Evening journal., 1918-12-30
FEARS neglect OF
Returning HEROES
Chan b.rlsin Says Nation
Isn't Prepared to Care
for Them
LACKED GUNS
WHILE ABROAD
BY the United Press.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 30--"America Is
as unprepared today TO take care OF the
returning soldiers as she was year
ago 20 expedite their departure 10
France" senator Chamberlain. chair
man OF the military committee, declared
on the door Of the senate.
God only knows how many lives
have been sacrificed because Of our un-
preparedness, he said
Now that the war has been won aud
our soldiers are coming back, armless,
lcsless and eyeless, America is a. un-
prepared 10 take caro- OF them as she
was a year ago"
A score OF soldiers. somo with over
seas service stripes on their a ms, sat
In the galleries and listened TO every
word as Chamberlain review what he
charged were grave mistakes OF the
past, with a warning that thoy be not
repeated In the future.
"Now that the I'D has been lifted We
have learned that every charge made
by the military affairs committee was
true" said Chamberlain referring %
the Investigation Of a year that follow,
ed his speech that stirred the country.
lie then had read into tho record Gen
eral persh 'ng's statement 10 Secretary
Baker. published In the annual report
tending 10 show that the lack Of equip
ment and ordnance In the early days
In France was as great as had been pic
turod.
Reading further from Pershings re-
port Chamberlain showed how In the
battle Of ST Mlhiel, the American army
was dependent on the French and Brit
ish both FOR artillery and aircraft
Chamberlain quoted from Charles r.
Hughes report on his aircraft investi-
CATION concerning misleading state
menis given the public regarding the
shipment OF American built airplanes b
France.
"The American people were led TO
believe we were sending airplanes
abroad IN quantity" said Chamberlain
As a matter Of fact General Pegshing
tells US the flrst American squadron did
not cross the German lines until Au-
gust Z. 1918"
Chamberlain declared there was
much inenlclency. injustice and loss or
manpower resulting from failure 10
provide training planes for young Amer
lean aviators. Tie told how they were
sent 10 France 10 be trained and got no
training Those who went first had
their morale destroyed. Chamberlain de-
Glazed. because they got neither train
ing nor 1sht'ng and later on were
shunted aside by Oihe- young men
trained In this country and sent abroad
lie cited the cases Of two lieutenants.
who appealed 10 him after their com
missions had been revoked when they
asked for transfer 10 some branch OF
service where they could set into active
duty.
Il got nowhere because Of the red
tape, until took the matter up person.
ally with Gen. March, said Chamber
lain. "He reinstated the boys and trans
ferred them 10 the tank corps But thou
sands Of others did not get the same re-
dress these two got
Gen. Pershing. in the nature OF
things. could not know there were men
In the American forces abroad who
were not getting the proper training. l
would not say OF word OF criticism Of
Pershing His handling OF the war was
magnificent Il has seldom II ever been
equalled and never surpassed But | call
attention to this system 10 show the in
efficiency which existed. 80
Unless something Is done to correct
conditions these men when they come
back will make themselves heard and
felt as they should" warned Chamber
lain.
I'VE arc pursuing the same dilatory
tactics in preparing 10 care for the
wounded from France as we did In pre-
pairing 10 send them into the ilght." he
added. This may be denied, but the
statement IS true"