El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-15

operation OF LAE AoLEc=s
Reviews Situation In Mexico.
Secretary Baker opens his report
with O. review Of the situation IN
Mexico which led 10 the TlthdrlWa al
Of Gen. Pershing's column, ana pay S
a high compliment to the self re-
straint and consideration Of the
American officers and soll-ers, Dotn
j on the border and in Mexico.
\ Taking I'D the war with Germany,
\ secretary Baker describes a fine spirit
I Of service shown by the American
\ people without distinction Of age
Raisin- army OF 100000.
. lIr. Baker then turns 10 the method
/ by which The army was placed on a
I war footing he shows that under
I its full authorized strength the reg
I ular army includes $4,000 officers
and 100000 men and the war strength
I contemplated by the national defence
act for the national guard was 10
coo officers and $4,000 men W ltn
the 100000 additional troops OF the
( scIec-ive draft army added, these
figures furnish an army Of 100000
men upon which all original war e5-
[ Inmates were based
Expansion Of Army.
/ The secretary describes the draft
. ing OF the national guard. which ne
says responded with zeal and enthu-
siasm" 20 the call He describes also
( the expansion Of the regular army and
reviews the reasons which prompted
/ the government to 90 70 selectlve
I consumption for the remainder OF its
forces.
3 BuIIdi1E OF CantOnmentE.
/ The report then touches briefly
upon the officers training camps. the
/ construction Of environments. with
y problems encountered and solved
Z through the cooperation OF the civil
I ian agencies created By the council
inf n
I some detail with various phases OF
I the cantonmeut question 70 show the
2 enormous size Of che task The
I building Of national guard division
i camps Is similarly cited and Mr. Ba-
z l1sr discusses at some length the work
Of the training camps activities com
( mission, organized 70 create whole
: come surroundings for the troops.
I Adequate Engineer School Needed.
The aviation program is touched
upon briefly and no additional inIor-
nation is given. The engineer depart
ment and the part it played in rush
Z ing technical aid 20 the allies is out
I lined and secretary Baker renews
I his recommendation for a more ade-
I quate engineer school with sugges-
ton that congress plan Tor both en-
Eiueer and ordnance education in a
broad and generous spirit IN order 20
I create scientific agencies OF value IN
peace or war and where graduates OF
west Point would specialize The
suggestion is presented for future
action and no detailed plan is un-
folded.
Great Supplies called FOR.
Taking up the Quartermaster prob
lens with the outbreak OF the war.
Mr.. Baker cites a few items Of what
it was found necessary TO supply
They include
twenty million pairs Of shoes. H.
hHnrrraH 600 900
flannel shifting. 5O.0O0,0O0 yards OF
1cntiug. The work is being done
through the cooperation of civilian
agencies, the secretry said, and added
The problems Of supply are not
vet solved. but they are in the course
Of solution. Sound beginnings have
been made, and as the military effort
Of the country grows the arrange
ments perfected and organizations
created VIII expand to meet it."