The Washington times., 1907-08-23
PAY MEN MORE
DEMANDS ALESHIRE
Soldiers and Officers, He
Says, Need Higher
RecompenSe.
Wants Remount Service to
Provide Good
Horses.

Strong recommendations that the pay
OF men and officers Of The army and
that the force of the Quartermastcr
Generals Department be increased, for
the establishment Of a general service
corps and a remount service to pro-
vide suitable horses for the army, are
made BY Brig. Gen. James b. Aleshire.
OuarterInaster General. in his report
for that department for the fiscal year
closed June 80 last. General Aleshire
also reports tho need OF more torpedo
planters as an auxiliary. to harbor de-
tense on the Pacific coast and OF the
Pacific possessions, and describes the
installation Of wireless teiegraphy ana
submarine signals on number OF
transports.
The auartermasters department had
at its disposal during the year SSS,ool'-
796I7, and it is estimated that FUZZY
S. 100000 more should be asked for Tor
the next fiscal year.
Money Cost for Cuba.
The cost Of the present American oc-
cupauon Of Cuba, through the quar-
terInazter's department alone, mas Deer.
g. .554. g7O.27, which mast be REIMBURSED
by the Cuban government. Inc sum 10
divided into the following items.
Regular supplies, SzS.cl&tf' inelaeiie'1i
expenses. S103.250.S5; barracks ana at !Sl.-
tiers, $24, 1891; army tLailS ~ e.
81 ar. a.. 81. clothing and eIUlpa6e5 49,
7Qe 80 horses for cavalry, aFtlllei y III
engfneers. So. 800; emergency 1uno' war
Department, @lOoso-0- "a ,,,,,x,
owing 10 the large amount Of . -
most and other construction gong o.,
5,aneral AIeshire recommends loi
changes in the present system OF appIo-
r,ria t{ons in order that he may nave iiloI 2
license. he desires that me lllillL U
cost for buildings which can De -
sructed without the special s ~ ~ -
of Congress be raised from Szo,u0V 70
$50 COO This is especially urgent Win
reference to hospitals. The Sreauy N
creased cost of construction IS one rea-
son why this limit should be increased
Wireless Service.
General Aleshire states that the in
ztaTation OF wireless telegraph aDpaF-
ans has. been successfully completed on
the Thomas and sherman, ana Il VIZ
soon be placed in active operation on
the Logan, the cableship, Burnside, ano
eventually on the Sheridan, and also on
the fitzpatrick, in the American cuban
service. Messages from transports ~
miles out have been caught distinctly
by the San Francisco stations. Iris =
expected TO be of great value IN case
OF breakdown or accident AT sea. Wnefe
assistance Is imperative as wen as Tor
the practical everyday use The wire
less is more needed in the Pacific than
he-AtIantic, because Of the greater dis
lance across and the longer the SHIPS
are away from shore
As to submarine signals, both the XII
patrick and Sumner have been equipped
with a system Of undeT-sea signaling,
by which the vessels can be definitely
advised during a fog or heavy weather
OF the near approach 70 the shore OF
points Of danger, by direct communica-
ton with lighthouses, hghtships, OF
other vessels. The cost Of keeping the
transports in repair has averaged S, 00I
/ for each trip across the Pacific.
/ Lack Of funds for and Of a safe work
I Ing stock Of clothing and equipage ha:
greatly hindered the War Department
/ in carrying out the provisions OF Law
/ requiring il to furnish the organized
militia Of the District Of Columbia
Maryland. Virginia, and the other States
with QuarteTmaster's supplies during
I the past year, according TO a statemen
made by General Aleshire.
/ Since the enactment OF a law By Con
! gress IN June, 1905. for the purpose 0,
( providing arms. ordnance stores, quar-
/ termaster's stores. and camp equipag,
/ for issue to the militia, by direction o.
/ the Secretary Of War. as such arms
/ etc, are manufactured or othervvis,
/ provided for the use Of the regula
/ army, the War Department has beer
/ beseiged by the various militias for thes
/ supplies.
Working Stock Depleted.
! General AIeshire points out that tn
/ appropriation for the purchase of cloth
/ ing and equipage for the army has beel
so reduced and the former limitel
working stock has become so deplete,
that it is a serious question how to sup
ply the militia from the stores prOcure'
I for the exclusive use OF the army. wit
the promptness and dispatch asked &
/ nearly ever instance. While the ap
prOpriation is reimbursed from Ia
militia appropriation, such reimburse
ment cannot be made until the ship
ments TO the States shall have bee
completed. BY a ruling Of the Comp
troller OF the Treasury. supplies s
Issued are lost 10 the War Department
as well as the money IN payment 70
them, which cannot possibly be mad
use Of to replenish the stock thus de
MI