The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-02-04
new FIGHT ON
WAR CONDUCT
Continued From Page One

clothing and overcrowainx Tbs
overrrowdlnr wc found duo 10 n fall
uro to provide nm adequate number
of tents. We found camp hospitals
without drainage. plumbing or heat
and sick men wtthou, nurses.
I'VE found that the first heavy
artillery OF American mako cannot
be received untii July. and no, 10
fore 1918 can VIC expect 90 use IN
France American heavy artillery IN
any great quantity.
I'VE found that we are only now,
nine months after entering the war.
tusf beginning 20 work on two grea,
powder plants. 10 costs $50 900 900.
altho II wns evident last summer
that we must have 1000 900 pounds
a day more powder than America
can now make. We cannot got more
powder from these plants before next
August
No Ship Hospitals
we found that. tho the medica'
department asked for ship hospitals
last year. they have not yet beer
ordered"
Hitchcock said he did not deny
that much crcdltabla work had beer
done in the war department.
Turning 20 the remedy. he declared
'If a high class man could be mad,
director OF munitions and be giver
power to buy all supplies needed by
the various bureaus of the war de
partment. he would soon bring order
out OF disorder. cut red tape. stoT
delays and furnish the American
army with It's supplies promptly.
Better Methods
we would then locate and con
traiize responsibility and authority
The business OF supplying the dc
partment would be on up-to-date
methods Of great business concerns
Great Britain and France had &c
come 10 H.
II am told thnt some genius in IN,
war department bureau succeeded ir
shipping 20 France a carload OF saw
cheap enough there, while nearly
1000 900 tons OF freight has beer
waiting n chance to go over for q
month";" he said.
Conflicting orders for bags for gas
masks. he asserted. had been issued
in the war department. one for
/ 900 900. another for 1000 900. and
third for $4,000
Fortunately one Of tho civilian
committeeman outside OF the depart
ment found one of the conflicting
orders and secured revision and
stopped blundor
Travel Difficult"
The president and secretary of
war have evidently realized n defeat
OF the existing system and have at.
tempted to change IT," he said
without legislation. but without sue
cess.
ut In not too much 10 say that the
great transportation system has
broken down II In n gigantic wreck
today. Even travel has become diff
cult" Hitchcock said
As for the fuel situation. he SAID
that lack OF knowledge. lack Of trans
portation and harmony between the
fuel administration and other coun.
ellis OF the government were the
cause OF the breakdown.
Raps Secretary Baker
I'VE find that for supply alone II
will require 5000. 900 tons OF ship
ping in constant use. Where In that
coming from2 The secretary OF war
Is 70 out OF touch with the shipping
board, and authorities. and informa
ton. that he makes n statement that
is preposterous,
Failure TO coordinate the ship
ping facilities with other branches,
he said. had caused 1000 900 tons
OF freight 10 pile up waiting for
ships. and In New Orleans last week
there were 100000 tons OF shipping
with only $4,000 tons OF food and
feed to load them"