These chests will not be purchased except on special authority from the Commissary General.-Cir. No. 5, O. C. G., 1901.

974. The use of property, even if surplus, is prohibited unless it has been regularly issued.—Cir. No. 5, A. G. O., 1883.

975. Articles of stationery, towels, whisk brooms, matches, toilet and scouring soaps on hand at a post and not needed for sales may, upon authority of the chief commissary of the department, be transferred from the return of subsistence stores to the return of subsistence property and used.-Regs. Subs. Dept. 976. Upon the receipt of subsistence property by an officer, he will make a careful examination to ascertain its quality and condition, but will not break original packages until issues are to be made, unless he has reason to believe the contents defective. Should he discover defect or shortage, he will apply for a board of survey to determine it and fix the responsibility. Should he consider the property unfit for use, he will submit inventories in triplicate and request the action of an inspector. The same rule will be observed in regard to packages when first opened for issue, and for property damaged or missing while in store.-A. R., 750.

977. For property worn out in the public service the preliminary action of a board of survey is not necessary, and the accountable officer will submit inventories thereof and ask for an inspector's action. When the action of a board of survey and an inspector are necessary, the inventory will be accompanied by a copy of the proceedings of the board.-A R., 760.

978. All subsistence property out of repair may be repaired if deemed judicious and economical; but that at posts only when repairs are directed by the chief commissary of the department, upon the commissary giving on his requisi tion for property (Form 50) a list of articles, indicating the repairs needed, estimated cost, and place where repairs should be made. New articles will not be sent to posts to replace any on hand that can be repaired.-Regs. Subs. Dept. Vide A. R., 757.

979. On June 30 of each year all subsistence officers who have receipted for property purchased from funds supplied for contingent expenses at department headquarters will make return therefor to the Commissary General, to whose satisfaction expenditures, losses, etc., will be explained. An officer accountable for such property will take duplicate receipts therefor when relieved, and will forward one of them to the Commissary General with the return which he will then render, and file the other with his retained papers.—A. R., 215. Vide A. R., 703.

TELEGRAPHING.

980. The telegraph will be used only in cases of urgent and imperative necessity, in which the delay consequent upon transmission by mail would be prejudicial to the public interests. In cable dispatches only such words will be sent as are necessary to a clear understanding of their contents.-A. R., 1331. 981. In framing telegrams all words not important to the sense will be omitted. The last name of the officer addressed, or his title, and the last name of the sender are generally sufficient.-A. R., 1335.

982. Telegrams will be followed by official copies sent by first mail.-A. R.,

837.

983. Messages by cable from abroad to officials at the War Department will be addressed with the following abbreviations: Secwar (Secretary of War). Asecwar (Assistant Secretary of War). Genwar (Commanding General Army). Agwar (Adjutant General). Inspecwar (Inspector General, War Department). Jagwar (Judge Advocate General). Quagwar (Quartermaster General). Comwar (Commissary General). Signals (Chief Signal Officer). Paywar (Paymaster

General). Cengwar (Chief of Engineers). Cordwar (Chief of Ordnance). Surgwar (Surgeon General, War Department).—G. O. No. 9, A. G. O., 1899.

984. Nothing is required of officers sending telegrams beyond the delivery of the message to the company.-A. R., 1340.

985. Blank forms for official telegrams will be furnished by the Quartermaster General for the use of all persons in the military service.-A. R., 1339.

TRANSFERS AND SHIPMENTS.

986. The Quartermaster's Department is charged with the duty of providing means of transportation for subsistence supplies.-A. R., 1076, 1077, 1185, 1193, 1252; Rev. Stat., 220, 1133.

987. Transportation by express, when in excess of cost by ordinary freight, must be limited to emergencies; but transportation of subsistence supplies by express is allowable if the rate is as cheap as by freight.—A. R., 1251; G. O. No. 91, A. G. O., 1878.

988. When subsistence supplies are to be transported, the invoicing commissary will make timely requisition in writing upon the proper quartermaster, stating as nearly as possible the kind and amount of supplies to be transported, when they will be ready for delivery, when they should reach their destination, and any other information relating thereto which the quartermaster should possess. The commissary will give the quartermaster invoices (Form 38), in duplicate, of the packages and their contents as marked, and obtain from him receipts (Form 38), in duplicate. The commissary will forward similar invoices in duplicate to the consignee and obtain receipts in duplicate from him.-A. R., 1364.

NOTE.-For directions in regard to making shipments of less than 100 pounds, vide “ Requisitions."

