The Washington times., 1917-12-29
SHARPE ADMITS
DELAY IN BUYING
UNIFORM WOOL

Months delay in buying wool for
training soldiers uniforms and over
coats was admitted by Quartermaster
General Sharpe before the Senate mill
tsry probers today. This delay, camp
commanders have testified, resulted
in the death of scores Of troops who
suffered from lack OF proper clothing
and blankets.
Sharpe said it took him from April
3 to August l even to arrange for
wool purchases. No considerable
quantity of wool was bought until
September ]. Here is Sharpe's record
Of the transactions:
April ?, received a letter from the
Boston Wool Trading Association Of
fering all wool controlled by II at pre-
yailing prices. (Sharpe made no ef-
fort to learn how much wool was in
volved.) He referred the matter to
Secretary Baker who in turn referred
it to the munitions board.
Gets Authority.
June Sharpe asked il funds were
available for wool purchase and the
same month got authority to go
ahead.
July Is he discussed with the Ma
tional Defense Council the advisable
ity of purchasing wool from the Bos-
ten concern.
August 1 he established a wool buy
ing office in Boston and bought some
WOOL.
September 1 he began buying in
quantities
Senator Weeks declared the Govern
ct 81 49,. -
the Boston offer Immediately, cost the
Government S15O.OOO.OOO. He asked
Sharpe why the delay in purchase &C
CURED.
well, the council didn't call my
attention to the need for wool buying
until June l." said Sharpe. 1.-THE coun-
ell was alarmed at the rise in the
wool price, and thought the Govern
ment ought to get control of the wool
supply"
Had Heard Reports.
Sharpe admitted he had heard in
definite reports" early in the year, OF
wool shortage.
That led to a conference sometime"
in June" attended by War, Navy, and
tives.
Sharpe admitted acceptance OF the
Boston Woolmen's offer would have
been very advantageous"
But we didn't know we had the
right to purchase them" said Sharpe.
when you finally did buy wool, you
paid 100 per cent more than the mar
ket price on April ., the price at
which the Boston offer was made,
didn't you?" asked Senator Chamber
lain.
- d.,., 1-,,o,,- ,-.n1;oH Chan.
Senator Weeks asked why contractors
who had been given orders by April
l. for clothes for 100000 men were
not required to buy their own wool
Sharpe said he didn't know whether
contracts specified the manufacturer
or the Government should furnish the
wool.
sharpe Is Questioned.
Senators Mcclellan and Weeks ques-
toned Sharpe concerning actions OF
members of the Council of National
Defense. ito show what happened in
the quartermaster department. and
added to the delay in furnishing cloth
ing" Mcclellan said.
Senator New asked Sharpe why
twelve men are required TO use one
tent at National Guard camps.
This fact was testified to yesterday
by Major General Greble, command
ing Texas and Oklahoma Guardsmen
at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth.
THE War Department ordered one
tent to be assigned to every twelve
men," said Sharpe. Il predicted from
the beginning there would be a tent
shortage. The reason the national
army, was put into environments was
that there was no tentage."
Sharpe said in peace times the
army and national guard required
twice as much tentage as the mills of
the country produced in a year, and
that tentage mills have been running
at capacity right along. but are I'M
able to keen I'M with the demand