Arizona republican., 1917-12-22
CLOTHING SCARCITY
 IN ARMY |S DENIED
 BY GENERAL SHARPE
Republican A. P. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Clothing, shoes and food supplies for the Amer ican army were investigated today by the senate military committee turning its general inquiry into war prepara- tions to the quartermaster generals department. It 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 office over to Major General Goethals, was before the committee all day, and for an hour of the time answered confi- dential questions behind closed doors He was closely examined, especially re- garding the admitted shortage of over coats. which, he said, was due princi- pally to late deliveries of large orders.
 Except for overcOats and few other winter garments, of which, he stated, complete stocks would be in camp by December 31, the general declared there is no clothing shortage.
 Shoes also, General Sharpe said, have been provided in ample quantities pei Cdplldt UuL tue dNGIdBe uTdllGu man of the national army has proved to be so much larger physically than the regulars and guardsmen with whom the department has had to deal in the past, that many of the shoes, | and overcoats as well, have proved useless. Manufacture of the smaller sizes has been stopped, but the situ- | ation resulted in some hardships for the drafted soldiers before it could be corrected.
 Of food, Geenral Sharpe stated and the committeeman assented it 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- lated to the quartermaster generals office had only begun with today's hearing. Cantonment locations and contracts, sanitation, the relation ot 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 oVel Christmas, General Sharpe being ex- cused until next Wednesday.
 Tomorrow the committee will return briefly to ordnance problems by exam ming Colonel Isaac Lewis, inventor O the Lewis machine gun, after which { holiday recess will be taken.
 General Sharpe told in detail of tn, vast task of supplying the expanded war army. He said he authorized thir ty day service equipment for one mil lion more men in February and March and for another half million men il l OrIa
 Hons of dollars were placed before tn, war and without authorization of dollar by congress.
 By December 31 the general said
 complete supplies for 1,O7S,O00 mel
 would be on hand.
 Explaining how the supply situation
 delayed the draft, he told of the de
 partment'S desire to call out all of tn first 6S7,000 men in September until h
 showed it would be impossible to euui
 them. He recommended an initial cal
 Of 10O,0 900 men but more than 10000 were called. although the departmen
 knew clothing supplies would be some what short. He approved this actior for reasons which were explained i
 executive session.
 Reports reaching the committee c mems ears freezing at Camp Custel
 Michigan, and of shortages of winte overcoats, other clothing and shoes a ' both Camp Custer and Camp Lee, Va caused the general to say he woul :. inquire into conditions immediatel ? by telegraph.
 ] The part played by the advisor = commission of the council of nations 9 defense in the letting of army con 5 tracts was rigidly inquired into by tn
 committee. Some of the senators in
 sisted that the quartermaster gener; Rirtually has been denuded of powe
 in placing contracts or fixing price
 but General Sharpe said this was nc I true and that civilian committees { e cooperate were absolutely essentia . He suggested modification of tn f present plan along lines similar to th = English system.
 n There was much questioning abol . red tape" in the war departmen Q General Sharpe said he had suggeste
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