Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-21
GREAT DEMAND FOR
SOLDIERS CLOTHING IS
CAUSE OF SHORTAGE
Quarternaster Sharpe Tells
Committee Over 100000
OVercOatS Delivered

thousands OF men VIII De cdlleu TO IHe
colors by December 81, Quartermaster
General Sharpe admitted to the senate
military committee probe this after
noon. He refers to the 25 per cent of
the last increment Of the first draft
not yet called out.
At present Sharpe declared there ism t
enough clothing for the men in train
ing, and American troops sent to France
are going over in uniforms q per cent
lighter than those worn by the French
and British troops.
He advised the English system of a
"purveyor general of supplies" !" to order
ordnance, food and clothing for the
army.
Sharpe said one uniform each had
been issued to 1,640,UU0 men now, al
though a small part of these uniforms
were cotton.
Switching to the subject of overcoats
committee members began grilling
Sharpe on complaints of overcoaJ snort
ages that had been coming in from
camps. A table submitted by the gen
eral showed 100000 overcoats had
been completed by December 15 last.
Senator Hitchcock, "that with only APP
proximately 100000 men to equip and
with over two million overcoats made,
the men had been without coats2"
"The bulk of these overcoat deliver
les came late in November and Decem-
ber," Sharpe replied. "Prior to that
time we didn It have the coats for all
the men,"
Major L. Hardeman of the quarter
masters department, testifying for
General Sharpe, said there were suffi-
cient overcoats but the sizes were wrong
Chow did that comet" he was ask
ed.
"Because in most draft cantonments
the men are larger physically than
those in the regular army and IN the
guard, y said Hardeman.
"Has every man in the army an over
coat today7" Senator McKeller asked
GAS far as acquisitions have been
made,o Hardeman replied.
Sharpe read a long memorandum de-
failing how the time the army and the
national guard were modified for Mex
lean border service his department had
bought clothing, practically exhaustlng
| its funds.
When rehabilitation of the national
guard was halted, Sharpe said he got
SECRETARY Bakers approval to an order
for clothing for 100000 additional men.
that being approximately the number
of the national guard and the army at
war strength. In April, this year, he
was authorized by Baker to order for
500. 600 more men and in June for a
third 100000.
oeWhat did these orders include for
each man?" asked Senator Weeks.
"They were equipment 9, or clothing
and tents to last three months, re-
piled General Sharpe.
"You know you now haven't got
enough clothing for your men, don 7
you?" asked Senator McKeller.
eyes" said Sharpe. "That's due
TO the way the men have been called
out"
cit IS sbecause Of the methods of pur-
chasing through the Council OF NatIoh-
al Defense, isn't ita'' demanded Nc
Keller.
"No," said Sharpe. "We've got to
have some system like that. If we did
switch to the English plan we would be
even better off. They have a purveyor
general of supplies, through whom or
ders for ordnance, food and clothing
come from the heads of the three divis
ions.
Chow much clothing is General Per
shing buying in EnglaId2'' asked Sen
ator Hitchcock.
~ don It know" said Sharpe. =" He
asked permission to buy and did not
state the amount"
Sharpe said that the British embar
90 on Australian wool has been remov
ed as far as this country is concerned
and that American manufacturers are
now working Australian wool into clotl
for uniforms.
Sharpe said he hoped there woulc
not be another draft call soon as hi'
department had been flooded with 700,
600 new enlistments in the regular army
which had upset his program. Sharpe
said he hoped they would be ready fol-
a new call some time in January.
Asking if there had not been somt
trouble as to shoes, Senator Wadswortl
said he had heard that at Camp Custer
half of an infantry detachment wa
marched out to target practice and thei
returned, giving their shoes to the othe
half so these men could practice
Sharpe admitted such a condition exists
Senator Weeks declared that Massa
= chusetts shoe manufacturer who exam
: ined the. shoes issued to 10000 men re
ported that about eighty per cent o
the men were wearing shoes too shor
for them.
"This condition has been brought t
the attention Of Secretary Baker an
of the medical department, F" said Week
H'The medical department eoncurred i
the view Of the shoe man that tn
, wearing of these short shoes would no
endanger the foot-health Of the men.
General Sharpe said that as resul
of the report to Baker the system of fit
ting shoes had been changed and ad
ded:
'General Pershing has asked us t
omit some narrower widths because hi
men are wearing heavy woolen socks.
Sharpe placed the blame for imprope
. fitting Of shoes on company commander
! and medical officers.
He criticised the department red tap
that sends kilograms, contracts an
. authorizations for action through hal
! dozen officials before action is had. II
advocated adoption Of "business meth
! DDS. F"
"Did you ever suggest ehange7'