The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14

with empty military StorehouseS, the
supply department set to work equipping
practically 100000 men. The two bureaus
most involved in this task were. of course,
the Ordnance and Quartermaster Depart
ments. The Ordnance Department, under
the division of labor for a long time OBJ
tanning in the army, not only provides the
armament Of the Sea-coast and the wea.
pons of the artillery and enlisted men, buf
also furnishes to each soldier his equipD
ment.s Many of these articles are of spe.
cial design and manufacture, and not only
could not be purchased in open market, but
could not even be manufactured by most
establishments. Reliance lay, therefore,
almost exclusively upon the Government
pIant-the Rock Island Arsenal. Con-
gress had been repeatedly requested to
appropriate the money necessary to equip
this plant with special reserve machinery,
so that it might be at all times ready
to meet any emergency. But this request,
SO often made, was denied, and the espes
cially designed apparatus for the arsenal
had to be purchased, manufactured, and
installed before work could begin. On the
LIST of April the output at Rock Island
Arsenal amounted to 20 sets of infantry
equipment per diem. When the protocol
was signed. on the 18th day of August, it
was turning out daily 5000 complete in
fantry equipments and $50 cavalry equip
ments. The record of the Springfield
Armory is no less credtable, for the daily
output of that plant during the same
period was increased from 120 to 1853
krag-Jorgensen rifles.
1.-The great supply bureau of the army,
however, is the Quarternaster Depart
ment. In addition to providing the soldier
with uniforms, hats, suits of underwear,
blankets, overcoatS, rubber ponchos, and
various other clothing, each regiment Of
infantry. squadron of cavalry. and battery
of artillery must be supplied with the
necessary transportation and field equip
ment, such as wagons, horses, mules, har-
ness, tents, etc. Here, too, of the manu-
featured material, the articles were of
army standard and unusual design, and
could only be furnished by comparatively
few establishments in the United States.
All of the ma terial needed for the new
troops had to be especially manufactured,
and, as for the horses and mules, a care
full examination and inspection of each
animal was necessary, in accordance with
the rigid requirements of the military ser
vice. Some idea of the work of the Quar-
termaster Bureau can be formed when it
is stated that no less than an average Of
1900 pairs of shoes day were required
for the army between the period of April
% and August H. The various articles
of equipment furnished by this Depart
ment alone. during the same time, amount
ed daily to over $4,000.
SIN the matter of tents was experienced
the greatest difficulty. The supply in the
United States, as well as material there
for, was utterly inadequate to meet the
demand. The Government standard of
duck was understandable. Every city and
establishment in the United States having
tents or tent material of any kind was
drawn upon. Much thus obtained, al
though the best that the markets of the
country afforded, was naturally not up to
the standard. and subsequently caused
some inconvenience. but the Government
exhausted every effort to meet the needs,
even going so far as to secure the aid Of
the force in the National Post-oftice De-
partment mailbag repair-shop.
The same embarrassment was expert
enced with respect to wagons and to
the cloth for khaki uniforms. There was
no khaki cloth in the United States, and
no establishment familiar with its manu-
facture. Notwithstanding these condi-
tons and the fact that there were but 81
officers in the Quartermaster Department
land the work of this bureau certainly
requires specialized knowledge and exper-
ience). at the close of h6stilities in August,
there had been manufactured or purchased
and issued 516,33S blankets, BOOTS
blouses, 523.203 trousers, 416.105 CAM
paign hats, 153, 167 canvas field uniforms,
7S2,3G3 shoes, 5SS.SG0 leggings. 622,211
dark-blue flannel shirts. 1,257 ,002 under
shirts, 1,210,6S2 drawers, 3S,963 axes,
1883 trumpets, 34.344 complexities. S.
662 mess-pans. 64,9S0 various kinds of
tents, exclusive of shelter tents, 3123I9
halves. 16.61S horses, 20,1S2
mules, 5.179 wagons. 2S,012 sets of sin
gle harness, and other articles of every
kind in like proportion.
Some blanket-bag, one pair of blanket
bag shoulder straps, one pair of blanket
bag coat straps; one bayonet scabbard:
Dne cartridge belt; one canteen. one can
teen strap; one gun sling; one haversack,
)ne haversack strap; one meat-can, one
tin cup, one knife, one fork, and one
spoon.
TO be continued)