The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-12-22
UNIFORMS were
ORDERED EARLY
Clothing For Soldiers Contract
ed For Before War,
100000 MORE IN JUNE.
General Sharpe Says Plans Were
Made to Equip 100000 Men 8
Month.

Washington, Dec. %. - Without
waiting for congressional approprla.
lions, the war department authorized
orders for clothing equipment for
100000 troops before the United
States went to war
This was brought out in the test.
mony OF Quartermaster General
Sharpe before the senate military af.
fairs committee.
The committee, investigating the
supplying Of troops, went particularly
into the cause for shortage in cloth.
ing. Secretary of War Baker. General
Sharpe said authorized orders for
clothing and other supplies just be
fore the war declaration. In June he
approved orders to equip another half
million.
The only complaints to supply short.
age received by the department has
been in respect to clothing. Gneral
Sharpe said, in an Introductory state.
ment dealing with the Mexican border
mobilization. he said the ordnance
equipment ordered with Secretary
Bakers approval was the regulation
thirty days supply, including clothing
hats, shoes, tentage and animals. This
supply, he said, was expected to last
two or three months.
GIN February" he said, "anticipat-
ing probable trouble we ordered full
equipment, at war strength. for the
regular army of 100000 men. Late in
March. when war seemed more i'm
minent, the secretary authorized Or
ders for equipment for 100000 men
more. Before war started, 7 got au-
thority for another 100000, and in
June for an additional 100000"
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat, Ten
nessea asked whether the council
of national defense had not taken over
virtually all work in connection with
placing orders for clothing. General
Sharpe replied that all contracts and
prices were subject to the depart
ment's approval, and the civilian
board had assisted only in prelimin-
ray negotiations.
Much clothing was furnished ahead
Of time, General Sharpe said. 1t was
planned to supply 100000 men by
July, and enough supplies for $4,000
additional actually were delivered.
After plans were made to equip 100,-
600 men a month, General Sharpe
said, the plans were changed, and an
additional burden was imposed by the
decision to send men abroad. requir-
ing more clothing.
"I impressed on the chief of staff
he said, "that it would take until I'd
cember 81 to gather enough eql ii
ment for a million men" as
Senator Frelighuysen, Republican,
New Jersey. asked about the quail
81 american army clothing.
isn't it a fact that the standard OF
our uniform is inferior to the Euro
pean?" he asked. isn't it "A per cent
less in wool thickness than the Brit
ish?' General Sharpe replied the
British use heavier cloth.
isn't the American clothing I'M
suitable to trench work." asked Sena-
tor Frelinghuysen.
mo" said General Sharpe. owe
asked General Pershing if changes
were needed and he wants to buy
10000 uniforms of our quality over
there. He has suggested only that
spiral puttees be substituted foS
trench work only. He wants change
in the hats. and has heightened the
gloves He says the underwear and
socks are all right. The overcoat
has been shortened slightly, to allow
freer action. and slickers have been
substituted for Pouches"
Late deliveries we're blamed by
General Sharpe for the overcoat and
short coat shortage. He insisted there
is no shoe shortage.
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat, Ne
braska, reading from the quartermast-
er's annual report, said it appeared
100000 overeoats we're on hand and
only 100000 men in service. Gen
eral Sharpe said his report showed
orders, but many had not been deliv-
cred. He said that numerically an
overcoat had been furnished for every
man in the camps, but that many
sizes were too small. The same trou-
BILE was found in supplying shoes.