Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-02-09
DAWES DEFENDS
A. E.F. BUSINESS
General Hits the Critics of Great
American Army.
LAUOS CONDUCT OF THE WAR
House Committee tnVestis eating over
seas Expenditures Runs Into a
Hornets Nest When Chicago
Banker Is Called to Stand.

Washington. Feb. 3.-Charles g.
Dawes. Chicago banker. declared here
that he wa mot going into public Of
ice"
His statement was taken a. an an
n0uncement that he viii not enter the
cabinet ~ Puesidcnr-elect Harding. He
has been the most prominently men
toned man Tor secretary Of the treas
ury. or for governor 81 the federal re-
serve board IN case he did not 80 into
the cabinet.
General Dawes. who was "a briga-
der general during the war in the bu-
reau ~ supply procurement. created
a sensation By his testimony before
a committee of the house that T. inves-
ugaung the conduct OF the war
Relating his own observations and
experiences in France. General Dawes
punctured y lot II campaign argu-
ments. Stories Of misrepresentation
were "damuablc." De declared. lie
struck back at critics. who, he said,
had attempted 20 belittle the achieve
ment ~ the American army I'm France.
Uses Real Army Talk.
Called as q witness before the house
war investigating committee. Gener-
al Dawes strobe mp and down the
door. Swearing ike n trooper. with
out apology. ice told how General Per-
shlngs plan for co-ordinatiug the arm
ies and supplies saved the day against
Germany. Ills recital Of achievements
was dramatic az times.
Declaring the army Aas clean ln all
of SIS purchases aud business meth
obs, General Dawes said there was
some comfort. even at this late day.
Ia finding now desire 20 ser down
an honorable record ~ is work
Every precaution was made 60 pre-
vent payment 81 cxtoriuonate prices
Tor supplies Ia France be- said. 'Ey-
cry purchaser had % have my -. X.
and that Of the French government.
OF course. there wcge thieves hanging
arOur d-adventurers who follow every
calamlty-some az them Americans.
who wanted tn reap "A profit out Of
every deed 81 a soldier.
There were gTafters who went 70
Frenchmen with the supplies We need
ed and said they could demand and
obtain exorbitant prices. They came
openly % our men and offered brihes.
And there We were needing their
goods which We had 10 take knowing
there would be an assumption in some
quarters that because we took them
We were brlbed. II was damnable." he
declared.
Calls Protests Absurd.
Then there was the protest from
this country-frem shoe manufacture
ers ior insaucc-because we bought
shoes On England instead OF the Unit
ed States. II We had not. the soldiers
would have been barefooted."
General Dawes declared the liaul-
dalton ~ American property in France
was ''the best in the history Of the
world"
The British tried TO drive too hard
bargain and their property 4 rot
ting he said I'VE settled every
thing on the spot. realizing about $780,
100000. and cleaned the record. Yet
congress today still has pending be-
fore it lot II claims from Revolu-
tiOnary days"
General Dawes denied that there
had been any willful destruction Of
property.
IL ans 81 our property was de-
stroyed." 10 said. the chances are ten
90 one that Il wasn't worth having.
Captured ammunition was liability.
We had 60 bury the stuff. and To save
expense we gave IL 20 the BeIgians."
Says His Men Were Honest.
General Dawes declared that In an
his business experience he had never
seen any set Of men more devoted 10
duty or more money honest than those
recruited IN war time FOR the service
which he commanded as a brlgadler
general
tie said the system OF separate
branches 81 service demanding every
thing hang expense. which prevailed
previous 20 consolidation Of supply
branches. would have brought ruin.
"You have got the same system IN
effect here in this government" he
continued. "and unless the incoming
President puts the fear OF God in the
hearts OF his cabinet. unless he puts
an * on the wall az the cabinet room
10 sion this independent fighting for