Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-21
NO CLOTHING FOR
NEW MEN CALLED
INTO THE SERVICE
Thousands to Go Into Train
ing on Dec. 81 When
There Is Not Sufficient
Clothing for Those Now
in Camps.

in Camps.
Washington, Dec. 21.--In the face of
a startling lack of clothing supplies.
thousands of men will be called to the
colors by Dec. 81, Quartermaster Cen
eral Sharpe admitted to the senate
military committee probe this after
noon. This refers to the 25 per cent
of the last increment of the first draft
not yet called out.
At present Sharpe declared there
isn't enough clothing for the men in
training and American troops sent tol
France are going over in uniforms 27
per cent lighter than those worn by the
French and British troops.
He advised the English system of Il
''purveyor general of supplies" to order
ordnance, food and clothing for the
army.
Sharpe said one uniform each had
been issued to 100000 men now, al
though a small part of these uniforms
were cotton.
OvERCoAT SHORTAGE.
Switching to the subject of over
coats, committee members began drill
ing Sharpe on complaints of overcoat
shortages that had been coming in
from camps. A table submitted by the
general showed 100000 overcoats had
been completed by Dec. Is last.
How does t come, them" asked
Senator Hitchcock, that with only ap-
proximately 100000 men to equip and
with over 100000 overcoats made that
men had been without coats?"
srTho b,,ll nf o1
les came late in November and De-
cember," Sharpe replied.
Prior to that time we didn't have
the coats for all the men,
OF THE WRONG SIZES.
Major L. Hardeman of the quarter
masters department, testifying for
General Sharpe, said there We're suffi-
cient, overcoats but the sizes were
wrong.
How did that Gomez" he was asked
Because in most draft cantonments
the men are larger physically than
those in the regular army and in the
guard" said Hardeman.
Has every man in the army an ov-
ercoat today?" Senator McKellar asked
AS far as requisitions have been
made" Hardeman said.
Sharpe read long memorandum de-
failing how at the time the army and
the national guard were mobilized for
Mexican border service, his depart
ment had bought clothing, practically
exhausting it's funds.
BAKER APPROVED ORDER.
When rehabilitation of the ma
| tionm guard was halted, Sharpe said,
| he got Secretary Bakers approval to
an order for clothing for 500 900 addi-
tional men, that being approximately
the number of the national guard and
| the army at war strength. In April,
this year, he was authorized by Baker
to order for 100000 more men and In
June for third 100000.
What did these orders include, for
each maA?" ASKED Senator Weeks.
They were equipment C, or clothing
and tents to last three months" re-
piled General Sharpe.
You know you now haven't got
enough clothing for your men, don't
you?" asked Mcclellan.
Yes" said Sharpe. That's due to
the way the men have been called out
FAvoRS ENGLISH PLAN.
IT'S because of the methods of pur-
defense, isn't it?" demanded Mcclellan
No. said Sharpe. We've got te
have some system like that. If we did
switch to the English plan we would
be even better off. They have pur-
veyor general of supplies through
whom orders for ordnance, food and
clothing come from the heads of the
three divisions"
/ How much clothing Is General Per
shing buying in England?" asked Sen.
ator Hitchcock.
Il don't KNOW" said Sharpe, "hf
asked permission to buy and did moi
state the amount"
Sharpe said that the British EN-.
barge on Australian wool has been re-
moved as far as this country Is con.
cerned and that American manufac.
turers are now working Australian
wool into cloth for uniforms.
HEAVY ENLlsTMENTs.
Sharpe said he hoped there would
not be another draft call soon, as hi,
department had been flooded by 1000,
new enlistments in the regular arm,
which had uIoet its program. Sharpe
said he hoped they would be ready fo
q new call sometime in January.
Asking If there had not been som.
trouble as to shoes. Senator Wads
Continued on Page Two.)