in such condition that he will not be fit for use for a couple of months. No horse medicine of any kind on hand, although I have asked for it several times. Wagons will have to be taken apart and carried across the mountains from Cordon to Bababag, and the intention is to use them in bringing rations from Dupax to Solano, the headquarters of the battalion. Mules are not broken to harness, and apparently no attention was paid to their selection for teams. They were tried in harness in bringing supplies from Cauayan to Cordon, a distance of about 25 miles, last week, and their shoulders were badly rubbed, and 4 mules could haul about 1,200 pounds only. Have ordered pack ponies to Dupax to assist in bringing rations from Carranglan to Dupax. It is almost impossible to organize a permanent pack train of native ponies, as they generally play out after two or three trips, and the natives then state that it is necessary for them to have a rest, and the consequence is that we have then to hunt up other ponies. It is very important to pay the native promptly, and I have told them that each pack pony would receive 50 cents (Mexican) per day and each native 25 cents. I have no money to pay them, and consequently have been giving them certificates, and as nearly all the other commands that have been through this country have been doing the same thing the natives are becoming more unwilling to work each day, as they are afraid that the certificates will never be paid. Would recommend that an officer be sent up into this country to take up all the certificates in the province. Would recommend a large pack train of about 75 animals, and that a blacksmith with full equipments be sent with them, as the shoes need looking after. COMMISSARY. Command has been living on three-quarters rations since January 15, and some parts of the ration, such as baking powder and soap, have been entirely missing for a month at a time. Have had no yeast or hops, and consequently could make no bread. Supply of fresh beef very limited. Have been using both Australian cattle and carabao. Command practically without a change of clothing, and a great many barefooted. Clothing of all kinds badly needed. A great deal of palay could be furnished animals at Dupax, but best not to depend on it. Sufficient funds should be shipped here to store a supply of palay to last during the rainy season. SICKNESS. Fifteen deaths during past three weeks; due almost entirely to malaria. pernicious type peculiar to this section of the country. It is of a One case of smallpox was discovered the morning of March 26. Almost entire absence of typhoid fever might be taken as an indication that the water is fairly good. JOHN F. PRESTON, First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant, Sixteenth Infantry. |