New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-13
All Arrangements to Move
Them Completed by War
Department.
ONLY ORDER FROM
WHITE HOUSE NEEDED
Ten Vessels Under Charter Cost.
ing More than Half Million
to End of June.
Iron, The Tribune Bureau I


Washington. May 1.-THE War Depart
ment has completed arrangements for the
transfer of all troops in Texas to Vera
Cruz. The movement could have been
made fractionally by the employment Of
the three army transports-the Fitzpatrick.
the Meade and the Sumner-which have
been AT Galveston for more than year.
but il was considered wiser to charter adj
ditional vessels. contracts for which have
row been completed. with the result that
ten other boats are available or will be
within the next two weeks
The three regular transports can easily
take the officers. enlisted men and 300 Of
the animals belonging 10 the 9Th Rein
forced Brigade now at Texas City. This
will leave 300 officers. $500 men, 1000 ami
mails and about 40 vehicles belonging to
the second division. The ten chartered
transports will more than suffice to carry
this force Of troops, animals and wagons
without delay.
All that is necessary for the benefit OF
the Quartermasters charged with this
transportation between Galveston and
Vera Cruz is the order from the White
sOuSC tHdt tHc tTOOp5 QuQcI OoHCi a.
Funston shall be reinforced
These ten transports will cost tho gov
eminent. on account OF the charters en-
during until the end of the fiscal year,
June 30. 3I1.5o0, to which there must DO
added S6l. 900 for coal and water. $4,000
for wharfage and $4,000 for fitting tho
ships for the accommodation OF troops
and animals
No indication has yet been given to tho
army Quartermasters regarding the inten-
ton Of the administration. AS one of1cer
remarked to-day. 1t will be. of course. a
saving OF public money if nothing further
is required OF the chartered vessels than
that they be fitted out and shall report
for duty at Galveston. The real expense
amounting to hundreds OF millions of dol
lars, will begin when the transports take
on troops, ammunition. supplies and AMI
mails and proceed to Vera Cruz.
! II there shall be general movement OF
the army, regulars and volunteers. there
will be required special appropriations far
SURPRISING any made by Congress In
years The emergency appropriation OF
$50, 0o0, 900 made at the beginning OF the
war with Spain is not a drop In the buck
ct, say the officers who have to do with
furnishing the sinews OF war.
A little item on the books Of the War
Department. amounting to $4,000, has &c
do with the movement OF troops on ac'
count of the strike in Colorado. That Il
an indication of the cost Of an emergency
which requires the transfer OF a military
command. and that was under the mos
favorable conditions prevailing at home
and without the requirement OF extraor'
binary facilities.
The army medical officers are making
every effort to protect the health OF the
troops in Mexico. There has been ex'
pended $4,000 in that direction at Vera
Cruz. and $1,000 more has been author
lied by the Secretary Of War. on the
recommendation of the surgeon general
Il is hoped to have the municipality al
Vera Cruz ultimately reimburse the
United States government for this out
lay. as was the case In Havana but some
officers entertain grave doubts that this
will ever be done.