Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-25

gard for the distinguished coInmanQer
in-chief"
BAKERS "PLAclD WAY"
The commander at Camp Sherman
Ohio, told him there was shortage OF
1000 overcoats there, Senator Cham
berlain continued. He referred that
statement to Secretary Baker.
"In his usual placid way, he said,
That's not true,'" remarked the sen
ator.
Senator Chamberlain then read from
"a letter from Secretary Baker saying
a later report showed 1000 overcoats
were needed at Camp Sherman but
that they were in course of ship
ment"
That's the way ever since the war
started, in course, but not getting
there" he shouted.
CHART DETAILS SHORTAGES.
Then placing in his record chart
submitted to the military committee
by Secretary Baker showing shortages
of material at all camps varying from
l to 80 per cent, Mr.. Chamberlain de-
clared he wished that condition to be.
come known to the people.
Il want it shown whether I distorted
the truth when I said the military sys-
tenn had broken down." said he
Reading from the table to show
shortages of overcoats running as high
as rs per cent, the senator reminded
the senate that the troops are "in the
midst of winter"
81 am going to show that these hun.
dreds of thousands of men dying in the
cantonments are due to the war de-
partment," he declared. This infor'
nation comes right from the men who
are on the ground. They know what
they are talking about. I didn't in
tend to do this, but in view of the stu
alton that confronts me and involves
my integrity, feel it is my duty to
the country.
MEN "PACkED LIKE sARDlNES."
II am going to call attention to the
statement of Surgeon General Gorgas
that nearly all epidemics could have
been prevented If the war department
had been effective" Senator Cham.
berlain referred to the warnings given
by Major General Greble, commander
at Camp Bowie, Texas, last summer
against, overcrowding men in tents.
Men at Camp Bowie. the senator
declared, were packed together like
sardines" and despite frequent warn
ings disastrous epidemics broke out
in December with 5000 men passing
through the hospitals.
DEATHS WAGE OF SYSTEM.
Men died." he asserted, without
proper nursing because of inefficien-
cies of the system. challenge you
h@ 10
word for it. All the cantonments are
arteries of information and l hope to
God that every young man will write
his father or mother and tell them
just what the conditions are, not to
stay patriotism but to stimulate those
in authority to do their duty"
General Gorgas' report, he con-
tinued, showed overcrowding in vir-
tually every camp and he asserted
that the surgeon general, Of eminent
had not been consulted re-
garding cantonment locations.
Think of that" Senator Chamber
lain shouted. "He was not even con-
suited with references to the sites and
not a single cantonment was built in
with his recommendations
for fifty feet of space for each man."
GORGAS' VIEW DISREGARDED.
Senator Chamberlain then read pre-
viously published reports of camp
showing lack of winter
clothing in some instances, overcrowd-
ing and prevalence of measles, and
interrupted himself to refer to Secre-
tary Bakers statement to the CON-
mittee that Everything was all right
at these cantOnmentS"
Senator Chamberlain said IL Sur
geon General GOrgas' recommends
lions for greater space had been OBJ
served disease at least would have
been reduced.
REVEAL CARELEssNEss
Have these recommendations been
Gallinger.
They are attempting to. in some
places, but the recommendations have
not been carried out. If these are the
conditions existing with soldiers in
their home country what must be the
fate of the boys sent to Europe to
meet the dangerous and treacherous
Of warfare?" was Senator
Chamberlain's reply.
Senator Chamberlain read a letter
showing that camp authorities failed
to notify family of the death Of
soldier and that the body came home
wrapped only in a sheet.
"1f I were to print all the letters l
get along this line he continued;
"they would shock not only congress
but the American conscience. 1 do it
only to show the country that there is
and I'm going to do it if
it costs me my political life.
RELIES ON MOTHERS.
let the American mothers know
conditions and they will see to it that
the public servants either do their
duty or retire from public life in dis
grace.
Lets let the sunlight in on these
things" he pleaded land never fear
that the American people will not fol-
low the president into the thickest of
the fray wherever their duty calls
them. / hope you don't think I'm do
ing this to be sensational. My whole
purpose is to remedy these conditions
that can be remedied.''
KIRBY FOR DEFENSE.
After speaking nearly three hours
Lit -