New-York tribune., 1904-10-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
LFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
-hs-n Oni


LESSONS OF MANASSAS.-Lieutenant e'e"9l
Chaffee chief of staff of the army. is reauiIs i
voluminous reports received from Gehei", -,
relating to the combined manoeuVres III -
Other reports will be submitted Iatef' sINi'e
fully the strategic comments of the umpIeS' VIZ
have not had time to prepare complete reports
There is nothing in the reports handed III "o"
Indicate that the officers in charge OF various -"
partments of work or administration eii'ei'
amy view unfavorabIe to the continuance OF the
manceuvres Whatever question there may be Oh
the wisdom of extensive operations Of the ihlll- ,
and the regulars is discussed personally al'hous'
that question is also before the General stan III
relation to the recommendation OF the W"'
partment intended for the Congress and the neces-
sitv of appropriations next year for such work
The reports contain much information which VIII
be of value in time of principally in regard
to subsistence transportation and medical service
Several new appliances were tested bN the sur =
geons. with the result that a new hospital tent
will be adopted and a new system OF Transporting
first aid and emergency supplies TO the hrHhs me
will be applied after certain notifications are MADE
in a method proposed Oy . young medical ofhcef'
Lieutenant Gilchrist, duty at the washington
Barracks.
The army ouartermasters were not altogether
pIeased with the service rendered by the ralToau'
and they put the blame for delay in the entralhhs
Of troops after the man9uvres on the transpor," ia
tiOn companies. 1t is pointed out as one Vi %
necessities of the situation that IN time OF wal @
government Shall nave absolute COh'i"A W "
roads or at least of such lines as are required TOT
the CARRYING of troops and their supplies WIN
the weeks of preparation which were au"'uVu
evervbodv concerned there a great delay III
the unloading and loading OF baggage, Whie resi-
nents remained without shelter for many houIs
near the railroad tracks waiting until the tangie
could he Strengthened out. The subsistence Officers
saw that the regiments which went into the held
without food must blame that condition upon theii
own officers. Figures are given to snow that 'ne
troops were amply provided for. and that a large
quantity Of provisions was brought away from the
Virginia cambs so generous had been the allot-
ent OF food for the occasion 1t is stated that the
militia auartermasters often failed notor!ously IN
their duty and lefr their commands without substs
tence after the days work. when II was necessary
TO bivouack for the night
The army Quartermas,ers furnish description OF
the clothing worn by the troops. They expected
to hear some complaint from the New-York regi
ments which were clad in the olive drab uniform. q
wooen material which altogether too heavy
for the hot weather of early September i'm Nir-
EInia. The New-YOTkers found the clothing uh-
comfortable enough during the day. hut II was none
too heavy during the nights they spent OUT IN the
open The effect Of the appearance of the New
York mtiamen i'm the olive drab clothing Was 10
create a desire the part OF the other troops 70
about doing this arises from the fact that the aj
old style but serviceable uniforms in its depOts AZ
NewYOrk. Philadelphia and Jenersonyiiie. and
be the case II the uniform were issued 10 all
one Of tho features Of transportation reported
upCn favOrably Is that Of n means 0f carrying sup
plies the backs Of mules. the invention OF Colo
mel J. W. Pullman, chief Guartermaster OF the ma
II will he necessary reduce the weight Of the ap
paratus hut this can he easily accomplished. The
OF backing which has hitherto required experts
who are no longer obtainable