Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-12-27
BUREAU
WASN'T MAPPING
Quartermaster General Sharpe
Ordered Supplies for 1,000,-
600 Men Before War
Was Declared.
SHORTAGE is EXPLAINED
Troops Called Faster Than Fac
tories Could Turn Out
Clothing for Them,
Congress Is Told.
SHORTAGE is EXPLAINED

sAN &As~@AS ~
priations the war department author
tied orders for supplies for 1000, 900
troops before the United States Went
testimony OF QuarterJnaSter General
Henry G. Sharpe, before the Senate
Military committee.
The committee investigating the sup
plying OF troops went particularly to-
day into the causes for II shortage
Of clothing.
Secretary Baker, General Sharpe
said. authorized orders for clothing and
other supplies for 1000 900 men just
before the war declaration and IN Juna
approved orders to equip another
SOC, 900.
The only complaints of supply short
age received by the department has
in respect to clothing. General
Sharpe said.
In an Introductory statement deal
ing with the Mexican border mobillza-
ton. General Sharpe said n rdnanc
Bakers approval was the regulation 80
days supply, including clothing, hats.
shoes, tentase and animals. This sup.
ply, lie explained, was expected to last
two or three months.
Ordered Clothing Ahead.
In Eebr4aryn he said o Man It INF
GA ~ Soi S
regular army Of 10000 men, and late
in March. when war seemed more inn
minent, the secretary authorized orders
Cor equipment for 500. 900 men.
Before war broke out got author
tty for another 500, 900 and In June for
an additional 500, 0OO."
These orders. he explained, were
made without funds and In anticipation
Of congressional appropriations.
Senator Mcclellan inquired whether
the council Of national defense had not
In effect taken over virtually all work
in connection with placing orders for
clothing.
General Sharpe replied that all con.
tracts and prices were subject to the
departments final approval and that
the civilian board only had assisted in
preliminary negotiations.
Much clothing vas furnished ahead
Of time, General Sharpe said. 1t was
planned to supply 500, 900 men by July
and enough supplies for $4,000 addi-
tional actually were delivered, he as
serted.
After plans were made to equip
100000 men a month. General Sharpe
said the plans were changed and an
additional burden was imposed by tho
decision to send men abroad, requiring
more clothing.
Called Army Toe Fast.
II impressed on the chief Of staff he
said, that it would take until Decem-
per 81 to gather enough equipment for
1000. 900 men,"
enato Frelinghuysen took UP the
question of quality Of the American
army clothing.
Isn't it a fact that the standard OF
our uniforms is inferior to the Euro
pean?" he asked. 4
Isn't 1t IA per cent less in wool thick
ness h the British"
General Sharpe replied that the Brit.
tsh use heavier cloth.
isn't the American clothing insult.
able to trench work" asked Senator
Frelinghuysen.
NO" said General Sharpe. 1--WE
asked General Pershing If any changes
are needed and he wants to buy 200.
900 uniforms Of our quality over there
He has suggested only that spiral put
tees be ubstituted--for trench work
only; he wants a change in the hats
n has heightened he gloves. Hs
says the underwear n socks are ali
eight. The overcoat has been shortened
slightly, to allow freer action and slick.
ers have been substituted for ponchos."
Have you ever been interferred witt
by the council Of defense or other in
terested persons in making contracts"
asked Senator F%relinghuysen.
General Sharpe said no. He insisted
hat the departments function in maxi
Ing n approving contracts Is not
merely formal. The council, he said
selects manufacturers and max pri-
ces, but a department head sits with
the council in negotiating contracts.
Wasn't it necessary to call in civil
ian advisers to get productions" asked
| Chairman Chamberlain.
"In my opinion it vas" said General
Sharpe, adding that an organization
similar to the council is necessary, but
that it should be modified along the
/ British system.
But our boys in camp are still cold
because his system, taking over your
. powers. q failed" said Senator Nc
Kellar.
we have not a enough supplies
because Of the way troops have beer
called" General Sharpe rejoined, add-
ing that between As and SO per cent OF
American looms are engaged on army
work. He said the department had felt
1t could equip only 1,O78, 900 by De
cember 1.
And we had 100000 men in camp
by that time," said Senator Hitchcock.
What is to become Of the others?'
General Sharpe said that by speeding
up production 1t was hoped that vir-
tually all would be clothed completely
by December 81.
I, Late deliveries were blamed by Cen
eral Sharpe for overcoat and short coat
shortages. He insisted that there is no
shoe shortage.
0cAAdlOI I1IScuCOCk, TcduluS from the
quartermaster generals annual report
said 1t appeared that 1000. 900 overcoats
were g n hand and only 100000 men
General Sharpe said that his report
showed orders, but that many had not
I been delivered by factories.
General Sharpe said that numerically
! an overcoat had been furnished for
every man in camp. but that many
sizes were too small.
| The same trouble was found in sup
! plying shoes.
Senator Wadsworth cited an incident
: regarding shortage OF proper shoe sig
ca. At Camp Custer. on December Is.
he said, only one-half Of q detail could
march to target practice and when they
returned their shoes were taken off and
put on the other half. which then
marched to the range.
Senator Weeks said that q shoe man
ufacturer told him that so per cent 81
the men Ia one camp were wearing
shoes one-half to three sizes too small.