Arizona republican., 1904-05-16
Unavailable Military Supplies.

Unavailable Military Supplies. | Uncle Sam is becoming the largest dealer in the country in old clothes, and secondhand material connected with the equipment of the army. A
 Washington dispatch explains that it has been found at the war department that the decision to issue the new uni form to the enlisted force will leave the quartermaster depots in possession of a vast quantity of cid clothing. per fectly serviceable and likely to meet the fate of sale at public auction at ruinously low prices. There is a pe- culiar situation surrounding this mat ter of clothing. Two or three years | ago the secretary of war detailed board of officers to revise the regula- tions relating to the apparel of officers and enlisted men of the army. The ap- proved plan introduced some radical ! changes, including an entirely new uniform for the soldiers.
 It was the recommendation of the board that no part of the mems uni form should be issued until the supply of displaced uniform was exhausted. In the case of officers, who buy their own apparel. the change was to take place at a given date, far enough ahead so as not to impose too great hard ship upon young officers who had re- gently provided themselves with the prescribed clothing and equipment. Thee grew up c.t once great demand among the soldiers for the new uni form, and it was decided that the troops returning from the Philippines should on their arrival be furnished with the new clothing. This served to introduce the uniform at posts where troops were on duty and were not entitled to the apparel. There was created much discontent over the dis tincticn. It was also found that this system of issue would not reduce the existing stock of soldiers clothing at any such rate as was necessary, so the system of issue was abandoned.
 It has now been decided to issue the clothing to troops stationed at the principal military garrisons, such as those in the neighborhood of large cities. This again has caused dissat- isfaction among troops at smaller posts, who find they cannot get their new uniforms unless they are trans ferred to the larger posts. Besides, they say when they are assigned to street parades and other functions, where they meet the newly clad troop CTS, the difference in appearance is mo- ticeable, and they do net like it. It is now found that it will take at the present rate of issuing the old uniform not less than five years to get rid of the old stock, which amounts to about s1,CO0,O09 worth of material The quar- termasters are in a great quandary over the situation. They do not like to throw away so much clcthing, and they cannot hope to sell it for anything like it's cost or value.
 This calls attention to the conditions the troops. There is hardly any piece of equipment or part of uniform which has not been changed, and the result is that the war department is constant ly in possession Of what are known as obsolete articles, the disposition of which is oftentimes problem. The army quartermasters who have charge of the depots aim to keep the stock down and not to have much of any supply on hand. Tn that event it is easy enough to issue the remaining stock before the new article is purchas- ed. Where it is not possible to issue such material it is sold at public auc- tion, providing reasonably high prices are forthcoming from the bidders.