Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-02
EXPLAINS DELAY IN
CLOTHING SOLDIERS
More Men Called Than Could
Be Equipped, Mr.. Eisen-
man Testifies.

Delay in supplying clothing for
American soldiers was caused by pur-
chase OF the supplies too late and b.
cause more troops were called inlo
service than could be equipped"
Charles Eisenman. vice chairman OF the
supply committee of the Council OF
National Defense, so testified today
under oath at the Senate Army INQUIRY,
rs 1t right" he asked the committee.
to call out mon defenseless against
the elements when 1t is known that
enough supplies are not on hand? We
were ordered to provide a certain
amount OF material. We mover were
told the number OF men that were ts
be called out"
Conflict in Statements.
Cloth. he declared, was delivered to
the quarterraster generals Office faster
than it could be made into garments.
ouartermaster General Sharpe haa
previously testified that cloth deliveries
were behind.
Mr.. Eisenman then produced statisfi.
cal records to show that, at various
quartermaster depots, cloth deliveries
were ample for manufacturing facilities
in operation
Spent $500, 600, 600 for Clothes,
Explaining operations Of tho supplies
committee, Mr.. Eisenman stated that
during the last eight months it had
dealt in $500 transactions with mer-
chandise valued at $500, o00. 900. He had
the responsibility of finally passing On
all orders and contracts.
Our records" said Mr.. Eisenman are
open and complete and will show
whether our job has been well done
don't say it could not have been better
done. but we have done the best re
could"
Didn't Investigate in Europe.
did you Investigate the kind snd
armiesy" asked Senator Frelinghuysen.
NO, SIR Mr.. Eisenman answered, ef-
planning that he had only general fh-
formation on the subject
81 felt our men should have the best
our country Affords" he said. That
has been in the back of our minds all
the time. We did not know-perhaps
did not care-what England and France
were using; we wanted what this gov
eminent prescribes and the best tiet
Changes in specifications for clothing
and blankets recommended by his CON-
| mittee. Mr.. Eisenman insists8 had fs-
| suited In producing better ndAtertaLs
| Admits Change in Specifications.
| Admitting that his COMMITTEES had
changed the specifications Of Army
clothing so as to require less pure wool
and more "shoddy." Mr.. Eisenman as
serted that as good or better cloth had
resulted.
"One OF the reasons for reducing the
percentage of wool was that We were
cut OF for three years from the worlds
wool supply" he said Z
You feared a wool scarcityr' asked
Senator Freifnghuysen.
| Mr.. Eisenman admitted tho wool si6a.
| alton was a factor.
| Regarding the shortages Of clothine-fn
contonrnents, Mr.. Eisenman admitted t6at
there had been some delinquencies I'm
deliveries.
Dfslikes to Criticise.
but, although / hate to critfcse
the quartermaster generals of1ce," 10
added, there were mistakes In routing.
/ If blankets. for instance, had been
properly routed (and am not re-
sponsible for routing) there wouldn't
have been shortages at some canton
ments- I know Of cantonments that
had eight or nine blankets per man
and others had hardly any"
Shortages Of clothing testified to by
/ @. NJ Gen. Sharpe were fatty contra
dicted by the witness. He insisted that
Gen. Sharpe's figures were wrong