The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-25
I. X. and Chamberlain
Both Bitterly Assail
Conduct of War Work
Senator Says Many Men
Died in Army Camps
Because They Failed to
Get Care.

Washington, Jan. 24---In dramatic
three hour speech TO the senate today.
Senator Chamberlain. chairman Of the
military committee replied to Presi-
dent Wilson's statement that he had
distorted the facts In charging that tho
government had broken down In its war
preparations. lie declared tho preai-
dent had grossly lnaligned him. and not
only defended. but emphatically reit-
Grated his assertions, made In a recent
address nj New York. Hc said tho
president did not know the truth and,
that hc did.
The senator disclalmed any personal,
rancor against either the president or
Secretary Baker. saying his only mo-
tivcs were patriotic to rouse tho coun-
try and to speed up the war BY wipIng
out inefflclency. In support Of hls
position. he cited numerous Incidents
of alleged inefflcicncy In connection
with army ordnance, clothing supplies
and sanitation brought out during the
military committees war inquiry.
Senate Crowded.
senators and representatives crowded
the floor. and the galleries were packed
as Senator Chamberlain spoke. lie
began quietly. declaring It was with I
feeling Of sadness that he found Il
necessary To rise 10 n question Of per-
sonai privilege 70 defend his veracity
and integrity heretofore nnasaAiled.
but AZ he launched Into the speeCh ko
grew emphatic and at times vehement.
When the Oregon senator concluded,
Senator Kirby, n member OF thA NM
tary committee, replied on behalf or thA
administration, flntly contradlcting the
chairmnn's assertions that facts
brought out In the investigation proved
the war department inefficient. Then
the senate adjourned until Monday TO
cut off further discussion.
Administration Will Reply.
There waa no comment at the White
House on the Chamberlain speech, n
Is known. however. that administration
replies are to be made soon by Senator
James in the senate, and Representa-
tive Dent of Alabama. chairman Of the
military committee. and Representa-
tive Glass OF Virginia, In the house.
Secretary Tiaker probably will make
his answer Saturday, when he appears
before the house committee. Repre-
sentative Dent called at the depart
ment late today and invited him to
make statement to the committee.
Measure Referred.
The senate committees bill for a war
abinct, about which the controversy
centers was referred without objection
today TO the committee. The under
standing IL that Il also Will he re-
ferred to the naval committee later.
senator Chamberlain detailed In HIN
speech what he declared was proof Of
| army ineffielency, lie asserted that
not only was the president ignorant Of
the truth about conditions. but that
Secretary BAKER also was misled. chai-
| Ienging the senate and the country to
! inquire and then deny his assertions.
| Despite the presidents opposition. he
! declared the committees army inves-
| tigation would proceed and the COM
mittce rtans 70 resume It's inquiry to-
morrow by calling Surgeon General
| Gorgas 10 testify regarding health
| conditions.
Tells OF Soldiers Death.
! In connection with letter read by
| Senator chamberlain telling OF the
| death Of q soldier under narrowing cir
| cumstanccs at one Of the camps. he
| said several similar isolated cases had
been called TO his attention and that
| every prcCauiion possible to prevent
| occurrences had been taken.
| Senator Chamberlain declared he
! would show that the deaths OF the
hundreds and thousands of men af
cantonments and camps were due to
the war department and that "all epi-
denies could have been prevented u