New-York tribune., 1902-05-13


Adjutant General Corbin, Quartermaster Gen
eral Ludingtou. Commissary General Weston
and Surgeon General Sternberg charged
by Secretary Root with the arrangement of the
part Of relief measures pertaining TO the War
Department After few minutes consultation
orders We're drafted for the guidance of the
three supply departments. giving the scheme of
distribution follows:
Three medical officers. with 5000 worth OF
medical stores. etc; one subsistence officer, with
$4,000 in stores. consisting Of rice. dried fish,
sugar, coffee tea. canned soups, condensed
cream salt, pepper and vinegar; one officer of
the quartermaster's department. with $4,000
worth of clothing supplies for men, women and
children
Secretary Root indorsed the scheme as fol-
lows:
The above distribution is approved and the
purchases VIII be made accordingly. ready Tor
shipment In case the pending bill for the relief
OF Martinique becomes a law.
The orders directed that those officers and
stores be sent the Dixie. TO be distributed at
such points may be designated by the naval
officer In command Of the Dixie under instruc
tions given by the Secretary OF the Navy
The medical officers to render such medi-
cal aid as may be in their power. in addition to
the distribution OF medical supplies
General Weston. comn.issary. telegrap phed i'm
mediately to Colonel Brainard. the commissary
officer at the New York depot directing him TO
eXpend the allotment In the purchase OF tea
coffee. sugar and the other foods agreed upon,
and 10 that these goods were loaded on the
Dixie at once.
The quartermaster's supplies TO be transported
on the Dixie will include about GOO tents suitable
clothing for men. women and children and camp
equipaGe, such axes. shovels kettles frying
pans and cooking utensils The subsistence sup
plies include about 100000 ratons.
To FURNISH DISTILLED WATER
Admiral Bradford made novel and important
recommendation to-day. involving the proba BILE
scarcity OF drinking water In Martinique as a
result Of everything being covered with volcanic
ashes. charged with sulphur and other chemi-
Gals. lie has a barge al Key West containing
10000 gallons Of distilled water and the naval
once towing 1t 10 St Pierre. to reach there early
next week. This would insure that most indis-
penSable Of all things 10 the sick and injured
in the camp To- be established by the Dixie In the
worst devastated portion of the island Ad-
miral Bradford also has a barge containing
100000 gallons OF distilled water at Norfolk
ready for immediate departure, and under his
jurisdiction several colliers of large freight
carrying capacity, ready 10 take supplies and to
convey survivors from Martinique to neighbor-
ing islands These GOLFERS. which also have
large dStilng capacity, are the Ajax at New
York; the Hannibal and the Leonidas. at Nor
folk; the Sterling, at San Juan Porto Rico. and
the Lebanon, at Cienfuegos.
this morning, and should cover the nine hun
dred miles to St Pierre 10y Thursday morning.
The tug Potomac left San Juan yesterday. and
ought to be at St Pierre on Tuesday. The Gin
cinnat has food to last her own crew six
months, and most OF this can he sent ashore at
once. She also has surgeon. "A pharmacist.
skilled hospital attendants and plenty of med
icines and surgical appliances. Her boats are
expected to prove valuable In taking persons
off the shore to vessels which cannot approach
closely on account OF shoal water. The Potomac
carries only small crew and few supplies but
can be utilized in towing lighters and To the
extent of her capacity for transport purposes.
The scientific departments of the government
viii avail themselves of the opportunity To send
on the Dixie as passengers or observers two
professors from the Geological Survey. A Har-
ward volcano specialist will also have passage
Chief Clerk Michael. of the Department of
State, acted Immediately the suggestion OF
Consul Ayme, at GuadelOupe. relative To the
Red Cross. In the absence of Miss Barton Cen
eral John NJ. Wilson formerly chief OF engineers
OF the army, is the ranking member of the COM
mittee of the Red Cross and ne was PROMPTLY
advised Of the cOnsuls suggestion in order that
ne might Call meeting of that body to decide
on the extent 10 which the society shall take
part In the relief work.