The sun., 1917-06-02
BAKER AWARDS
WAR CONTRACTS
NO BIDS ASKED
Representative Fitzgerald
Reveals Methods Used to
Supply Army.
CAMPS ARE CUT TO 16
Shortage of Resources AS
cribed for Decreasing Num-
ber of CantOnments.
CAMPS ARE CUT TO Is

Va ''O III otNictoiy Va |
War Newton D. Baker has been con-
Quoting preparations for the moblliza-
ton and maintenance OF the army that
Is TO be raised for service in France |
came to light to-day.
The first has to do with the manner !
in which contracts are being let for
supplies and other necessities. without
the legal and prescribed form OF adver-
called to the attention OF the House to-
day by Representative Fitzgerald. chair
man of the Appropriations Committee.
The second was revealed through
statement issued by Secretary Baker in
which he said there would be sixteen
cantonments, instead Of thirty-two, as
he previously announced. where the half
million men to be called to the colors In
September will be concentrated prior to
their embarkation for the seat of war.
This necessitates complete revision OF
the plans for training these men ana
making them fit for service.
Mr. Bakers earlier statement as to
the number of cantonments evidently
was made before he had studied the
problem, the cost entailed or the labor
itqulItu u ulhht tut III Ava w
cupancy. Now, IL seems. instead Of the
men being housed in barracks or tenn
porary wooden structures they will live
under canvas. Tented cities will take
the place Of the previously proposed
army posts. and this means that unless
these camps are located In the South
the men will suffer many hardships be-
fore they can be transported to France.
Lack Of funds. material. labor and
transportation facilities Secretary Baker
said. were the determining influences in
the decision to reduce the number of
cantonments. The previous plan TO
build thirty-two Of the camps was
reached, 1t was explained. after Con-
gress had appropriated S77,00o.O0o on the
theory that there would be only sixteen.
For a time the larger number seemed
practical BILE. but that would have made
a much greater demand on the over
taxed resources at the Departments
command
Although the change will upset all the
tentative plans for camp locations made
by department commanders. it is not
expected to delay. beyond September /,
the mobilization OF the conscription
army. Four Of the sixteen cantonment
sites provided for under the new plan
have been selected. and choice of the
others is expected soon. Secretary
Baker indicated that building would
proceed as rapidly as possible The
four sites selected are at American
Lake. Wash. Atlanta. Ga. Aver. Mass,
and Wrightstown. y. j.
A more plentiful supply OF canvas
than expected made IL possible TO put
some of the troops under tents A can
IN Ta larCa1x. raGnopSihla fnr
the original plan to house the army in
wooden barracks. for army officials have
preferred teuting from the start. Most
OF the tents used probably will be placed
at Southern camps.
Await COnscriptlOn Army.
In making the announcement Secre-
tary Baker also said that forces In ex-
cess of those which could be cared for
in the sixteen cantorments would be
placed under canvas. This was taken as
referring to National Guard divisions.
although the militia bureau has re-
ceived no instructions in this regard.
There is no indication of an intention
to alter the plan for formation of sixteen
divisions Of the guard. The question Of
filling these up TO war strength prob
ably will not be settled until selection OF
men for military service in the con-
scription army begins. 1t is possible
that It will be found better at that time
IL the state forces have not been re-
cruited 10 full strength, to consolidate
/ into a smaller number OF divisions, but
under tho law either the regulars or
guard can be filled up with men from
the selected lists II that is desired
Meantime the National Guard units Of
the Eastern portion of the country will
be drafted into the Federal armies on
July IS. Undoubtedly they will be put
under canvas as rapidly as divisional
/ mobilization is ordered. and the plan
of training virtually ALL guard divisions
1 In the southern section OF the country
will be adhered to. The guard already
! has a considerable supply OF tentage, and
/ the machinery ~ the Council of National
Defence is at work endeavoring to secure
enough for all forces with little delay,
| DrSft Complete by August =.
/ All of the guard units will have been
drafted into service by August .. That
/ does not mean. however. that all will
have been ordered to divisional train
/ Ing camps at that time. Presumably
! the best equipped and recruited forces
will be made ready first for duty abroad
! hut there has been no announcement
as TO the process to be followed. More
than 60, 600 guardsmen are engaged In
| police work, guarding bridges, fac
/ tories and other structures and that
work will have to be continued
The task OF building cantonment Is
n big one Miles OF roads. water. sewer
and light construction must be put in
More than 1000 buildings must be
erected in each town. and railway con-
nections must be established. To be-
gin the simultaneous construction of
| thirty-two such cities, officials feel
would have been more than the resources
of the Department or the country could
have borne without seriously interrupt.
ing the ordinary course of commercial
, life.
( Statements by Chairman Fitzgerald
during "A debate in the House developed
the fact that Secretary Baker had sus-
pended the operation OF the law reauir-
ing advertising for competitive bids or
Government contracts, ana that the
Council of National Defence had recon-.
mended the letting Of contracts TO indi.
vidual firms upon their own prices ana
their own specifications. without permit
ting other and competing firms to Offer
bids or even TO know of the proposed
lpurchases.
| Al a result Of questions By Repre-
ConfiMued on Second Page.