Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-11
u. S. Has War Supplies
For 100000 Soldiers
BY Fred RE J. Haskin

equipment ana supplies enough 10 las,
1000, 900 men for year-this is what
| the War Department has on hand now,
| with prospects of an army Of one-halt
| million men left after the rapid demobiliza~
| ton of war forces is accomplished.
To dump this surplus stock, worth
several billions Of dollars, on the open
| market, would be TO upheave, even to
| paralyze industry. The tactical problem
of selling and rcabsorbing into industry
| this mountain load Of commodities with
out any approaching shock 10 the coun-
| trys labor and trade has been assigned
to the purchase and storage department
and is already being worked out.
1t is something Of n blow to the War
| DEPARTMENT that il has expended so
| much money and energy on a job that
must be undone; but it is consoled by the
| fact that if the war had continued every
| shoe string and frying pan would have
| been needed, and nobody knew when the
war was going TO end.
STOCK NOT hLL SURPLUS.
The surplus stock is, after all, not en-
| tirelv surplus. There is the future OF the
afore mentioned half million regulars To
| be provided for; the army Of occupation IS
| still eating beans and wearing out shoes;
and q great part of what Is left will be
| saved for the national guard and home
guard.
The department is disposing of its
| Ieft-overs by Il process Of elimination
officially termed the preferential market
system An inventory OF all goods held
in nuariernaster depots has been made,
and goods to be kept for the arny's use
are set aside. The soldiers are then gwen
chance at the supply stores, at ten
| per cent discount off the cost price. This
enables the enlisted man who has be-
come addicted TO army shoes to secure D
twelve dollar shoe for about seven. Also,
If any seasoned warrior prefers the army
cot to feather bed, this is his one chance
to get first-class article at less than cost.
After the army demands have been
SUPPLIED. preference of purchase for gov
ernment use is extended to all other gov
ernrnent departments, and after that the
stock il open to government agencies,
such as the various committees for relief
of war sufferers, the Knights OF Column
bus, and the Y. NJ G.. A. Already some
sales have been made 10 the Committee
for Relief in Belgium, which can use
cloth. shoes, and most parts Of the uni
form. eyeing and otherwise changing them
50 that their uniform character IS lost.
NAY SELL TO POLICE.
and other municipal institutions are also
included in the list Of eligibles for the
army goods hy direct purchase. Some
material is being bought back by the
manufacturers who sold - to the govern
,nent For instance, where dry goods
manufacturer has concentrated his out
put on the army at q low prlce, he may
wish to take back his unused goods IN
order to secure greater profit by sale TO
private; firms. and 80 that he can deliver
, goods ordered in quicker time.
After the preferred classes have been
gwen the right OF purchase, the remainder
OF the surplus stock is 70 be sold at pubic
auction and by sealed bids. Auctions,
the office of purchase and storage an
nounces. will be conducted on q cash-be-
fore-delivery basis, and positively no cred
it will be gwen. All proceeds Of sales 90
into the United States treasury. 50 lar,
the amount turned In is not great, as
Only wool, harness and horses and mules
are being sold at auction.
The horses and mules, of which there
are II 40 To be sold In this country are
offered az various camps and remount
depots. The harness and saddles offered
are new and are reported IN great de-
mand because Of the high quality OF the
army leather goods.
1t is not likely that there will be many
uniforms put up for sale 10 the public;
but according to the Office OF purchase and
storage there Is no reason why civilian
cannot wear q pair OF army boots, as they
are not 4 distinctive part OF the uniform
Oh the United States army Even an
army coat robbed Of IFS buttons and IN
sigma is not technically part Of the
uniform.
The enormous quantities OF food held
in storage by the " ar Department are to
be kept entirely for the army except small
amounts which may be sold 70 war rellet
organizations. As q twelye-lnch gun
could be OF no use 10 CIVILIAN except
possibly as a war souvenir on i front yard
decoration, and as the army rife Is not
suitable for hunting no guns will be sold
at public auction The Ut Department
expects to keep all guns except those
serapped and sold as junk. All material
which had been collected Tor the purpose
OF salvage and not reclaimed. Is 70 be sold
as junk, chiefly to Junk dealers.
SELL OVERSEAS SUPPLIES.
Supplies held overseas are being dis
posed Of by methods similar 10 those
employed in this country. 1t Is stated
that some parts OF uniforms have been
sold by the overseas department to the
Czeeho-SloNak and other armes IN need
OF clothing, and that other extra supplies
are being disposed OF to war refugees
through recognized relief organizations
In spite Of its vast surplus or supplies.
the army Is still buying certain kinds OF
food and few other items, which the
quartermaster department neglected 10
provide ON its usual gigantic scale.
The arn,y and navy are organized along
such different lines that the navy has no
need for a grand house cleaning in order
to return t. peace basis. In the first
place, the navy does not expect to follow
the arlnys example OF shortening its roll
t. one tenth war strength The navy's
500, 600 war strength will shrink to 350,
600 and stop. according 10 present plans
The bulk of navy supplies now on hand
can be kept indefinitely for these 100000
men, so that the usual periodical navy
sales OF mserviceable goods will be the
only saies staged by the Navy Depart
ment
Heretofore nearly all army goods dis
posed Of by this and either governments