Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-22
of Location Of
CantOnmentS Subject to Be
Taken Up by Committee
After Holidays,
LEWIS MACHINE GUN
QUERY TO BE RESUMED
Task of Equipping Expanded
Organization Great Drafted
Men Bigger Than Regulars
or GuardSmen

toy MORNING JOURNAL srsciAL IsAsso ~Issi
Washington, Dec. 21.-Clothing,
shoes and food supplies for the Amer
lean army were investigated today by
the senate military committee, turn
ing its general inquiry into war prep.
arations to the quartermaster generals
department. 1t was developed that
millions of dollars were spent just be-
fore the United States entered the war
to provide for the great army since
raised.
Major General Sharpe, quartermas-
ter general, now a member of the new
war council and soon to turn his Of
flee over to Major General Goethals,
was before the committee all day and
for several hours answered confiden-
tial questions behind closed doors.
He was closely examined, especially
regarding the admitted shortage OF
overcoats, which, he said, was due
principally to late deliveries of large
orders.
Stocks to Be Had December 81.
Except for overcoats and few 9TH
er winter garments, of which, he stat
ed. complete stocks would be in camp
by December 81, the general declared
there is no clothing shortage.
Shoes also, General Sharpe said,
have been provided in ample quant-
ties per capita, but the average draft
ed man of the national army has
proved to, be so much larger physi-
cally than the regulars and guards
men with whom the department has
had to deal in the past, that many of
the shoes, and overcoats as we'll, have
proved useless. Manufacture of the
smaller sizes has been stopped, but
the situation resulted in some hard
ships for the drafted soldiers before it
could be corrected.
Food Supplies Ample.
OF food, General Sharpe stated, and
the committeeman assented. 1t had
been ample and of fine quality. No
complaints regarding food, he said,
had been received.
Committee members stated tonight
that the investigation of questions re-
lating to the quartermaster generals
office had only begun with todays
contracts sanitation, the relation of
the winter clothing shortage to recent
disease epidemics and transportation
of the army by rail and water are sub
jects to be taken up later,
Further inquiry was postponed over
Christmas, General Sharpe being ex-
cused until next Wednesday.
NtII IIoa, r,In,,.r
Tomorrow the committee will re-
turn BRIEFLY to ordnance problems by
examining Col. Isaac Lewis inventor
Of the Lewis machine gun, after which
holiday recess will be taken,
General Sharpe told in detail of the
vast task of supplying the expanded
war arm. He said he authorized thir-
| ty-day service equipment for | 900, 900
more men in February and March.
and for another 10000 men in June.
Orders aggregating many millions OF
dollars were placed by the quarter
master general and without authorize
ton of dollar by congress.
December 81, the general said,
complete supplies for 1,47S,OOO men
would be on hand
Lack OF Equipment Hurts.
Explaining how the supply situa-
| tton delayed the draft, he told of tho
departments desire to call out all of
the first $4,000 men in September
until he showed it would be imposs-
BILE to equip them. He recommended
an initial call of 100000 men but
more than 100000 were called, al
though the department knew cloth
ing supplies would be somewhat short.
He approved this action, for reasons
which were explained in executive
session.
| Reports reaching the committee OF
mems ears freezing at Camp Custer
Mich, and of shortage of winter
overcoats, other clothing and shoes
at both Camp Custer and Camp Lee.
Va, caused the general to say he
would inquire into conditions imme-
diately by telegraph.
| Civilian Committees Good.
The part played by the advisory
commission of the council of national
| defense in the letting of army con-
tracts was rigidly inquired into by the
committee. Some of the senator's in
sisted that the quartermaster general
virtually has been denuded of power
in placing contracts or fixing prices.
but General Sharpe said this was not
true and that civilian committees to
cooperate were absolutely essential
He suggested modification of the
the present plan along lines eimilar
to the English system.
Red Tape Everywhere.
There was much questioning about