Evening star., 1917-12-26
SENATORS DEMAND
TROOPS Be CLOTHED
Committee, Aroused by Re-
ports of Shortage, Orders
Supplies Rushed.
WOULD CUT ALL RED TAPE

| Aroused by reports of shortage oi
| winter clothing in National Army
camps. the Senate military affairs com
mittee today, in resuming its investi-
cation into Army conditions. adopted
aszreseautxon onSEequesting--the.-S Secretary
Of War Immediately to ascertain con-
ldftions by wire, supply the troops and
suspend departmental routine, If neces-
sary. by direct purchases from sources
near the camps.
10000 overcoats Short.
The resolution, offered by Senator
Mcclellan of Tennessee, after an inde-
| pendent inquiry of camp commanders
declared that upon 'unquestioned
proof, there is a shortage of at least
! 60. 600 overcoats and 1900 woolen
blouses in nine National Army can
tonments Its adoption followed the
| testimony last week of q. NJ Gen.
sharpe. who admitted shortage OF
| winter equipment in some camps, hui
said all necessary supplies nave beeii
shipped and soon would be received
| The resolution follows:
| .'It appearing to the committee from
unouestioned proof adduced before II
that many enlisted men in Camps
| wheeler, Shelby, Kearney. Dix, Jack
| the camp at Fort Worth. Tex, are
| without wooden blouses and oyercoats
! the combined shortage in the several
| camps above named being not less than
10000 overcoats and H'o0o WOODEN
bIouses, this committee hereby re-
quests the Secretary of War to take inn
| mediate steps to supply said enlisted
men with overcoats and woolen blousss
Secretary to Push Inquiry.
| "It further appearing that there may
be shortages of said articles at Camps
! Dodge Donelson, Funston. Wadsworth,
Fremont, Sheridan. Greene and Pike,
land perhaps other camps the Secretary
of War is also requested to ascertain
by wire today If any other shortages of
clothing exist in any of our camps, and
| il so, that he direct that such shortage
be supplied Immediately
at is the sense of this committee that
with the cold season now on, the usual
| routine shall be suspended to this mat
/ ter and that the commanding officers OF
| the several camps shall be directed, If this
| is the quickest way. to buy these articles
| at the nearest points TO their camps at
| which they can be obtained. SO that our
soldiers may be supplied as soon as possi-
| ble."
The clothing situation was discussed by
| the committee in executive session, Sena-
tor McKelIar submitting details of re-
| plies on the clothing situation he had re-
| ceived from camp commanders.
Tells of Pershing's Equipment.
| Information regarding the equipment of
Gen. Pershing's forces was given by Maj.
Gen. John F. Organ. commander Of the
National Army cantonment at Camp
| Wadsworth. Spartanburg. $. c., behind
closed doors. Gen. Organ, who recently
| returned from the European front, was ex-
amined for nearly three hours. He also
gave the committee the benefit of his ex-
perience at Camp Wadsworth.
lery over the enemys during his opera
itions was recounted by Gen. Organ
He Witnessed two important allied
| drives and said that in them the Ger
man artillery was proved much inferior.
Where Shortages Exist.
The principal overcoat shortages in
the National Army camps reported to
Senator McKellar were at Camps Shelby
and Beauregard. which were said to be
deficient 5000 and 11.140. respectively.
In heavy blouses the principal short
ages reported were at the following
camps. Shelby. 5000: Kearney. 1890;
Dix, $500: Jackson. 1900 festimated)
Custer. $500. and Beauregard. 3,400.
Camps reported adequately supplied
with overcoats and blouses were Han
cock, Houston. Hampstead. Devens, Nc
4 Arthur and Lee.
/ Commandants of other camps, in reply
Ito Senator Mckellar's inquiries, referred
him to the War Department.