Evening star., 1918-02-21
REFORMS EFFECTED
BY GEN. COCKTAILS
Results Of Reorganization Of
Army Quartermaster's Office
Are Becoming Apparent.
NEW SYSTEMS IN VOGUE

NEW SYSTEMS IN vU0UE
Many steps, details and appointments
connected with the sweeping reorgani-
alton of the Office of the quartermas-
ter general. War Department. by MAJ.
Gen. George W. Goethals. were not an
nounced as they took place, but the
results are beginning to be apparent
AS examples Of the reforms effected
by the man who directed the tremen-
dous task Of building the Panama canal
are two features which mark radical
changes over previous methods. They
are:
A new system is designed to assure
the complete equipment OF every man
who goes abroad for the task he is to
perform. The arrangement is intended
to put clothes Of the kind he will need
on his back. to give him shoes that will
At and wear. Formerly 1t was the GUS
tom to equip the men for service over
seas at the camps where they were
trained. That arrangement has been
discarded.
Under the new system men are going
to Camp Merritt, near New York, where
they are fitted out to the last button
and whence they are sent to ships. Sim
liar arrangements are being made Ior
like service at Camp Stuart, Camp Dix
and also either at Camp Meade or
Camp Lee. Large supplies of all kinds
are concentrated at the camps selected
in order that there shall be no delay In
this equipping OF the men.
Accumulating Food Supplies.
Exhibit 2, in the way Of reforms. is
that with reference to collection Of am
pie supplies Of foodstuffs Of all kinds
for the transports and also for quick
dispatch to Europe, with reference to
the cabled needs of Gen. Pershing.
There have been established at points
quantities of meat and other foods are
kept on hand. In one city between
10000 and 100000 feet of floor space
has been obtained. adequate to store
the reserve of commissary supplies
1t is estimated the troops will require
This step is a means of avoiding any
delays because of freight COMPOSITIONS
like that Of the past month. Formerly
stocks were not kept on hand. The re.
suit was that commissary officers had
to go into open markets to make pur-
chases. Thus there loomed, as stated
by Fuel Administrator Garfield, the
danger Of shortage of food for the
ships. BY the policy adopted by Gen.
These are only two OF number OF
reforms effected under Gen Goethals-
He has kept uppermost in mind the
problems Of clothing ana feeding the
troops. Red tape and regulations are
not permitted to stand in the way OF
needs due to special conditions. For ex-
ample, Army equipment regulations do
not provide for rubber boots for men
serving In the United States In some
southern camps such equipment Is nee
Gen. Goethals at once for the purchase
of half a million rubber boots. which
will be ready in the spring.
Has Sound Organization.
Gen. Goetha1s began his administra-
the establishment Of a sound organiza-.
ton. His first step was the creation OF
a planning staff composed OF Dr.. F. A
Cleveland and A. +. Pfei1er OF Ciere-
Dr.. II. NJ. Hopkins and DR.. A A. Ham
merschlag were authorized to settle
questions arising in industrial rela-
tions.
about formulating complete plan Of
organization. The men assigned to the
work had long experience in organixa-
ton methods. For example. Dr. Cleve-
land served as head Of the Taft eff
cheney commission. which made a
methods and presented report. much
of which has been adopted in depart
ments.
DR.. Hopkins. who was president Of
Dartmouth, has made a specially OF la
Dor troubles. He has rendered notable
service in adjusting labor disputes. DR..
Hammersch1ag was director OF indus
trial research for the Carnegie Institu-
ton.
AS now organized each division of the
ouartermaster generals department has
under it's control related matters. Thus.
the fuel and forage division procures
and distributes all the fuel. forage and
oil required by the various branches OF
the War Department. Besides supply
ing the Army agencies with these es-
sential materials, the fuel and forage
division assists contractors who are
providing military supplies to meet
director of the division is Daniel B.
Wentz, who for years has been engaged
actively in the coal industry and In the
manufacture Of beehive coke. The ex-
tent Of the work of this one division is
amazing. It will furnish 100000 tons
of coal for the Army this year. and the
contractors whom 1t is assisting use
about 200.o00.0o0 tons Of coal per year.
Supplies and Equipment.
Particular attention has been given
to clothing and food. Albert L. Scott.
leading business man of the middle
west, has been put in charge of the
supplies and equipment division. I'm
der his direction are obtained all
woolens, cottons. knit goods. shoes,
leather. rubber and thousands Of other
articles needed for the protection and
comfort of Uncle Sans soldiers. The
most recent figures show an issue
since the war began of $4,000 breech-
es, l,50O,000' coats. 3.017.533 overcoats
and nearly 12.0O0.O 900 pairs of shoes.
The subsistence, division ds ,n,I,,s proeures
quired by the Army. educates cooks
and bakers and supervises bakeries
and the handling of equipment in the
preparation and service Of food Since
the war began $193.00o.000 worth OF
food has been purchased.
Col J. s. Fair is in charge of the re-
mount division. which buys horses and
mules for the army, ships the animals
to remount depots. cares for them there
and issues them to organizations of the
Army Since the war began 1929
horses and 122.735 mules have been
bought at a cost Of $53,000.000.
A motors division has been organized.
kl,a orfa CT oNct 4