El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-08
DISPOSES
Of ITS SURPLUS
War Departmen emit Sells
Goods Not Needed For
Forces at Peace Strength.

! By FREDERIC J. HAsNIN-
! Washington. D. c. Jan s.-Uni-
forms, equipment and supplies. enough
to last 100000 men for a year-this
is what the war department has on
hand now, with prospects Of an army
Of one-half million men left after the
rapid rehabilitation 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 prob
lem Of selling and reabsorbing into
Z industry this mountain load OF com
modities without any approaching
7 shock 10 the country's labor and trade
has been assigned TO the purchase ana
/ storage department and is already be-
/ ing worked out
The surplus stock is. after all, not
entirely surplus. There is the future
of the afore mentioned half million
Z Regulars to be provided for the army
/ OF occupation is still eating beans and
wearing out shoes; and great part OF
what is left will be saved for the na-
tional guard and home guard
The department IS disQOsing OF It's
| leftovers by a process of elimination
Officially termed the preferential
market system An inventory OF all
goods held in quartermaster depots
has been made, and goods 10 be kept
for the army.s use are set aside Inc
soldiers are then given chance at the
supply stores, at a ten percent dis
count off the cost price This enables
the enlisted man. who has become ad-
dicted TO army shoes, TO secure Slz
shoe for about s.. Also, il any sea
D - e. ~ - -
a feather bed. this is his one chance to
get a first class article at less than
Belgium Gets Supplies.
After the army demands have been
supplied, preference Of purchase for
government use is extended to all
other government departments. and
after that the stock is open to govern
ment agencies. such as the various
committees for relief Of war sufferers,
the Knights OF Columbus and the Y
" c. A. Already some sales have been
made TO the committee for relief in
Belgium, which can use CLOTH shoes,
and most parts Of the Uniform, dyeing
and otherwise changing them so that
their uniform character Is lost
Fire and police departments, pris-
ons and other municipal institutions
are also included in the list OF eligi-
bles for the army goods by direct
purchase. Some material Is being
bought back by the manufacturers
who sold IL to the government For
instance, where a dry goods manu-
facturer has concentrated his output
on the army at a low price. he may
wish 70 take back his unused goods
in order to secure greater profit By
sale to private firms, and 50 that he
can deliver goods ordered in quicker
time.
Auction Last Method.
After the mrnfarrnd classes haTn
been given the right OF purchase. the
remainder OF the surplus stock Is to
be sold at public auction and by sealed
bids Auctions. the office Of purchase
and storage announces, viii be con-
Quoted on a CASH before-de liverv ba-
sis and positively no credit will be
given All proceeds Of sales 90 into
the United States treasury. So FAR,
the amount turned in is not great, as
only wool harness and horses and
mules are being sold at auction.
Saddles IN Demand.
The horses and mules, 81 which
there are 4s.455 20 be sold IN this coun-
try are Offered At various camps and
remouut depots- The harness and sad
dies Offered are new and are reported
in great demand because OF the high
quality OF the army leather goods.
II is not likely that there viii be
many uniforms put up Tor sale 20 the
public; but according 20 the office Of
purchase and storage. there IS no rea-
son why a civilian cannot wear a pair
OF army boots. 50 they are not a dis
tinctive part OF the Uniform Of the
United States army. Even an army
coat robbed % its buttons and insig-
MIA IS not technically a part OF the
Uniform
Food to BE Kept.
The enormous quantities OF food
held in storage by the war department
are TO be kept entirely for the army.
except small amounts which may be
sold TO war relief organizations. AS
a twelve inch gun could be Of no use
to a civilian, except possibly as a war
souvenir or front yard decoration.
and as the army rifle Is not suitable
for hunting, no guns viii be sold at
public auction The war department
expects 70 keep all guns. except those
scrapped and sold as junk. All ma
terial With had been collected for the
purpose Of salvage and not reclaimed.
Is TO be sold as junk. chiefly 70 junk
dealers.
Overseas Sales.
Supplies held overseas are being dis
posed OF by methods similar TO those
, employed in this country II Is stated
that some parts Of uniforms have been
sold by the overseas department 20 the
Czecho-Slovak and other armies in
need OF clothing. and that other extra
supplies are being disposed OF to war
refugees through recognized relief
organizations
Navy Keeps Stores.
The army and navy are now organ
lied along such different lines that
the navy has no need for a grand
house cleaning in order 20 return to a
peace basis In the first place. the
navy does not expect 70 follow the
army's example OF shortening its toll
to one-teuth war strength The navy's
100000 war strength will shrink to
$4,000 and stop. according 70 present
plans. The bulk Of navy supplies now
on hand can be kept indefinitely for
these $4,000 men. so that the usual
periodical navy scale Of unservicea-
bic goods viii be the only sales staged
by the navy department.