New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-05-10
The Post Of Manila an Important Station.

~ w Mr. G.. p Moss. whose brother cap
James A. Moss, Adjutant twenty
h Infanty, is now doing duty III
saistely upon the booming of the
in Mt Fort Santiago yesterday, the
hand of the Twenty fourth Infantry began
playing the "Star Spangled Banner, inc
battalion of that regiment under command
of Major Dent, presented arms, ana the
largest flag in the Philippine Islands was
bauled to the top of the new flag pole.
The ceremony was pretty one. The Nag
was officially raised by Miss Carr, who
was escorted TO the flag staff by General
Cham bers McKibbin. While, technically
speaking Miss Car had the honor OF
raisine tina flag, the actual work was done
by detail of the Twenty fourth Infantry
under the Sergeant Major ofthat regiment.
They had all they could do, too, to haul
up the big piece Of bunting in the teeth OF
an unusually strong wind Miss Carr
dainty hands would probably have been
more or less lacerated had she endeayored
to do the work herself. But, IN the rec
,rds of the army it is written that she
raised the first garrison flag over the Post
of Manila. and what is writ in army rec
ords is written indelibly.
The ceremony of raising the new flag
was made quite q social occasion.
large party Of Army officers aud ladies
were General McKibbin' guests, and they
thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, as well
the parade of the battalion after the cere-
mony.
The Post Of Manila occupies unique
position in the United States Army. While
it is post, and officially is the only post
in the Philippines, il does brigade work,
regular post work, and police duty. In
addition TO this, the officers who command
the post are staff officers of the Twenty
fourth Infantry, and the headquarters
work for that regiment is performed IN the
Headquarters of the Post of Manila. No
one, not even the best posted army officer
can begin TO realize the diversity of the
work performed at the headquarters OF
this post As one officer put 1t very aptly
awe do everything from hanging con
DENIED criminals TO search for lost dis
charge papers Of careless soldiers.
The Post Of Manila is commanded by
General Chambers Mckibbin, who is ably
assisted by Captain James A. Moss, Adju-
tant Twenty fonIth Infantry, who is the
post adiutant, Major G. NJ. Candy, Sur
geon, Lieutenant w. G. Sweeny, Quarter
master, and Lieutenant A. A. Parker,
assistant to the Post Adjutaut. Lieuten-
ant Parker is also the recorder of the per
manent board of survey which meets ut
the Post of Manila.
The Post of Manila was created by
General Orders No. 100, Headquarters
Division Of the Philippines, series of 1900,
but was actually established under the
provisions of Special Orders No. pa,
Headquarters Department of Northern
Luzon, dated August 9Th, 1901. 1t sue
ceeded the Provost Marshal General of tho
City of Manila. At first the Post of Ma
Mia was very insignificant institution.
Il occupied "hole in the WALL at Quartet
Meisic, and all the work was performed
by single officer, Captain Moss, who was
for while was at his desk continuously
from seven o'clock every morning until
one O. clock the following morning When
the Army and Navy Club vacated its home
on the Luneta boulevard, near Gale No
zelda, the building was turned over to
the Post Of Manila for headquarters. The
building is hardly recognizable now rs
being the same one occupied by the club.
Captain Moss, in his famous husting man
ner, has had the grounds cleaned up and
decorated with flowers and shrubbery,
and the Ordinance Department has loaned
large number of small cannon and
and shells to assist in the outer decoration.
There are stables for twelve horses, and
quarters for the necessary guard, the
clerks and mounted orderlies.
Unless one il afforded an opportunity |
to make special investigation OF the
work performed by General McKibbin,
and his efficient assistants and corps of
able clerks, he would have no idea of the
magnitude of its scope. In the United
States post ut which n regiment is quart
cred would contain in round numbers,
1000 men. There are now no Iegimental
posts at home, and very few posts con-
tanning single company or troop. Yes
terday morning the morning report of the
Post of Manila showed 10 officers and
3,145 enlisted men available for duty. |
This of ten exceed 1000 The old sys-
TENS OF doing post clerical work have been
discarded by Captain Moss. He long
since learned that in order to keep up to
date with his work il would require re-
modelling Of the system Of clerical work in
vogue in the army. He has the work SO
systematized that at ten o'clock every
morning General McKibbin can inform
DINisiou ueHuvuHrteTs, pTONiueu sucu
request is made exactly how many men
he has available for tire fling line. how
may iir the hospital, how many conval
escent, and any other information of a
like nature. The card system has been
introduced in the office, and it saves an
untold amount OF labor. There are ten
clerks in the Office Of the Post Of Manila
proper besides number of clerks in the
koa ls,,,o ,tnr - In Tya ut,,fo ~ Inf
try. Six tvpewriters are necessary to do
the Office work. SO unique is the work OF
this post that there Is large amount of
work to be done which, for better term,
must be called preparatory" To illus
trste: A copy of an order is received
from Division Headquarters containing
paragraph stating that Private John
Smith, Twelfth Infantry, has been ordered
to report to the commanding officer of the
Post of Manila to await transportation to
San Francisco. A clerk takes all orders
and reads them carefully every day. He
makes record Of Private Smith, and If
that individual does not make his appear
ance within reasonable length OF time,
Division Headquarters Is notified, and
search instituted for Mr. Smith. So be-
sides keeping track OF the men who are
oCtuully III tuV Vbt VI Euuutu, tuC Ost VI
Manila keeps tab on hundreds of soldiers
who are outside Of the post proper.
Captain Moss has devised q very simple
but ingenious system of keeping track Of
oil messages sent out by him to all parts
Of the city. The message and the envel-
ope in which It is enclosed are made to
keep check one on the other, as well AS
to inform him whether the ordely who de-
livered the message loitered. Five
mounted messengers and one man on
bicycle are kept constantly employed.
Another unique thing about this great
post Is the fact that II contains the only
permanent board Of survey In the United
States Army. The papers Of hundreds of
ofncers are Strengthened out by this board.
Captain Hunter Of tho Artillery Corps is
it, president, and Lieutenant Parker is
the recorder. Whenever an officer has