New-York tribune., 1919-07-12
Chief of Staff Tells Com.
mittee Error in Figures
Delayed Action in De-
claring M e a t Surplus
Blames the Quartermaster
Secretary Assumes Respon.
sibility for Camp Ben
ming $1,0OO,OOO Loss
Neao York Tribune
WQShtuOt0n Purenu

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 11.-To-day's
chapter of the investigation of the War
Department brought admissions and
revelations as follows:
General Peyton c. March, chief of
staff, admitted that mistake in fig
ures had caused delay of about two
months in declaring a surplus of
army meats.
Secretary Baker admitted that he
had made mistake in going ahead
with Camp Benning, George, after
the Senate Military Affairs Commit
tee had expressed it's opposition by
tie vote. He also admitted that he
had made a mistake in locating Camp
Bragg at Charlotte, N. c., instead of
Fayetteville.
Testimony was given to the camps
subcommittee indicating that the
Camp Benning land had cost at least
S1,O00,000 more than the real estate
section Of the War Department would
have paid.
Makes Long Explanation
General March was called before the
quartermaster subcommittee to ex-
plain why it had taken the general
staff from November II to some time
IN May to declare a surplus of meats.
After much parrying General March
SAID that meat surplus had been de-
clared in March, but, owing to a mix
up in figures in the quartermaster's RS
department it had to be recalled and
was not again issued until May.
"Who is responsible for this delay %
asked Chairman Reavis.
The responsibility rests entirely
with the quartermaster's department, /"
was the answer.
Mr.. Reavis pointed out that during
all the delay in declaring a surplus on
this side the A. E. F. was constantly
selling it's surplus abroad, though it
was clear after November 80 that there
was tremendous surplus here.
General March denied that it was
the policy to sell abroad instead of at
home. He presented the latest food
surplus figures as follows:
Corned beef, 4,000,0OO; bacon, S23,-
canned roast beef, $2O,5OOOOO; fresh
frozen meats and poultry. s2O,O0O,O0O;
canned vegetables, S23,000,000.
Baker Admits Mistakes
Before the Camps Sub Committee
Secretary Baker testified concerning
camps and cantonments. In general
ue odiu VldC HO uIuue lllIucuceS nau
determined locations. The South was
favored for climatic reasons.
The Secretary assumed personal re-
sponsibiity for the "cost plus" form
of building contract. In admitting his
mistakes at Camp Bennng he said the
error was not as to the size or loca-
tion of the establishment, but was sim
ply in not deferring to the Senate
subcommittee.
Testimony by officers of the con-
struction division of the quartermas-
ter's department and by representa-
tives of the real estate section showed
that real estate purchasing for Camp
Benning, near Columbus, Ga, had been
transferred from the real estate sec
tion to the construction division of
the quartermaster's department on
March Id, and George L. Summers,
who was one of the real estate sec
TONS purchasing agents for Camp
Benning, testified that whereas he
would have completed the purchase of
the original 1T 900 acres for $2,25O, 900.
the construction division paid about
$3,250,000 for $4,000 acres.