The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-13
X OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
How Our Troops Are Carried Over Seas
By A. sidman Technical World Magazine.
y y y y y - y y y y

| cident at sea, where assistance is i'm
perative, the ability to communicate
| with the shore would be an advantage
of the greatest moment. A few of the
ships have been equipped with sys-
tenn of submarine signals by which the
vessels can be definitely advised dur
ing fog or heavy weather of the near
approach to the shore, or points of
danger, by direct communication with
lighthouses or lightships. This pro-
vides very important safeguard to the
passengers carried.
The accommodations for civilian pas
sengers on board the transports is all
that can be desired. Passage is free
on board for those going to the islands
on duty, the only charge which the
government makes being for subsist-
ence, which is at the rate of one dol
lar per day. As the voyage is made
in from twenty eight to thirty-two
days, according to weather conditions,
it is readily seen that the trip can be
made very cheaply.
The berthing accommodations for the
enlisted men are so arranged that the
hunks are placed side by side. three
tiers deep. The bodies of the hunks
are made of canvas, which can be taken
out and washed, thus keeping every
thing in sanitary order. In some of the
ships there are hooks for the singing
of hammocks, whenever it is found nee
essary. The horses, whenever carried,
are so placed that they cannot lie down
during the voyage, but do not appear
to suffer from the effects of the trip
The vessels are kept in good condi
ton, board of survey carefully ex
aiming the ships at the end of each
round trip. Because it is more eco
nomical, the bulk of the coal required
for the use of the transpacifc service
is procured at Nagasaki, Japan, where,
upon the return trip to the United
States, all transports take aboard coal
to their cargo capacity. 1t is carefully
inspected, screened three times, picked
over twice for stone, and then sorted
for dust and slack before delivery.
The coaling is done with great rapidity,
as much as 5000 tons and over having
been put aboard in a working day of
ten hours.
The arrival of one of the transports |
at Manila is one of the events of the |
month, and is looked upon with a GER
tain amount of joy by all, for it is sure
to bring mail and other tidings for |
officer and enlisted man alike. Without |
the transports the service in the Phil |
ippines would indeed be extremely irk- |
some. Each transport is capable of car
rying about $500 people, troops and
civilians. An idea may be gathered
as to the work of the transpacific SER
vice when it is stated that there were
about twenty sailings during the past
year. There were transported on these
voyages between the United States, the
nh pH4AC ISIdutlS, I1d"dIIdH 1SIdHuS,
and Guam nearly $4,000 passengers,
over a thousand horses, nearly 100000
feet of lumber, 100000 pounds of mail
matter, the remains of over 100 of our
lead soldiers, $4,000 tons of freight
and general supplies, and 26,450,000
dollars or pesos.
The transports are Differed by men
we'll versed in their line of profession
md have been taken either from the
navy or the merchant marine.
The ships all have their distinguish
ng marks on the tunnels, quarter
boards, and flags. The tunnels are
ined with the red, white and bluei
lands. The flag is crossed diagonally
With the red, white and blue, with the
lesign of the quartermaster' depart
nent in the center in blue and the let
ers I. S. A. T. s. in red.
When it is considered that the trans
'orts are always in readiness for car
wing troops, and a movement can be
ecomplished without delay, while
commercial vessels would have to be
tied for the work, which takes time,
nd, after it is done, are not as com
lete as are those equipped and main
aimed with that purpose in view, it