Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-21
TO QUIZ. SHARPE ABOUT
SHORTAGE or CLOTHING
This Condition, in Relation to Dis
ease Epidcmics in Camps,
to Bc Looked Into
UP BEFORE COMMITTEE TO-DAY
Quartermastcr General OF Army
Faces Questioning on, Cantonment
Conditions and Transportation OF
Troops and Supplies.
IBy Associated Press.I


WASHINGTON. December 20.-Thc
Senate Military Committee to day viz
tually completed it's inquiry into the
army ordnance shortage, paving the
way for the beginning tomorrow OF
Investigation into clothing, supplies.
transportation, contracts and canton
ments.
observation-disclosures Sharpe. who
recently was relieved so as to devote
all OF his time to work in the new
war council. and who is TO be sue
cccded BY Major-Gcncral Cocktails. Will
be called TO the stand. The committee
expects to question him specifically on
tho relation OF tho clothing shortage
to disease cpidernics in some Of the
training camps.
Contracts for army cantonmentS and
camps. their locations and sanitary con-
dfttons. transportation Of troops and
supplies and many related questions
also will DO given prominence in ex-
ANIMATION OF General Sharpe. The
committee plans to wind up the ord
nance inquiry Saturday. with the eS-
animation OF Colonel Isaac Lewis. in
vcntor OF the Lewis machine gun.
Moro testimony regarding delays in
rihe and Inachinc-gun production was
given to-day by private ordnance
manufacturer and civilian rife OK
pert. The former. however. said that.
aithoush delay in both had occurred,
The loss OF time had resulted in evolv-
ing much superior weapons.
b. W. NJ. Hanson. general manager
OF tho Colts Arms Company, told the
committee that the new modified
m mi AL I'll
ammunition are at least equal TO Ger
man rifles aud ammunition. and su-
perior to any used by the allies. lie
agreed with other private ordnance
makers that the new Browning ma
chine gun is the best in existence, and
that the Lewis gun is being bought
only because the new weapons are not
yot available. He corroboratcd the
Testimony OF other witnesses that al
though the Browning gun was adopted
last May. the War Department did not
let contracts until midsummer.
Although rifle production was held
up by the dcpa rtmcn,'s decision 10
moo ~ the British Enfield weapon. Mr.
Hanson said The delay was much more
than compensated for by securing a
greatly superior arm.
american Machinist. criticized ord
nance officers for imposing too
rigid rine specifications. Require
mcnts for ntcrchangcahili,y OF
parts. ne said. delayed production
three months last summer. and he cited
ono private factory where las; August
workmcn on cost plus" contract
played checkers Wife waiting for
work held up. Government arsenal
methods he also criticized. saying tho
Springfield arsenal has some machinery
fhfty years Old while many army ord
nance officers. he asserted have no
special training TO qualify them.
Correspondence with Secretary Baker
which he produced disclosed con-
troHcrsy between Mr.. Colvin and Cen
cral Crozier, chief OF ordnance. because
the former told Secretary Baker that
arsenal officers were not qualified pro-
auction engineers. General Crozicr
said MIR. Colvin should be barred from
inspecting arsenals because he insisted
cNpcrt machinists. and not army Of.
Ulcers. should be In charge