shirts sent to the Phil
ippines have not proven a success, but
experiments on this line are being con-
tinued. Experiments are also being made |
with khaki dye for wooden fabrics for |
shirts: 500 Of these shirts, so soon as man |
ufactured, will be sent to the Philippines |
for trial by the troops. Reports have |
been received showing that the riding |
breeches, made of khaki material and is
sued TO the troops in Cuba for trial, have |
given general satisfaction, and are SUI
perior to the mounted khaki trousers now |
supplied.
Concerning blankets for use in tropical |
service, the report continues:
After satisfactory trial it has been de- /
termined to supply the army serving in !
the tropical countries with wooden blau-
kets of a lighter weight. Specifications |
have, therefore. been prepared for a blan-
ket to weigh three pounds, the warp of |
same TO be composed of cotton and the |
woof of high one-half blood wool. Con- |
tract has already been made for these
blankets and 10000 of them will be sent |
to the Philippines at an early date
Shoes for military use are also dis
cussed, and General Ludington says:
In view Of the great advancement that |
has taken place in the last few years in
the tannage of calfskins. wherein great
superiority is claimed for the black
chrome-tanned wax calfskin> upper leather
over the oak-tanned leather heretofore
used exclusively IN the manufacture of |
army shoes, g, 900 pairs of the chrome
tanned shoes have been purchased for is
sue to the army in order that they may
be given a thorough and practical test
Reports from the Philippines indicate that
the russet shoes issued are satisfactory.
The tests given the khaki-colored tents
by this office have proven satisfactory.
and II has consequently been determined
to purchase only khaki-colored duck for
the manufacture of tents hereafter. I'm
der authority of the Secretary Of War,
S7S tents were shipped from St. Louis
depot and 323 from Fort Sam Houston,
Tex, to the Mayor of Galveston for the
use of the sufferers from the tidal wave
and storm which devastated the city OF
Galveston in September last. There were
also loaned 10 the Mayor of Jacksonville !
! 600 worn but serviceable hospital tents
for the shelter of the people who. on ac-
count Of the great conhagration there,
were rendered homeless Fifty complete
hospital tents were also sent to Elizabeth
ton. Tenn. for the use of the food suf-
ferers there.
AT the request of Brig Gen. W. a.
Kobbe, United States Volunteers, com
mandng Department of Mindanao and
Jolo, p. l., six silken national colors with
stats were procured by this department
and shipped to the Philippine islands for
presentation TO prominent native chiefs |
deserving recognition for their loyalty |
and friendship. General Kobbe under
date of June II last in acknowledging the
receipt of said flags, advises this Office
that the same were provided with silver
plates suitably inscribed and presented |
with suitable formalities, and that they
are held in great honor by the recipients
who take much pride in displaying them
when occasion offers"
The total cost of live stock. wagons
and harness purchased By the depart
ment from July l. 1900. to June 90. 1901,
was sl,475. 72945. approximately SyS 60l
tons of coal We're purchased during the
year for transports. Transportation was
furnished by means exclusive Of the army
transport service for $50 2O2 persons, 2s, col
animals, and 3GS. COS tons of material.
The cost of maintaining the 3S vessels
owned by the department, including the
rama ire I'd yRaf