Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-07

and artillery horses. To that call re-
markedly prompt response was made.
Upon the same department devolved the
duty of providing rail transportation for
all troops with their supplies to points of
concentration, and 1t provided 1t. In that
great department there was official ma
chinery for handling all those problems.
and General Ludfngton put that machinery
in motion promptly and effectively.
But an entirely new problem was pre-
scented to the army and to the quartermas-
transportation For the first time the
American army was to do battle beyond
sea. How Gen. Ludngton and his corps Of
officers solved that problem Is history. At
chartered. but afterwards the department
purchased large and commodious vessels.
The invading army Of Gen. Shafter was
transported to Santiago. and after its sue
cessful campaign in Cuba 1t was returned
to the United States. The armies Of occu-
patton were safely landed in Cuba, Porto
Rico and in the Philippines.
Transport Service Organized.
A regular transport service was organ
lied on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The steamers purchased were fitted up in
manner that made them ideal troopsMps
for long ocean voyages. The American
army was transported in comfort. This
service. created in such a remarkably short
period of time, was commented upon the
world over. the representatives Of a num-
Der OF nations applying to the quartermas-
ter 8 department for the plans and specifl-
cations under which the United States
army transports had been fitted up.
When the invasion of China was decided
upon 1t was Gen. Ludington who was
ordered to arrange the transportation of
the American army of invasion, and the
well-orgarized transport fleet of his de-
partment placed the army and it's supplies
in China promptly and in excellent condi-
ton.
Perhaps no better tribute can be paid
this new service than to say that although
upwards of GO0O00 persons have been trans
ported by the army transport service since
Its inception not one life has been sacrificed
by reason Of any fault in the fittings or
accommodations on the ships.
Clothing the Army.
Beginning with the Spanish-American
war Gen. Ludington's department had to
provide the army with clothing suited for
the tropics. In 1900 proper clothing and
other supplies for the severe winter OF
northern China were needed. In both cases
the problem was solved and solved salts
factorily. The greatly increased size of
our army required an immense amount of
construction work at military posts all
over the country. and this construction
work has been carried on under Gen. Lud.
ington's direction 1t has also fallen to his
department to carry into effect the recent
the army
Marshall I. Ludington was born July 4,
1889. at Somerfield. Somerset county, Pa.
He grew up in Uniontown Fayette county
of that state. July next he will reach the
statutory retiring age for army officers.
He has seen the most active kind of service
in his department in the civil, the Indian
and the Spanish wars. His
record is in many respects remarkable.
and it is said of him that during his entire
army career he has never asked for an
assignment to any station, always taking
the assignment where the department saw
fit to place him. The Secretary of War,
the President and the Senate have recog-
nized his great services during the past
five years at the head of the department
that clothes. shelters and transports the
army. and after forty-one years in his
country's service Gen. Ludington will. at
his own request, retire next Monday, but
with the rank Of major general United
States army, to which he will be promoted
on the 18th instant.