Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27

General granted, although constant eff
fort had been made to secure them
since the 26th of the preceding May.
The statement that the War Depart
ment hesitated to make decision on
questions involving large requirements
does not seem to apply to the Quarter
master Corps, as shown by the fact that
with the approval of the Secretary on
February S, 1917, advertisements were
requested for supplies for 100000 men
for the next fiscal year; that on March
5, when the army appropriation for the
next fiscal year had failed to pass, the
Secretary authorized the quartermaster
general although there was no funds
available, to Immediately contract Tor
the supplies necessary for the army for
the next fiscal year, !. e., for an army
of $50. 900 men. On March 26 action
was taken to make contracts for CLOTH
ing and equipment for 100000 men;
and on April 3. 1917, on authority OF
the Secretary of War, contracts were
entered into for an additional 5O0,O0O
men. The total amount involved III
these contracts for clothing and equip
age items alone was over $76O,O00OO
and on September Is, 1917, authority
was granted by the Secretary OF war
to enter into contracts with the mills
which would keep them running up to
capacity until December 81, 1918.
Compliance Always Strict.
AS far as the Quartermaster Depart
ment was concerned there was always
a strict compliance with requests con-
tanned in Gen. Pershing's cablegrams,
and the view was taken and repeatedly
expressed that when troops were
shipped out of the country they SHOULD
be provided with everything that was
necessary. and that if supplies were not
IN sufficient quantity, then either one
or two things should be done-frSt, de-
fer making further shipments ABROAD
or. second, defer calling the draft.
In connection with the statement
that there was great confusion at
home due to lack of efficient supervision
in the shipment of stores by trans
ports" and the reference TO following
obsolete supply tab.es-it should DE
noted that only upon the urgent insist
ence of the quartermaster general was
the port of embarkation established at
New York and an officer assigned 10
this command to handle the LOADING
and dispatching of the first convoy.
This was done on June g. 1917.
Before the sailing Of the convoy WIN
the End Division, general ORDER NO
102, w. D., July 80, 1917, was puonsneu,
This order created in the ONCE OF the
chief of stoff for the period of the war
a section to take charge OF emoarKa-
ton of troops and supplies for trans
atlantic transportation. The functions
of this section were to coordinate all
shipments of munitions and supplies OF
every kind and all troop movements
whose ultimate destination was Europe
and have direct supervision OF all move
ments of supplies from points OF origin
to ports of embarkation.
The effect of this order was to take
from the Quartermaster Corps all con-
troll of such matters, condition winch
evidently was not appreciated IN france,
as was shown by frequent cablegramS
asking that the quartermaSter gen.
erals attention be called to the I'M
proper loading of ships, or the failure
to forward supplies. AS these matters
were entirely removed from the quar-
termaster generals control, IrequenC
REQUESTS were made that the authorities
in France be so informed, in order that
the Ouartermaster Corps should not De
blamed for matters over which 1t then
mad no control or supervision.
Lack of Fairness Manifest.
The repetition of these complaints IN
dicated that the requests OF the quar-.
with. The lack of fairness IN permit
ting the Quartermaster Corps to be
blamed for matters. the control and SUI
pervision of which had been taken from
it and assumed by others, Is manl1eSt.
The members of the French High
Commission stated there would be DIM
Guilty In unloading the first convoy at
ports in France, because the only steve
doring labor available there was pro.
yided by the employment of women AND
children, and few German prisoners;
steyedores, made ready in five days,
and shipped aboard the first convoy for
France. This organization was known
as the Transport Workers Battalion"
Gen. Pershing saw these men and their
work on landing and cabled: Send
Immediately eight hundred 5000 more
of these stevedoreS, but as they look
like and behave as soldiers, therefore
make them such" 1t was necessary to
secure these men by voluntary enlist
ment; in all three regiments were sent
to France.
Gen. Pershings estimate for clothing.
which was received in the early part OF
September, was submitted TO the chle1
of staff for instructions. simply inviting
attention to the fact that the estimate
called for the shipment monthly OF the
quantities given in paragraph 2752 OF
the Quartermaster Corps. manual, which
provided a four months allowance for
approximately $4,000 men. This ship
ment was to be made monthly for each
%. 900 men which were sent to France.
The purpose in submitting this re-
uuisition to the chief of staff was to
inform HIM that the estimates upon
which all calculations had been made
would have to be very materially modi-
fed and his reply was that the Secre-
tary of War approves the request, and
directs that shipment be made in &C
cordance Herewith "as soon as can be
done without depriving troops in this
country Of the necessary clothing.
Until that time six months reserve Of
clothing will be shipped with each ex-
petition as in the past" The chief of
staff also instructed the Quartermaster
Cnrns 10 arrange to procure the addi-