Evening journal., 1917-12-22
NISFIT Shoes FOR
MEN IN DRAFT ARMY
Equipment for 100000 Of
First Lot Called Under
Draft Law Lacking
SHARPE TELLS
OF MANY DEFECTS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Far from
being ready to equip second incre-
ment Of the draft army, II was disclos-
cd by the Senate investigating conf
mltseo yesterday with Quartermoster
General Henry G.. sharpe before It, that
The War Department has been unable
TO equip the last 10 per cent. Of the
men drawn in the nrst Increment Of
6s7OOO men.
IL was developed by the committee
also that much Of the delay and con-
fusion in the War Department was due
to the fact that although the country
/ Is engaged In the greatest war Of his
tory red tape methods which have sur
vived since the Civil War still hold
/ sway
In answer TO questions from the
committee members General Sharpe
said that in order TO have anything
passed on emanating from his par
ticular branch Of the department 10
was necessary for 70 TO go TO the ad-
/ iutant general, thence 10 the chief OF
staff, from there 10 the war college,
and thence back by the same circuit
GUS route TO his desk again, with ap-
/ proval or disapproval Of the plan,
whatever II may by having been
placed on the document somewhere on
lts journey
"By that time the war would be
over, Senator Mcclellan (Tennessee)
/ inieriected.
I'm General Sharpes testimony it was
disclosed also that thousands Of Amer
lean soldiers went to France with
ovdrcoats 27 per cent. lighter than
those adopted as standard after years
Of experience In trench fighting by the
British and French armies.
70 was shown conclusively also that
seversl thousand American soldiers
were in misery for weeks having been
supplied with neither blankets nor
/ overcoats
Except for overcoats and few
other winter garments, Of which Cen
eral sharpe testified complete stocks
would be in camp by December 81. ths
general declared there is no clothing
shortage.
shoes were another item on which
/ the supply branch Of the War Depart
ment fell down, 10 was shown at the
/ hearing. A large percentage Of the
American troops were equipped with
shoes too short for them, and some
/ got none As result their training
/ has been retarded materially and their
comfort absolutely gone.
Gen. sharpe said the average drafted
man Of the National Army has proved
10 be so much larger physically than
the regulars and guardsmen, with
whom the Department has had TO deal
IN the past, that many Of the shoes
and overcoats, as we'll have proved use
less. Manufacture Of the smaller sizes
has been stopped, but the situation re-
suited In some hardships for the drafted
soldiers before It could be corrected.
10 was brought out that at once camp
half Of the soldiers went 10 the target
rahse for small arms practice while the
balapce Of the troops had TO walt until
The llrst half returned and gave them
their shoes before they could take their
turn at The targets. This occurred at
Camp Custer, Mich
Cen Sharpe told IN detail Of the vast
task Of supplying the expanded war
army lie said he authorized thirty
day service equipment for i,00O,000
more men in February and March, and
for another 100000 men In June. Orders
/ aggregatlng many millions Of dollars
were placed before the war and with
out authorization Of a dollar by Con-
gress BY December 81, the General
said, complete supplies for i07s,0OC
men would be on hand
Explaining how the supply situation
delayed the draft. he told of the De
! parlments desire TO call out all Of tht
q first 6S7,OO0 men in September until he
! showed IL would be impossible TO equiT
. them. lie recommended an initial cal
of 100000 men, but more than 30OO0l
were called. although the Department
! knew clothing supplies would bi
/ somewhat short lie approved this &C
ton for reasons which were explained
IN executive session.
Reports reaching the committee o.
men freezing their ears at Camp Gus
ter and Of shortages Of winter over
coats, other clothing and shoes az bott
Camp Custer and Camp Lee, Virginia
caused the General to say he would IN
duire into conditions Immediately b!
telegraph.
The part played by the advisory com
! mission or the Council or National De
/, fence i'm the letting OF army contracts
! was rgldly inquired into by the com
mttee. Some OF the Senators insisted
that the 0uartermaster-General vir
4 lualy has been denuded OF power il
= placing contracts or liking prices, bu
1 Gen. sharpe said this was not true an'
. that civilian committees TO cooperate
I were absolutely essential but he sug
gested modification Of the present plal
along lines similar TO the English sys
, tenn.
! OF food Gen. sharpe stated, and tn
committeeman assenled, II has beer
i ample and Of fine quality No com
! plants regarding food he said. hal
! been received. Regarding the presen
: army ration, which Gen. sharpe salt
costs 40 cents a day, as compared Will
2S cents before the war, he declares
that its success in building up men q
"go over the top" has been demon
: strated and he protested against agita
e tion from the Surgeon-Generals otllc
q for reduction Of its meat and suga
! content TO save money.