The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-10
ARMY READY To 4
EQUIP 100000
MORE SOLDIERS
Quartermaster General Says
Colthing Enough on Hand.
FACING GIGANTIC TASK
Winter Clothing Still to Be Issued to
Soldiers Called During Summer
Months.
{ Special to New York Times. J

washington sept. y. -Brlg. zen.
r. e. Wood the Acting Quartermast-
er General of the Army, granted an
interview today, during which he dis
cussed the gigantic task of equipping
the new draft army that now confronts
the War Department. Including the
September draft, there will have been
nducted into the military service of
The nation, according to General
Crowders figures, 100000 men.
General Wood said that the estimat-
ed requirements of wool for the army,
navy, and marine corps between now
and June 80 next will be 266,O00,OO0
pounds, and approximately 17500,000
pounds additional for semi-Govern-
mental needs. This quantity, he said,
will be available, and will provide for
the new draft army.
After this month";" said General
Wood, there will be 100000 men
called into service between Oct. / and
July l. Our greatest strain is coming
in the next three months We have got
to outfit the drafts called in September
October, November, and December.
We have to keep up the shipments ov-
erseas, and then we have to put
wooden clothing in the hands of all
the men who have been called this
summer They have lot got their over-
coats, their blankets, their woolen
coats, and wooden trousers. That puts
the biggest strain on us during Octob-
er, November and December.
The troubles last Fall were, partly
4, L., Co. H., I,.f4
where the material was. Since the
first of March we have had double the
number of men called in line last Sept
ember draft and as far as know
there has not been the slightest trOu-
BILE | assume If the men hadn't been
supplied we'd have heard OF it,
There is no excuse for the Quar-
! termaster Department falling down.
Our biggest problem is distribution,
and the fact that we have got to distri-
butte to each individual soldier. The
army can go without guns and air
planes but it can't do without clothes
without big kick from the soldier
and his people,
Can you tell us how many uniforms
| have been provided for the new draft"
/ General Wood was asked
I The first of August" he replied,
1--WE had on hand 100000 woolen
breeches. $500. 600 cotton breeches. or
/ over l0.500,000 breeches altogether.
We had 100000 cotton coats, 1000.
! 600 wooden coats, 29,000,000 drawers,
Summer and Winter, 240O0O0O under
shirts, Summer and Winter, and 5,2OO,-
600 blankets
About the army raincoats frauds
how much did that amount to in dol
ags?" the General was asked.
Il would say, OFF hand, about $4,000
)Oo he replied. I'VE didn't lose any
thing The contractors are the losers
We cancelled the contracts and then
what raw material they had in process
Ne commandeered. We re-let the con
tracts to new firms or firm who were
not implicated II slowed up produc-
ton some-lost us month in produc-
ton. hut It is better to have no rain
coats at all than defective ones,'
Can II be said that every call made
under the is to 45 draft during the
Fall and Winter will find clothing
ready for them?
Yes" said General Wood. we
are going to be pretty short for very
shor, time on one or two articles, but
we have enough
{ What is the present status OF the
officers cloth?'
, That was finally approved last
, month by the General staff. and we are
now buying cloth aud getting the pro
. posals for the uniforms. We expect
I to have the cloth and uniforms on sale
about the middle of November"
r "Wil the officers have to buy only
Q ready.made uniforms" Genera
h Wood was asked.
,. I'VE have made change from I
@ original plan. We sell the cloth, ant
O also sell ready.made uniforms. Nov
n The officer has his choice between buy
@ ing ready.made uniform or buyinl
+ the material. and having one made L
r ,order. lie makes his own arrange
m mcnts with the tailor We are trym
e to yet the tailors committed to
.e schedule price.