New-York tribune., 1918-01-05

Army Inspector Declares
Cloth Now Made Is
Very Inferior
Overcoat Shortage
Ended, Says Baker
War Secretary Asserts
Army Is at Last Com
fortably Clothed

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. - Colonel
Elmer Lindsley, Inspector and pur-
chasing agent at the Philadelphia
quartcrmastcr's depot, testified to- day
before the Senate Military Committee
that the standard Of army clothing had
been lowered by orders of the sup
plies committee. Much cloth made un-
der the new specifications, Colonel
Lindslcy said, "is very much poorer"
II resort to rcworkcd wool was ncces-
sary, he added, the government should
have insisted on high grade shoddy
being used
The supplies committees new cloth
standards for both blankets and over
coats were wisely adopted, Colonel
Lindsley said, in view Of the prospective
wool shortage, except tnat the COM
mittccs orders "went too far" in not
requiring higher qualities Of rc-worked d
WOOL
Need Heavier Uniforms
Heavier uniforms, the officer de-
clared, should be supplied for foreign
service. and if any shoddy was to be
worn it should be by the people at
home and not by the soldiers in the
trenches.
Establishment Of the base sorting
plant at New York for picking waste
scraps from uniforms was a "poor
plan" Colonel Lindsey thought, en-
failing expense and delay in gathering
scraps at the central factory. The
ri, ,.fe, & Ax.t. y 4
could have distributed the scraps with
very little difficulty and without cstab-
llshment of the private plant.
'ls the departments policy generally
to cheaper quality to save money!"
asked Chairman Chamberlain Colonel
Lindsey replied that the policies arc
constantly changing.
Overcoat shortage at National Guard
and National Army training camps were
reported ended, except at Camp Beaure-
gard, Louisiana, by Secretary Baker in
I further response to-day to the Senate
Military Committee resolution urging
immediate steps TO provide the SOL
dlcrs with adequate winter clothing.
Many Of the camps still are short of
woollen blouses, which, the Secretary
said, were particularly hard to obtain.
The report WAS based upon the War
A|SPAA eAIiCi'N y laCcSt lSlSSI dJllIC dONlCCS
from the division commanders Emer-
gency express shipments and local pur-
chases have been authorized, and Mr..
Baker expressed the belief that to-
DAY "all the men are comfortable"
Sixteen camps and cantonments men
toned specifically by the committees
resolution were reported upon in de-
tail. OF a total shortage of II, 500 over
coats, Camp Beauregard needed 1865
A deficiency of about 69 900 blouses was
scattered among thirteen posts.
Blames Transportation
Blame for delay in furnishing winter
garments was placed by the Secretary
partially upon supply, but largely upon
the transportation situation.
At Camps Jackson, South Carolina,
and Greene, North Carolina. supplies
of both overboats and blouses were re-
ported sufficient Bedding supplies
were said to be adequate at all camps
To meet the ovcrcoat shortage at
Camp Bcauregard. Secretary Baker
said 22,300 had been expressed Decem-
ber 26. He told also of recent ship
ment OF 600 overcoats to Camp Custer
10000 blouses to Camp Funston, 2,00o
blouses to Camp Wadsworth, 1000
overcoats and 5000 blouses to Camr
Dix.
instructions have been sent to all