The Washington herald., 1916-04-14
By E. b. JOHNS.

Whatever bIunders there have been
in handling the Mexican situation
should not be charged to Secretary of
War Baker. No commander ever had
better support from a Secretary of
War than is being given Gen. Funston
by Mr.. Baker. In handling the Mexi-
can situation Secretary Baker has
acted in a manner to inspire conf
dence in the members of the general
star and the officers on duty in the
War Department.
The advance notices that had been
given Mr.. Baker by the daily press
filled the minds of the members of the
general stan and officers who are
identified with the administration of
the affairs of the army with misgiv-
ings. BY some papers he was classed
as a politician, while others charge
him with being a pacifist. Up to this
time. in the opinion of the members
of the general stan Secretary Baker
has shown himself to be an able
executive and just the man to handle
the army at this critical time.
The army has not been embarrassed
by any acts of the new Secretary of
War. It is the limitation which is
placed upon the activities of the army
on the border and in Mexico by the
State Department which is trying the
souls of Gen. Funston and the COM
manders of the troops. This policy,
which gave the army less authority
over the Mexfcans at the border than
the police force, was inaugurated by
former Secretary of State Bryan.
Unfortunately there has been no
change in the policy of the State De
partment in dealing with Mexico.
Secretary Baker, when the punitive
expedition was launched into Mexico.
gave Gen. Funston assurance that he
would have a free hand as far as the
authority of the war Department is
concerned. Mr.. Baker has adhered to
this policy in every detail
Whenever Gen. Funston called for
troops or supplies Secretary Baker sent
them forward without questioning Gen.
Funston's judgment. Gen. Funston
asked for motor trucks and the Secre-
tary ordered them from the quarter
masters depots by wire. The same pol
icy was pursued in ordering horses and
all other supplies for the Mexican eX-
pedition. The fact that all of the troops
are not now in Mexico or on the border
Is due to the opinion of Gen. Funston
that they were not needed to carry out
the policy of the State Department and
not to any decision Of the Secretary of
War.
The steamers Ancon and Cristobal, now
in the service of the Isthmian Canal
Commission, are to be transferred to the
Secretary Of War for use as army trans
ports under the provision of the army
appropriation bill now pending in the
House Committee. Under the same pro-
vision of the bill the sale of army trans
ports Meade and Crook is authorized.
By the provision OF the appropriation
bill authorizing the construction Of the
Ancon and Cristobal for the Panama Ca
nal Commission, they were to be turned
over to the Navy Department when they
were no longer required by the Panama
Commission. Since that time the navy
has adopted a policy by which nearly all
of the new battleships and most of the
other type of war vessels will use liquid
fuel and as a consequence the Panama
transports are not suitable for the naval
service. What the navy needs more than
anything else is oil-carrying transports.
/ The army on the other hand is sadly In
need of larger and faster transports.
The Meade and the Crook are no longer
suited to the requirements of the army
while the Ancon and Cristobal will be
quite an addition to the transport serv-
ice Of the array.
Post Exchange Extension.
1t has been decided by the War De-
partment that 1t is proper. in view OF
the unusual conditions existing at Fort
Bayard. N. Mex. that the post exchange