Even as it was, there were not enough officers for the army that was in the field. For training the new men, the Nation had to call on every aged officer in the land, on every otherwise qualified man who was physically unfit for active service, and on foreigners from foreign armies. _A Land Lacking in War Efficiency_ This army in formation was placed in perfect surroundings. Its health, its sanitation and its water-supply were excellent. It was fed on the best that money could buy. In everything that did not depend on military efficiency, its maintenance was beyond criticism. Uniforms were being made for it in record time. Mills were producing blankets at a speed never before reached. Wherever Americans could help by the efficient execution of duties that they understood, the result was magnificent. But in everything that demanded the efficiency of men trained to war, the land was entirely lacking. Everything had to be improvised. There were only a few men who knew anything about pitching tents, camp drainage, and the management of large bodies of men. There were practically no men outside of the army who were capable of managing the work of supplying the great camps with what they needed. As in the Spanish-American War, the utter inadequacy of the Quartermaster’s Department under its civilian appointees had become a scandal within a few weeks, and threatened already to demoralize the entire volunteer body. Perishable provisions were left in freight cars till they rotted. Requisitions for vitally needed supplies were not made until it was too late. Requisitions for one and the same thing were sent out by half a dozen different officials, leading to inextricable confusion. There was not an hour in the day when quartermaster’s transports did not block roads where they had no business to be, and in situations that in war would have made disaster for a hurrying army.[79] “Six months to train that mob!” said a retired General, reporting to the President. “Well, Mr. President, let’s hope so. I should say nine months, and not even then unless you can give ’em more officers to teach ’em.” _The News the Spy Brought_ In Connecticut a spy was reporting to the staff. He was a Captain of Artillery, and he had spent seventy-two hours behind the enemy’s lines. “They have completed their disembarkation and organization,” he said. “There are at least 150,000 men, as was calculated. They are magnificently organized, with reserves of everything. They have an enormous supply of artillery--at least ten guns to every thousand infantry and cavalry. Their machine gun companies also are extraordinarily large.”[80] “And what is their disposition?” “They were still moving men around to our front,” answered the spy. “I should say, General, that you now have, or will have before the end of the day, approximately one hundred thousand men facing you.” “And the others?”