The second occupation of Cuba required the restoration of the service in the Atlantic which was continued until the final evacua tion of that island by American troops during the spring of 1909, concerning which the quartermaster-general reported: °The move ment was made without delay or casualty and the troops arrived at their final stations in the United States in good condition. The dis patch and ease with which this movement was accomplished, without instructions from this office other than general directions for opera tions under the decentralization system, show conclusively the thorough efficiency with which field operations may be conducted according to that method?' Upon conclusion of this movement the small fleet of Atlantic transports was again withdrawn from service and the vessels laid up at Newport News, Va., where they re mained until the conditions in Mexico brought about the concentration of the sec ond division of the army at Galveston and Texas City with a view to meeting any emer gencies. The transports were speedily put in commission and assembled in the harbor of Galveston where they remained until their services were demanded for the movement of troops to Vera Cruz, and then to maintain their connection with the base of supplies. During the continuance of the revolution in Mexico transports have been used to bring home American citizens from both Atlantic and Pacific coast ports. With the withdrawal of troops from Vera Cruz the Atlantic trans ports were again ordered out of commission to await the next of the recurring calls for over sea service to which the American army has been so frequently summoned since the war with Spain pushed the frontier of our territorial borders.
The Pacific transports have continued a monthly schedule of sailings between San Francisco, Honolulu, Guam and Manila. Guam is maintained as a naval station and the only regular communication is by the monthly transport going to Manila. On the
bound voyage the transports sail via Nagasaki and take on coal. From Nagasaki the voyage continues direct to Honolulu and San Fran cisco, passengers from Guam for the United States being compelled to make the long de tours. The traffic has materially increased since the garrisons of Oahu and Guam have been enlarged, and averages over 2,000 pas sengers per month.
The Pacific fleet has continued the trans portation of horses and mules on a special horse transport which has been a pronounced success from the beginning. The delivery of animals in condition for immediate service after voyages of upward of 7,000 miles con tinues to elicit the admiration of the army. The laying of cables has been not the least important work of the transport service in the Philippines and Alaska. A very large and seemingly growing amount of passengers and freight has been carried for the navy and civil governments of the several island de pendencies. Without the accommodations af forded by the transports it would be impossi ble for the families of civil, military and naval officers and soldiers to follow them across the seas. The inter-island service in the Philippines has covered an enormous number of voyages since the occupation of those outposts began, and now the needs of the garrison at Tientsin, China, are supplied by those vessels having Manila for a base.
When the success of the transport service had become widely known the propriety of its continuance in competition with commer cial liners was frequently under discussion and attracted the attention of Congress. The matter was settled in favor the continuance of the transports by the enactment of legisla tion at the session of 1902-03, providing that the service should not be abandoned without the consent of Congress.