Evening star., 1901-09-25
Well Pleased With Conditions in
the Philippines.
EFFECT OF BRIGADE ORGANIZATION
Consolidation of Commissary and
Medical Supply Depots.
BARRACKS FOR THE TROOPS

Mai. Gen. Corbin, the adjutant general
of the army. returned from the Philippines
this morning While he declined to sub
NIT to a formal interview, he talks very
freely of the condition OF affairs in the
Philippines. particularly the work accom-
plished by Gems. Sternberg. Weston and
Greely. The general is more than pleased
with the conditions obtaining in the archi-
pelago, and all were particularly gratified
to find the health Of the army so excellent,
and the good feeling among the officers and
soldiers. The general is of the opinion that
the work of the heads of STAFF departments
in the Philippines has been of very great
value in the administration of military
matters.
Every action Of the staff department was
based upon a complete understanding with
Gen. Chaffee and the local military author
tiles. In fact, most all that was done was
after full and free conference with the di-
vision commander and upon his direct rec
ommendation.
Brigade Organization.
The organization of the troops serving in
the division into separate brigades within
the various departments will result in bet
ter military administration all along the
line. 1t leaves the brigade commanders
substantial commands and increased pow
ers. such the convening Of general
courts-martfal and relieves the division
and department commanders of many de-
tails of ordinary discipline, and permits
them to devote their time to more impor-
tant matters of administration.
Gen. Weston consolidated the depots Of
his department, thereby relieving num-
Der Of staff officers, with the consequent
saving in money.
Gen. Sternberg reduced the number OF
hospitals. and consolidated the medical sup
ply depots all through the archipelago.
particularly In Manila, leaving but one
there. while there were three before. On
his recommendation the hospital at Naga-
saki was entirely done away with; also the
hospital ship Relief, which had become no
longer needed The ship was dismantled
hospital ship and turned over to Gen.
Chaffee for the interisland transportation
trade which gave Gen. Chaffee much
needed ship.
BY the courtesy Of the foreign officers in
China Gen. Corbin inspected all the foreign
troops at Shanghai, which included contin-
gents from the English, German and
French armies. He found them in an ex-
cellent state of discipline, but in no sense
are their discipline, physique equip
ments superior to our troops in the Philip
pines.
General Corbin returned by the Canadian
line. General Sternberg and General WeN-
ton are to return on the transport Thomas
due to sail from Nagasaki September TO-
and General Greedy is returning via the
Suez canal, which will bring him here about
the list Of November.
Barracks Needed for the Troops.
General Ludington did not arrive in time
to complete his work to return with the
other officers. The quartermaster general
is confronted with problems of greater i'm .
portance than those of the others, for the
question of quarters for troops requires a
great deal of thought. The troops in Lu-
Zon, for instance are almost entirely quar-
tered in "conventoes," church property, and
now that quiet and order is restored these
are needed not only for churches, but par
ticularly for school purposes. Ii will be
difficult for the troops to be quartered else
where until barracks are erected and this
important question will be thoroughly in
vestigated by General Ludington, and he
will upon his return be able to submit TO
the department a complete scheme for the
erection of barracks at the various points
where General Chaffee wishes to assemble
them in the archipelago.
The amount of travel that has been done
on the part of these officers can be illus
trated when it is stated that the distance
travelled has been something over 24.000
miles, and this has been accomplished in
ninety-four days.
Better Mail Service Needed.
General Corbin remarked that the neces-
sity for regularly established mail serv-
ice between Manila and this country is one
of very great Importance, not only for the
commercial interests but for the soldiers
and officers serving In the archipelago, for
there is now no certainty when mail will
be received from home. The practicability
of accomplishing efficient mail service
is illustrated by the facilities offered by the
Canadian Pacific steamers carrying mail to
the orient, where the people of the ports in
China and Japan where the steamers touch
can determine within an hour of the date
of the arrival of the next mail: and so
strict Is the penalty for failure to deliver
the mail on schedule time that the people
can depend upon their mail with the exact
ness Of the service IN Washington. AS II 10
now the Post Office Department is doing all
In its power to accomplish this end, and
the local post Office in Manila ie reported
being administered excellently, but the
receipt of the mails Is very Irregular.
For instance, one officer there received his
mail containing newspapers from the LIST to
the 18th of month, and then-perhaps If
teen days later-receved the letters for him
for the same period. And this has been CO.