New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

the first field army OF 10000, which Ger
eral Leonard Wood is TO command, are
bdlng their time. During the last Few
DAYS they have communicated 10 the
chairmen Of the Military and Naval COM
mittees the ACCESSIBILITY of drafting legis-
lation TO furnish the funds which may De
needed The only thing which has been
done is the Introduction in the Senate Of
resolution appropriating 100000, but
Senator Chamberlain, who Is responsible
for this action, will not push the matter
until word comes from the White House
OF the need Of an emergency fund.
In the House Representative PadGet.
has secured the passage OF a resolution
allowing the Navy Department 10 ex-
: pend generally. within the discretion o,
/ the Secretary. about 10000 which at va
rious times during the last few years
has been appropriated for the naval sta
ton at New Orleans where il has not
been expended and where II is not likely
TO be applied. This fund will go only a
short way toward the acquisition OF the
naval supplies and the chartering OF some
additional transports and supply vessels
which will be needed II the present naval
marine forces are maintained in Mexico.
Fractional Movement Likely.
II is estimated that the first field army
will require a tonnage OF nearly 10000 II
the movement is 10 be made at one time.
IL will take from three TO ten days TO
equip the vessels obtained for this our
pose. The 11.0o0 men constituting the "a
division In Texas can be taken 10 Vera
Cruz from Galveston on the four army
transports there In three or four trips,
and as the first instalment has gone under
General Funston, it Is probable that this
fractional movement will be authorized
/ in the interest OF economy.
The army will call on the navy TO help
out In the matter OF supplying refrlger-
ated meat until the army quartermasters
can acquire cold storage ship, which
cannot be chartered or bought until au-
thority can be obtained from the Presl-
dent. That acquisition, however. IS a
necessity as are the other facilities for
the transportation of army subsistence.
There is also some talk Of restoring the
I NiiCi 6tnCy ldtipn NiliNu nos DttH 6DdL
doned recently because of criticism
by the food experts OF the Department OF
Agriculture. The details for the regula-
ton Of supplies have been carefully
worked out by General j. B. Aleshire.
quartermaster general. The main base
will be Galveston. TO which II is proposed
to ship by rail subsistence, equipment and
other material That will be the principal
quartermaster depot The secondary case
will be Vera Cruz, from which the dis
tribution Of supplies will be made to the
quartermasters with the divisions OF the
army In Mexico.
No Fund for Mileage Payment.
The military-naval authorities are seri-
ously embarrassed by lack OF funds
There is a deficiency for the remainder OF
| tho present fiscal year. and the army bill
which has Just been enacted. and the
navy bill. now under consideration in the
House. provide funds available for ex-
penditure only OF July l. At present there
Is no fund for the payment Of mileage
and few. II any. officers can be ordered
anywhere unless they accompany troops
Congress failed to make the mileage fund
Immediately available. as was urged by
the War Department.
The volunteer army bill. signed
by the President to-day, contains some
surprises for the military authorities and
the militia officers. Certain amendments
were made while the bill was in confer
ence which are not in accordance with
the recommendations made by the War
Department. The President cannot call
for volunteers until Congress specially
authorizes it, Congress must also specify
the number and grade of all officers above
the grade OF colonel. so that high ranking
militia officers are not sure of being auto
matically volunteer of1cers with the rank
they hold In the militia Certain restrio-
tons have also been placed on the nurn>