Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-22
n M. Gen. Sharp Tells Con- cress How His Depart
 1n1e1t Anticipated Needs.
npAFT MEN BIGGER THAN REGULARS
General Sharpe Tells Committee That Shoe Shortage Caused by Big 7 Feet of National Army
 Soldiers.

shoes and food supplies for the Am ,oriman army were investigated today hy the military committee. Turn ing it's general inquiry into war prep aration to the quartermaster general department, it was developed that millions of dollars were spent just before tho United States entered the war to provide for the great army since raised. Major General Sharpe, ouartermaster general, now a mem her of the new war council and soon to turn his office over to Major Gen. eral Goethals, was before the commit tee all day and for an hour of the time answered confidential questions behind closed shortage of overcoats, which he said was due principally to Hate deliveries of large orders. Ex- cept for overcoats and few other winter garments, of which he stated complete stocks would be in hand by December 31, the general declared there is no clothing shortage. Shoes also, General Sharpe said. has been provided in ample quantities, but the average drafted men of the national army has proven to be so much larg- CT physically than the regulars and guardsmen, with whom the depart ment has had to deal in the past that many of the shoes and overcoats IS we'll have proved useless. Manu- lecture of the smaller sizes has been stopped but the situation resulted in some hardship for the draft soldiers before it could be corrected. Of food, General Sharpe stated and the com mitteemen assented, it has been amp le and of fine quality, no complaints regarding food have been received. Committee members stated tonight that the investigation of. questions relating to the quartermaster gener- als office had only begun with to- days hearing. By December 31 said General Sharpe, supplies for 1,075,000 would be on hand.
 Washington, Dec. 21.-Without waiting for congressional .appropria- tons the War Department authorized orders for clothing one million troops before the United States went to war, Y was brought out today in the testi- m0ny of uartermaster General Henry G Sharpe before the senate military committee.
 The committee Investigating the supplying of troops went particularly tcday into the causes for the shortage |n clothing.
 Secretary Baker, General Sharpe sald, authorized orders for clothing ana other supplies for the million men ust before the war declaration and in sune @ approved orders to equip another half million.
 The only complaints of supply short. sge received by the department has Se Seen: Tn respect to clothing, General Sharpe said.
 m an introductory statement deal mg with the Mexican border mobiliza uon, General Sharpe said the ordnance shipment ordered with Secretary Dakers approval was the regulation Ilrty days supply including clothing, as!s' shoes, tentage and animals. iMs supply, he. explained, was ex- gected to last two to- three months. Anticipated Needs. ::
 Tn February" he said, "anticipat'
 g probable trouble, we ordered full qMpment, at war strength for the seular army of 160,OOO men, and late q March,. when war seemed more i'm. M.aent, the secretary authorized or. linen. '' AoA ooo'ooo ''o'> 8r before war broke out got author. W Tor another 5OO,OOO and in June '0r m an additional 500,OOO."
 Inese orders. he explained, were ss ssIsnorlzed and made without funds sna.a sor m anticipation of congressiona' senator McKellar inquired whether
 e council of national defense hat
 us ., m effect, taken over virtually al
 1Slk Tn connection with placing or. so I.s TOT clothing. General Sharpe re s.su that all contracts and prices
 ss rsse subject to the departments fina cp| p|plovai, and that the civilian boar, sotiations. '0o :" pfeiiiniAary he <, Much @ clothing was furnished ahea, nlosme, me, General Sharpe said. It was
 -.@Anso to supply 5OO,0OO men b!
 Continued on page five,