New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
ARMY INSPECTION.
REPORTS OF GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE
FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
EXAMINATIONS OF $4,000 MEN AND DIS
BURsEMENTs OF 100000 OOOo-COsT OF
THE SOLDIER N.l7s YEAR.


BURsEMENTs OF s3ooOoOOOo-COsT OF
THE SOLDIER BIB YEAR.
Washington. Feb. CspeciaD.-The annual re-
ports or General J. c. Breckenridge Inspector
General Of the Army for the last fiscal year to
the Secretary Of War and the Lieutenant-General
commanding the Army. afford much data that
should he interesting and valuable to the people
large. Not the least interesting Of the subjects
they treat Of Is brief historical account OF the
InspectOr-GeneraIs Department from IUs when
that accomplished soldier Baron Steuben
made tie first Inspector General of the American
Army. with the rank of Major General down 10
the present time. Steuben made his first insrec-
tions Of American troops at Valley Forge in the
spring OF 177S So the Inspector Generals Depart.
ment has existed for l23 years and in that time It
has included It's rosters distinguished Off
GERS as Alexander Hamilton, who was 'Major-Cen-
eral and Inspector-Genera when war was ex-
pected with France 179S-1S0o and for part of that
time Was also I'm command of the Army: and Zebu-
Ion Pike. who i'm 1s06o7 explored the sources the
Mississippi. discovering Pixies Peak (which was
named for HIM. was captured and held for months
by the Spaniards and killed in 1873 in his
cessful assault Toronto. Canada
The reports show that the work of the Depart
ment during the last fiscal year included iuspec-
tions of than l35 0o0 men: II disbursements
involving SSo0O0o,00o and Of property amount
ing to over 100000. with more than HOO0Oo
worth retained for further service. In addition
d+pots. srsenals 9rmories recruiting stations. hos
ptas. National cemeteries and soldiers homes.
there was organized systematic inspection OF
transports. the inspection Of the Military Academy
the resumption of inspections Of schools having
Army detail and United States arms and equip
ments and the inspection of complicated nsular
accounts
Concerning the inspection NJ schools with milf
tary details. which number 10. scattered through
every State in the Union, it is shown that they
had 30l5 students enrolled the last fiscal year OF
whom 27.2Go were over fourteen years OF age. and
that the students. former students and alumni or
these institutions to the number Of 1883 served in
the war with Spain. OF whom .osi were officers and
2.lis were enlisted men
The reports also give 5ulated summaries os the
work Of the Department for the decade ending with
the fiscal year 1870 from which n appears that the
total covered by the ten years Inspections in
money accounts was Slss.72s s47 g. or an average
OF Sis 32 4 - per annum largest being in lsa9
involving over $4,000 0o9 and the smallest in 1881
being less than $50 10000 This gives some indica-
tion Of the growth of the work OF the Inspector
Generals Department Reports OF property In
spections did not begin reach the InspectorGen-
erals oflce until 1892. full decades summary
could be shown in this work. bur about eight
and one-half years 9s47 inspections exclusive Of
public aumalsD made. involving over - 500 OO
articles costing 100000 OF This amount
about Il psr cent. representing over s. 3S0O0
retained in service and the remainder was con
demned 70 be sold destroyed. What is retained
IN the service by careful inspection almost pure
savings The average annual amount Of property
retained in service represents a value of t50-
on As public animals which must be inventoried
singly 1926 which cost over teOo)0D0 were IN
spected IN the same period and OF this number
p 4O7 valued AZ S279 III g. retained IN service
and the remainder condemned 20 he sold or killed
Concerning that interesting subject. the cost ~
the soldier. the reports show from examination
of the amounts expended during the last five years
fhraa ,ba
!edgers OF the War Department the annual re-
ports OF the chiefs of bureaus. and the statements
Of receipts and disbursements published annually
by the Treasury Department. that the average
nual for each enlisted man approximately
as follows, 1896 s97l ss in 1897 s93i in 1895
s. l59 26: 1899 81 3lo S5 in 1890 S0l4 The gen
eral average for the hve years 81 l73 81. For
two years OF peace Os96 and 1880 the average was
s95s z. and for two years Of Gs9s and 1900 il
vas 81 22s q. increase OF s273 Is or nearly %
per cent
The soldiers ration IS probably the most inter
esting subject Of ALL especially 10 the soldier him
,elf. In his report the Lieutenant General the
Inspector-General says:
The evolution ot the Army ration during the last
century. in quantity and variety. as well as IN
quality and method Of preparation until now II il
TO its soldiers, is remarkable the evolution
Of the small arm from the slow hintlock muzzls
its smokeless powder and metal cartridges. \
century ago the Army ration comprised beef or
pork, bread -four. small quantity OF rum, and
salt. vinegar. soap and candles Coffee. sugar
vegetables. fruits and similar articles not
issued Now there are no less than nine varieties
in the meat component or the ration. including
Ash: four in the bread. in the vegetable. six
IN the coffee and sugar, and quite number in the
dried fruit and seasoning cOmpOnents and the
riety practically be made unlimited by apply
Ing the savings OF any OF OF the components 10
the purchase OF articles not the regular ration
list. Most OF those on the old list still issued,
except Tum--which formerly considered de-
sirable stimuant for men engaged I'm fatigung
hazardous Occupations-but their allowance has
largely increased. And II the former ration
considered sufficient in quantity for the average
man. the present ration which has about doubled,
should give no cause for complaint. especially
when the profits OF the exchange add about
pound to the food Of many. Great advances have
also been made in the method OF preparing the
food. and cooks specially enlisted to make the
most Of the articles placed at their disposal
that the present diet of the soldier is vastly su-
perior TO the limited choice formerly offered.