Evening star., 1918-01-24

out against the millions of Germany.
He denounced the cry that investfga-
Hun knowledge of q. 5.
Germany knows more about America
today than the men connected with the
departments" he declared He said that
the people. then we could rely upon
the people to rally to the support of the
President and the prosecution of the
war"
Great Britain, he said. did not waste
time in manufa curing guns. He said
we could have adopted the same kind
Of rife as used by England, as our
plants in this country were equipped
for manufacturing them.
But while the house burns. America
determines through the ordnance de-
partment what instrumentalities are to
be adopted
He said he thought the rifle as final
ly adopted was an improvement over
the British gun. but declared it took
days and months to perfect"
After the engineers of various gun
making plants had been consulted, a
| gun finally was agreed upon for the
American Army, but the ordnance bu-
lreau through a very distinguished of
! fcer" ordered that the number Of parts
be increased. which added to the delay.
AueE1Cd SQOuld Know.
Why shouldn't America know these
things" the senator demanded. People
in the west, he said. believed America
has all 1t needs.
If they only knew the actual condf-
tions," he continued they would give
their lives, their all. to protect America
Casual reading OF the Secretary of
that we had everything. But when we
get the testimony of the men who are
obtained"
Citing the testimony of an Army off,
Ger from Camp Bowie. Tex. who declared
| there was not a single trench mortar
| there and that other necessary equipment
was lacking, Senator Chamberlain said
! That is true Of every camp in the
United States. II it hadn't been for the
civilian people who have come here and
given their time and service we wouldn't
have been anywhere"
Raps secretary's Report.
Turning to the quarterrnaster gener-
aFs. department, Senator Chamberlain
said that from Secretary Bakers gem
eral statement the country would believe
that Everything was lovely and the
goose hung high, so far as clothing is
concerned"
But when You talk to the men that
command these boys you find it isn't
there, he continued. ''on per capita
basis 1T is there. but not when it comes
to effective distribution. They simply
haven't got the clothing.
Il realize the difficulties of the quar-
termaster general. He has done the
best he could under the present sys-
tenn. The President inherited that sys-
tenn and has done the best he could
The President isn't responsible for the
system. But the fact remains that we
haven't the clothing"
To Use secretary's Own Testimony.
Senator Chamberlain said he proposed
to show by Secretary Bakers own tes-
timony that the Secretary did not know
Of actual clothing conditions.
That's why I say" he continued,
that the President didn't know the
ten his facts from the Secretary, who
in turn got them from somebody else.
and somebody must have lied. And
that's why I say the President has not
been given the truth"
Senator Chamberlain passed around
Photographic of wooden machine guns.
Frihes and heavy ordnance used at can
comments. He asked senator's to study
them carefully.
Scorns Use Of Wooden Cannon.
They are of some use." he explained.
In training men. But II 1 had bow
framing Tor the battlefield I wouldn't
want him to have his training with
nothing else than a wooden cannon"
England and France. he said. saw the
mistake Of having army men control
the ordnance department
,h.as You t,,inu must go to men who have done
that Congress should face this without
1ear OF any man. but with due regard
for the DISTINGUISHED conamander-in-chief.
os Ine CO Gommander at Camp Sherman.
1000 oyercoats there. He referred that
statement to Secretary Baker,
In his usual placid way he said That's
Senate Reads Letter.
Senator Chamberlain. then read from
later report showed 1000 oyercoa ts
were needed at Camp Sherman. but
that they were in course of shipment"
Thats the way ever since the war
started' in course but not getting
Then placing IN the record a chart
submitted to the military COMMITTEES by
secretary Baker showing shortages ~
material m at all comps verying from to
s9 per cent: Senator Chamberlain de-
clared he wished that condition to he
come known to the people.
! want IT SHOWN whether I distorted
the truth when said the military svs-
tenn had broken down." he said.
Department Causes Deaths.
Reading from the table to show short
ages Of overcoats running as high as
70 per cent. the senator reminded +he
Senate the troops were "in the midst of
winter" '"s. VI
Il am going to show that these hun-
dreds and thousands of men diving in
the cantonments are due to the War De-
partment. he declared
This information comes right from fha
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 situa-
ton that confronts me and involves INV
try. ~o~1'
II am going to call attention to the
statement OF Surgeon General Goreas that
nearly an epidemics could have been pre-
vented II the War Department had been
-- sa.:K
Referred to Warnings.
Senator Chamberlain referred to the
warnings given by Maj Gen. GrebIe
commander at Camp Bowie. Tex. Iast
summer against overcrowding of men in
tents. A -
Men at Camn Rowia tho so,,+. =,