The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-25

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24-The three
day Yuletide lull in the congression-
al investigation into the conduct of
the war enabled the investigators to-
day to take stock of their findings TO
date. These proven facts, subject for
further investigation, glared at them
out of the maze of the last ten days
investigation:
American troops are being sent in
to the trenches without uniforms; ~
per cent inferior to the British and
French.
The American army is virtually
without machine guns, except what
General Pershing gets from the
French government, and deliveries
will not begin until next April.
The rifle output of American fac
tories has been reduced substantially
one half since war was declared with
the result that hundreds of thousands
of troops in training are still unarm-
ed
The quartermasters department is
still unable to clothe and equip the
last Is per cent of the first 687 900
men drafted.
Not one ship of Americas Twin the
war" merchant fleet is yet ready for
N.use, due largely to friction in the
chipping board For all these condi-
tions experts offered at least plaus-
ible explanations, and argued that
the situation was we'll in hand.
On the credit side, the investigators
found the navy in satisfactory con-
dition, measuring up to its big job in
encouraging fashion. They found also
the promise of a new deal in the ship
ping administration, with authority
centralized so as to minimize fric-
tion in the future. They learned that
the army is we'll fed, that the men in
the training camps are no longer
shivering for want of sufficient winter
clothing, that shoes are not pinchine
Sammy's feet and that the new ma
chine guns and rifles, when delivered
will be "the best in the world" al
though this last assertion is disputed
by some authorities.
During his testimony on the wit
ness stand Quartermaster Genera
Sharpe explained the lack of over
coats and shoes in some quarters BY
showing that the department had as
sumed that the new men would be o
the same average size as the mem
bers of the old regular force befor'
.
proved considerably larger both il
body and feet than the old regulars
Looking into the future of the prob
ing, the investigators found them
selves still confronted with heaps o
charges, reports and rumors, to b.
inquired about The coal question
has not been touched yet. The rail
road problem is still awaiting solu
tion. Aircraft production is on TIL
investigation calendar. Supply an,
cantonment contracts. especially TIL
"cost plus" kind denounced as "vi
Scious,' by many senator's, are to com
IN for a thorough sitting. The inves
tigators have plenty of work ahead o
them for many weeks.
Herbert Hoover, food dictator, EN-
bittered over the Reed committed
action in "pocketing" his 5000 wor
statement on the sugar situation, an
postponing his testimony after
lengthy conference today with hi
counsel Judge Curtis Fl. Lindley
prepared for a counter move agains
those members of the committee whC
he charged, are antagonistic to tn
food administration. Hoover charge
that the committee is packed" wit
his enemies and AYERS that the CON
mittee's refusal to incorporate int
the record his statement explainin
the present sugar famine is the re
suit of a deliberate campaign t.
weaken him before the country. II
was still further chagrined by tn
committees unexpected decision T.
delay his appearance on the stan
<until next Friday.
Rumors were afloat at the capitt
today that one member of the con
mittee conducting the probe who
friendly to Hoover had urged him [
appeal to the president and lay h,
fore him the question of the prophet
Continued From Page ~