Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-21
ORDERS PUT OUT
!. WITHOUT MONEY
War QUIZ SHOWS
Contracts for Supplies for One MI
lion Troops Made Before Funds
are Appropriated.
GENERAL SHARPE QUESTIONED


Washington, Dec. q. -- without (
waiting for congressional appropria-
lions the war department authorized |
orders for 100000 troops before the I.
United States went 80 war II was
brought out today in the testimony OF
Z Quartermaster General IT, G. sharpe /
before the senate military committee. (
The committee investigating the
supplying OF troops went particularly /
today into the causes for the shortage |
In clothing.
Secretary Baker, General Sharpe
said, authorized orders for clothing
and other supplies for the million
men Just before the war declaration
and In June approved orders 70 equip
another half million.
Tho only complaints Of supply
shortage received by the department
has been in respect 70 clothing Gem
eral Sharpe said.
In an Introductory statement deal
ing with the Mexican border mobile
cation, General Sharpe said the ord
nance equipment ordered with Sec
rotary Bakers approval was the reg
ulatiOn 80 days supply including
NiihuAhHF hGhNf HAItNNs AAlAHI- eAllLl eth4"
mails This supply. he explained was
expected to last two to three months.
Ordered Equipment.
"In February" he said, "auucipat-
ing trouble. we ordered full equip
ment at war strength for the regular
army Of 10000 men and late I'm
March, when war. seemed more immi-
nent, the secretary authorized orders
for 10000 more men.
Before war broke out I got author
ity for another 100000 and in June for
an additional 100000"
These orders. he explained, were au-
thorized without funds and I'm anti
clpation Of congressional approprta-
tons
Much clothing was furnished ahead
OF time, General Sharpe said. It was
planned to supply 100000 men by July
and enough supplies for $4,000 addi-
tiOnal actually were delivered, he as:
serted.
After plans we're made 20 equip
100000 men q month. General Sharpe
said the plans were changed and an
additional burden was imposed by the
decision to send men abroad. Tequir-
ing more clothing.
u impressed on the chief OF staff 20
he said that II would take until Dec.
81 to gather enough equipment for a
million men"
Senator Frellnghuyseu took up the
question Of quality of the American
clothing.
Isn't It fact that the standard Of
our uniform is inferior to the Eu-
ropean? he asked isn't Sc 14 per
cent less in wool thickness than the
British?'
British Cloth Heavier
General Sharpe replied that the
British use heavier cloth.
isn't the American clothing insult
able to trench work?' asked Senator
Frelinghuysen.
NO. said General sharpe wye
asked General Pershing lf any
changes we're needed and be wants Ia
buy 100000 uniforms of our quality
over there. lie suggested only
that spiral puttees be substituted
for trench work only. he wants s
change in the hats and has heightened
the gloves. He says the underwear
and sox are alright. The overcoat.
have been shortened slightly TO allow
freer action and slickeTs have beer
substituted for poncbos'
Have you ever been interfered witt
by the Council Of Defense or other in.
terested persons in making con
tracts? asked Senator F'relnghuysen
General Sharpe said no. He in
sisted that the departrgent's function
in making and approving contracts il
merely formal. The council. he said
selects manufacturers and make,
prices, hut department officer sit
With council IN negotiating contracts
Wasn't IL necessary 20 call I'm ci
william advisers to get production ?
asked Chairman Chamberlain.
In my opinion It was" said Gen
eral Sharpe, adding that an organi
zation similar to the council is neces
sary but that 1t should be modife'
/ along the British system.
But our boys in camp are still colt
because this system. taking over YOU
powers, has failed, said senator Nc
Kellar.
Blames Way of Calling.
I'VE hayes't had enough supple
because OF the way troops have bee
called" General Sharpe rejoiaed, add
ing that between As and so per cen
of American looms are engaged o.
army work. He said the department
! had felt it could equip only 1.07S,00
by Dec. I.
"And We will have 10000 men Il
camp by that time" said Senate
Hitchcock. what is TO become O
/ the others ?"
! General Sharpe said that by speed
ing UP production It was hoped tina
4 virtually all would be clothed com
4 pleteiy By Dec. 81.
4 Late deliveries were blamed by Gen
4 eral Sharpe for overcoat and shor
( coat shortages He insisted that Their
\ Il no shoe shortage, Senator Hitch
4 cock, reading from the quartermaste
~