Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-04

make charges that would blacken the
name of soldier who cannot come IN
to be heard" Il
Asked about grafters who followed
the American army to France, MI.
Dawes said:
yes, they. were there, some OF the
most despicable characters on earth,
trying to help the army by selling 1t
things it needed at exorbitant figures.
There was one man we caught and
deported. What's his name? Oh.
what's the use. I am not q muck RAJ
ker. He was traitor and wish we
could have shot him.
General Dawes praised the men in
the army, saying it was the fashion
to condemn them.
There were many women at the
hearing. but the general swore con-
stantly.
Considering everything" he de-
clared, 1.-THE record of accomplishment
of the war department in getting rea-
dy for war was a greater accomplish
ment than that Of France or Great
Britain In the same period Of time. /
don't believe you can pick flaws there
and / am not speaking rs a Demo-
lcrat.
Long after this committee Is dead
and gone the accomplishments of the
American army will stand as an ever
lasting blaze of glory. You have tried
| to make a mountain out Of mole hill
but thank God, the army was Amer
iican, not Republican nor Democratic.
Declaring authority and responsible
lity in the army should be centralized
in peace times as well as during W u,
General Dawes said the American
army was "deteriorating again into
bureaucracy which is bound to. prove
, inefficient"
you members Of Congress who LIS
ten to every whipper- swapping bureau
chief who comes running to you with
a tale Of woe are largely responsible,
he shouted.
He pleaded that the army and its
officers be protected from muck ra-
kers who pick fyspecks."
Look at the pinhead politicians
who are raising Hell about promo
tons for men who earned them in
France" he exclaimed. They're do
ing it for petty reasons. It's dirty
shame. I wasn't in the regular army,
but can be fair"
!, He said the next war, would break
out over night and that the army and
navy probably would get into a row as
to which was to boss the affair
| He declared the United States avia-
ton program had been terrible fail
ure," largely because of over confidence
. and inexperience.
Even if. we didn't have the planes,
we had the aviators-the best in the
world" he added. He declared the gov
eminent was purchasing it's supplies "in
the same wasteful and disgraceful man.
ner" as the army did when the United
States entered the war The President
has authority, he continued, to create
centralized business control Heavy
taxation and desire for economy had
put the public in a frame of mind fav-
orable to such change, he said, add
ing that 1t might be inaugurated dur
ing the next administration if pin
heads who would be affected were not
permitted ito stab it in the back"
General Dawes said the question of
distinguished service medals was the
greatest mistake of the war and it
played He'll with the service"
You opened n Pandora's box and
satisfied nobody he said. TT was
new toy and the man wearing one on
his chest wanted to lord it over some
poor devil who deserved but who was
not eligible because Congress limited
the award to men in high positions of
responsibility.
General Dawes said he didn't believe
damned word of charges" that Gen
eral Pershing permitted unnecessary
loss OF life after the armistice de-
nounced the war departments regula-
tons for silver service stripes for men
who did not get overseas and then took
up promotions.
Now as it seems the popular thing
to criticize the war department I'll
criticize it too,'' he said There was a
rotten system that permitted promo
tons higher up and which would not
permit US to promote a private or a
sergeant who had shaved in the mud
because the department wanted to SAVE
little salary. General Pershing waht-
ed to promote them but the chief of
staff or the department or somebody in
authority refused. The result was that
thousands of deservingSnen came home
WITH broken hearts. That ruling was
largely responsible for the unpopularity
of the army brought about by a dis
graceful attempt to cheese pairing when
millions and millions were wasted" ;,
When the hearing concluded General
Dawes turned to Chairman Jones and
said: Il am able to take all the criti-
cism anybody wants to throw my way
but don't ever call me general Tn ont