Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-22
SHARPE, ON STAND. TELLS
0E CLOTHING EQUIPMENT
War Department Authorized Sup.
plies for 100000 Troops With
out Waiting for Money.
IN ANTICIPATION OF CONGRESS
Never Iuterfcred With by Council OF
Defense or Other Interested Fer
sons in Making Contracts-Isopes
for Complete Equipment Soon.
ANTICIPATION OF CONGRESS
Lay Associated Press.


WASHINGTON. December 31.-Cioth-
American army were Investigated to-
day by the Senate Military Commit
tee. turning it's general inquiry into
war preparations to the quartermas s.
ter-Eenerars department. 1t was de-
veloped that millions were spent just
before the United States entered the
war to provide for the great army
since raised.
Major General Sharpe, quartermas-
ter-Eeneral. was before the committee Q
all day. and for an hour OF the time
answered confidential questions behind
closed doors. Ne was closely cSamin-
ed. especially regarding the admitted
shortage OF overcosts. which he said
Of large orders.
Except for overcoatS anil few other
winter garments. OF which, he stated.
complete stocks would be in camp by
December 81. the general decla red there
is no clothing shortage.
Answering a statement By one OF
the members OF the committee that
general complaints of clothing short
age had come from Camp Lee. VirE inia
General Sharpe cited shipments of all
clothing articles far in excess OF the
number of men in camp. However, he
sad. there is deficiency in short
coats
SIZE OF SELECTMEN
NECt:sSITATES MANY CHANGES
Shoes. also. General Sharpe said.
have been provided in ample uuanti-
ties per capita, but the average draft.
ed man OF thc National Army has
proved so much larger physically thu n
the regulars and Enardsmen with
whom the department has had 20 deal
IN the past, that many shoes ana over
coats have proved useless Manufac-
| turc OF smaller sizes has been stopped,
but the situation resulted in some
hardshiDs for the draft soldiers before
it could be corrected
OF food, General Sharpe stated, and
the committeeman assentcd, it has been
ample and of fine quality. No COM
plants regarding food. he said. had
been received.
Committee members said to-nfEh at
the investigation OF questions relat. i.
cd to tho quart ermastcr-geueral's Of
nee had only begun with o-day's hear.
ing. Cantonment locations and con-
tracts, sanitation, the relations OF tho
winter clothing shortage to recent dis
case cpidcmics and transportation OF
the army by rail and water arc sub
Ject3 TO be taken UP la.cr.
FURTHER inquiry was postponed over
Christmas. however. General sharpe be-
ing excused until next Wednesday. To-
morrow the committee will return
briefly to ordnance probl.ns he cN
aiming Colonel Isaac lewis. inventor OF
the Lewis machine gun. after which a
holiday recess Will bo taken!
General sharpe told In detail OF the
vast task OF supplying the expand ed
war army. lie said he authorized
8 thirty day service equipment for l.ooo.-
90" more msn in February and March,
and for another 100000 men In June.
Orders asgrcsating many millions of
dollars were placed before the war.
without authorization by Congress.
BY December Al. the general said.
Continued srth, Fage.5