989. Subsistence stores transferred must be invoiced separately from subsistence property (Form 38). When prices of supplies to be transferred are known, the prices must be expressed on both invoice and receipt; and an officer signing either an invoice or receipt must note the number of copies he has signed, i. e., duplicate, quadruplicate, etc.-Regs. Subs. Dept.

990. Stores longest on hand will be the first to be shipped (transferred).— A. R., 1357.

991. When subsistence supplies are turned over to a quartermaster for transportation, each package will be plainly marked with the name and address of the consignee, a list of its contents, its weight (and cubic measurement, when required), "U. S.," and the crescent.-A. R., 1248, and Regs. Subs. Dept. 992. An officer who turns over subsistence supplies to another for transportation in the best condition in which it is possible to put them is relieved from any further responsibility therefor by the receipt of the officer to whom they are intrusted for transportation. Should the officer to whom the stores are consigned discover damage or deficiency, he will apply for a board of survey, before which all concerned will be heard in person or by deposition. The board will ascertain and determine the amount and condition of the stores actually delivered to the receiving officer, who will receipt to the officer intrusted with their transportation for the amount and quantity so determined. The latter officer will be held responsible for all damages or deficiency, unless relieved therefrom by the report of the board of survey, duly approved by the reviewing authority.-A. R., 1249.

993. When a quartermaster receives subsistence supplies, transported by a common carrier under agreement with the Quartermaster's Department, which do not correspond to the invoice because of damage or deficiency not attributable to ordinary loss or wastage, the facts will be fully investigated by a board of

TRANSFERS AND SHIPMENTS-VEGETABLES (FRESH).

155

survey (unless the carrier voluntarily assumes liability for the loss) and the money value of the damage or deficiency will be charged to the party responsible therefor, whether the shipping officer or carrier. The authority which calls the board will, as soon as possible, transmit copies of its proceedings to the forwarding and receiving officers and to the officer authorized to pay the account. In case the responsibility is fixed upon the carrier, the receiving officer will note on the bill of lading the deductions which should be made for such loss or damage by the quartermaster who pays the account. The latter will make the deduction and refund the amount stopped to the proper department, in the following manner, for example: If from an account of $100 for transportation services there is a deduction of $25 for subsistence stores lost, the quartermaster will take credit under the head "Transportation of the Army" for $75 paid to the carrier, and also for $25 deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States on account of the Subsistence Department.-A. R., 1250.

994. When a commissary to whom subsistence supplies have been forwarded believes them to have miscarried, or there is unreasonable delay in their receipt, he will promptly inform the invoicing and forwarding officers.-Regs. Subs. Dept. Vide A. R., 748.

995. If the receiving commissary finds any discrepancy between the invoices and the quantities, descriptions, or condition of the supplies received, not attributable to ordinary wastage in transportation, he will at once apply to. the commanding officer for a board of survey to ascertain the quantity and nature of the discrepancy and fix the responsibility therefor. The receiving commissary will transmit to the invoicing officer receipts in duplicate for the supplies actually received, stating on the receipts the discrepancy ascertained and how, and will file a copy of the proceedings of the board with his return. The invoicing officer will file with his return the receipts, accompanied by the quartermaster's receipts.-A. R., 1365.

996. When subsistence supplies are transferred by one commissary to another at the same station, the invoicing and receiving commissaries will exchange duplicate invoices and receipts therefor (Form 38). Should any of the supplies not be in good condition, a board of survey will be applied for at once to examine and report upon them. The condition as determined by the board will be noted upon the invoices and receipts, and a copy of the proceedings will accompany each officer's returns.—A. R., 1366.

997. An officer to whom supplies are invoiced will note in red ink on the invoice (Form 38) the date when such supplies are received; and if practicable all invoices of stores will be entered in chronological order on the return of stores (Form 34), or on the abstract of transfers (Form 37); and all invoices of property will be entered in chronological order on the return of subsistence property (Form 45), or on the abstract of transfers (Form 46).-Regs. Subs. Dept.

998. When the receipt of the officer to whom supplies are invoiced is not received in time to accompany the return of the invoicing officer, the quartermaster's receipt will be forwarded instead, the former being transmitted when received. Regs. Subs. Dept.

VEGETABLES (FRESH).

999. Fresh vegetables, usually confined to potatoes and onions, will ordinarily be provided for troops by contract (Form 26 or 26a).-Regs. Subs. Dept. 1000. Fresh vegetables must be of good varieties, of reasonably large and uniform size, fully matured, dry, free from cuts and dirt, and in all respects of good quality and in good condition, and equal to samples accepted. The net