The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-26
Secret Testimony Before Senate
War Inquiry Published.
Quartermaster Knew Clothing
Shortage Would Cost Losses.
URGED HASTY MOBILIZATION
iPershing's Officers Alarmed at
Ordnance Dept Action.
Gloyd George AsEed That Wood
Head Z. s. Forces.

Washington, Jan. 26.-Some of the
secret testimony given in the senate
military committee war inquiry has
been made public when the commit
tee released the printed record. Rep
resentative Mccormick of Illinois, who
recently visited the allied countries,
is shown to have told the senators
that afiied opinion developed some
apprehension" over American aid and
that officials of both the British and
French government in October cabled
TO Colonel House, urging him to come
over for the purpose of securing bet
ter CO. ordination"
Premier Lloyd George, according to
Representative McCormick's statement,
wanted Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood as
Americas chief military representa-
tive, and officers of the American ex-
peditioE in France urged supplantlng
General Crozier, chief of ordnance,
arld6 Quartermaster General Sharpe
Between the time when L first went
to England" Representative McCor-
mick's confidential statement SAID
'and when / returned from Italy
there was a perceptible change When
/ landed they hurrahed for America,
the wonder worker of. the world, but
when 1 got back there was some ap-
prehension. They would say, we
wonder if there is lack of co-ordina-
ton in Washington We wonder if
you have all the big men you might
bring together in your government!
Lloyd George" said Mr.. McCor-
mick was very anxious to know
what had happened to Leonard Wood,
where he had had been buried and
why he was not in Washington or
Paris He wanted him on the allied
war council as our representative He
was very insistent on that point"
Pershing's Officers Alarmed.
Regarding opinion of officers in
General Pershing's staff regarding
General Crozier and Sharpe, Repre-
sentative Mccormick said:
81 would rather not mention any
names, but the most important Ameri-
can officers said:
IF Sharpe and Crozier do not go
we do not know what may happen.
When General Biddle was recently ap-
pointed assistant chief of staff
American officers were all broken up
about it,"
Representative Mccormick asserted
positively that France could supply
the ordnance needed for the American
forces. The French chief of staff told
him the German line-could be broken
with enough artillery The Germans,
he said cannot break the allies lines
if the French morale holds.
Quarterpaster General Shapes
confidential statement included ap-
proval of plans to call into service
several hundred thousand more' men
than had been originally planned and
also for fastening transporta ton of
an American force abroad, altho he
knew and notified Secretary Baker
that clothing shortage would result
II think it is to our ,advanta -
General Sharpe said, ito put as many
men in the field as we can possibly
get there, even if they have to suffer
somewhat. The greater the number,
the greater the effect will be on the
enemy."
When Senator Chamberlain said the
equipment shortage resulting was
costing lives, General Sharpe replied
mo one regrets that more seriously
than L do. I think, however, that the
effect upon the Germans will be worth
it. even tho a few lives are sacrificed
in the cause"
ION April 16, last, memorandum
from General Sharpe to Secretary
Baker stated that because of a deci-
sion to call out an extra 100000 men
after July1, ut will not be practica BILE
to properly clothe and equip this or
Sny other number of men more than
was provided for in the original Dlan. -