Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-30
ASSERTS AMERICA
|SUNPREPAREDT0 TO
CAREFOR WOUNDED
Senator Chamberlain Crit
icises the War Department
for Inadequate Provision.

America is unprepared today to take
care Of the wounded soldiers who are
flooding back to this country from
France, Just as America was unpre-
pared to conduct the war a year ago."
Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the
military affairs committee, told the
Senate today.
Failure on the part of the War De-
partment to make adequate provision
for the care of the wounded and con-
valescent who are being shipped to
the United States caused the Oregon
Senator to level criticism at the de-
partment and to make suggestions for
the Improvement of conditions.
Conditions today, after the armis-
tice has been signed, are not much
different from those that existed be-
fore Congress convened in December.
1917" said Senator Chamberlain.
Congress is flooded with letters of
complaint from men Of practical af-
whose sons and husbands were on the
way to France or in camp here. The
complaint was that the industrial life
Of the country. which should have
been mobilized under the War Depart
1nent, was not doing it's duty to aid
in carrying on the war.
Holds Country Unprepared.
Complaints are coming in now, not
that the industrial life Of the country
is falling down, but now that the war
is won and our sons are coming home
armless. legless and eyeless, the coun-
try is unprepared to care for them.
THE Lord only knows how many
lives were sacrificed because of the
lack of preparation in this country,
even up to the time of the signing of
the armistice."
Senator Chamberlain declared that
he would not be deferred from his
duty as he saw 1t, though the role of
critic was never a pleasant one. He
spoke Immediately following a de-
fense Of the administration by Sena-
tor Shafroth Of Colorado, who re-
ferred to the critics of the past and
praised the record Of the War De-
partment.
Cites Recent Investigation.
Senator Chamberlain referred to the
investigation by the military affairs
committee into every branch of the
military establishment. and while no
formal report was made, except as to
the aircraft production. he said, yet
the Investigations of the committee
led to the Introduction of two bills,
one providing for minister of mu-
nitions and the second for a war cabi-
net.
o0p Top,,ary ~ tho oor,r,,p5ar 4,
chief of the Army and Navy disap-
proved of the minister of munitions
BILL" said Senator Chamberlain.
Members of the Senate recall the un-
pleasant controversy which arose at
the time. 1t got to be almost treason
for anybody to criticise any branch of
the government except the Congress
of the United States, and it has been
criticised by officials from the highest
to the lowest. 1, myself, passed under
the yoke, but il my efforts saved the
life of one young man in France, am
willing to resign my seat today"
Senator Chamberlain said that when
an administration bill was presented
which confessed that inefficiency ex-
listed in the War Department and
every department of the government
This was the Overman bill. He said
that it placed in the hands of the
Chief Executive power to change
everything in connection with the de-
partmentS.
Charges Inemciency Exists.
why grant this power if there was
no need?" said Senator Chamberlain
1T was true then as it is now that
there was inefficiency in the War De-
partment and other departments and
voted for the Presidents BILL
Senator Chamberlain quoted from
reports of Gen. Pershing of the as
sistance given the American Army in
the furnishing of artillery, airplanes
and tanks. The French had provided
2,676 airplanes and artillery in abund-
ance The first American airplanes
reached France in May and the first
American squadron fully equipped
under home production crossed the
German line August Z. with eighteen
airplanes. although as far back as
February it has been claimed that
thousands had been turned out.
Senator Chamberlain dwelt upon Gen.
Pershing's report that at the time of
the signing of the armistice there was
good prospect of being furnished with
airplanes and artillery from home.
Thus, he sarcastically observed, eight
cen months after entering the war the
Army abroad could look forward to
getting adequate supplies. He criti-
cised the War Department for expert
menting in trying to improve the
French 75-millimeter gun, recognized
as the best artillery on earth. having
finally to give up its efforts to improve
it and going into the manufacture OF
it in quantities.