Arizona republican., 1917-12-29
OFFICERS TELL IF EP|DEM|CSAND
 CLOTHING SHORTAGES IN CAMPS

atiYe merits of the two guns, but said he intended to teach his men to shoot.
 If his command was fully equipped, General Wright said, it's training could be completed in two or three months.
 Despite the bayonet shortage at Camp Doniphan, bayonet training, General Wright said, had been excel lent.
 Shortages in equipment at Camp Bowie on December 2S were given by General Creole as follows: rifles 59 per cent; bayonets 65 per cent: pistols S6 per cent; cartridge belts 59 per cent; automatic rifles SS per cent; three inch guns SS per cent; artillery har- ness 92 per cent; haversacks. etc, IS per cent and artillery ammunition 90 per cent. The command has no ma chine guns, trench mortars, grenades, six inch HoWitzers or one-inch can non.
 This shortage delays training" Gen. eral Creole said, but he added that the handicap was not serious.
 General Creole agreed with General Wright that it was highly desirable to have ample rifles, but said target prac- tice was proceeding well.
 We have some wooden guns sent down by the ordnance department" said General Creole.
 Were they any use?" asked Senator Chamberlain.
 Some" the general answered. We could use them to right shoulder arms, and in some bayonet practice. But you want to teach men to kill the other man and you can't do it with a wooden rifle"
 General Creole said he had no as surance when he would get machine guns. With full equipment, he said, he would want to train his men four months more before taking them abroad. He said he would rather have | Lewis machine guns than none at all | to train with, adding that he had never heard any complaints against the Lew is gun. | Camp Bowie is not now short of overcoats, General Creole said, but all men were not equipped until December | 23, after a cold spell had set in. f Ont of 1,433 transport pieces needed | General Creole said he had only 36S | including 362 wagons and one motor car. No bicycles, motorcycles or mo- tor trucks have been received.
 Some of the blankets received, he said, were rather flimsy, probably bought in an emergency.
 Regarding health conditions, Genera | Creole SalO Ine camp uliiOi IuHdICiS had high sick rates.
 For time we had about Is death: a day." he said. Measles and pneu monia were the principal causes" | In November 5000 men, or one-thirC of his command, passed through thu hospital, which was built to accommo
 date 800 men. At one time there Wer'
 1 800 men in it and at that time thu
 sewage system had not been completed
 That made their care very mad
 euuate." he said and added that thu
 hospital personnel was not sufficient. Health of the command has i'm
 proved since, only S10 being reportet sick December 23.
 General Creole said early in Septem Der he wrote Surgeon General Gorgas
 Ouartermaster General Sharpe, Gen eraI Littell and the chief of staff tha : sanitary conditions ought to be rem , edied.
 Did you get any results?" aske Senator Chamberlain. Finally, yes, but not until afte there was much sickness in camp"
 General Creole preferred not to hay his letter to General Sharpe, a privat letter, put into the record, but the com
 mittee insisted. The letter complaine of orders to put F men in a tent an
 expressed fear that sickness woul
 result.
 , But we had the orders :o put F i a tent" General Creole said. ''The ' were so thick you couldn't walk be | tween them. General Gorgas reporte the exact conditions to the countr.
 The sickness was due to sanitary con :, litions and overcrowding.' . Additional tents were sent to Cam Bowie. but not until after diseas = broke out.
 I linen put five men in a tent" sai ] IroptinIed on Page TWol