The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-15

ciples OF liberty upon which democratic
institutions arc based, and yet be so re-
strained as in no event to foster the
growth Of mere militarist ambitions OF
to excite the apprehension Of nations
with whom it is our first desire to live
in harmonious and just accord.
As to the e1pedltionary force In
France, Secretary Baker says 1t would
Be unwise to disclose details. and there
fore contents himself with telling or
thu sending Of General Pershing. fol-
lowed by n full division OF regular
troops and q contingent Of marines, rs
the first units. He describes also the
organization Of tho Rainbow National
Guard division (the Forty-second). add
ing:
The purpose Of this organization was
to distribute the honor OF early partic!-
patton in the war over wide area ano
thus TO satisfy In some part the eager
ness 10 these state forces to be permit
ted to serve In Europe.
High tribute is paid to tho splendid
cooperation Of the navy. by means OF
which these eXpeditionary forces have
been safely transported and have been
enabled to traverse without loss the
,o-called danger zone Infested by TN
Ste2ltny anu oeSlf dSN'fC SAS'
Of the enemy.
1t became necessary. Mr.. Baker says.
to build up an elaborate transport sys-
tenn for the expeditionary force with
great terminal facilities. both in this
country and in France, and tn gather
large surplus Of supplies on the other
sido as safeguard.
This placed an added burden upon
the supply divisions Of the department.
he saws, and explains in part some OF
the shortages. notably those OF clothing
which have temporarily embarrassed
mobilization OF troops at home, embar-
rasscdmcnts now happily passed"
The arrangements made have. resulted.
MI Baker continues. in the transport
ing OF an army to France fully equipped,
with adequate reserves Of equipment End
subsistence. and with these large guam
titles OF transportation appliance mo-
tor vehicles, railroad construction sup
plies and animals all Of which arc neo
essary for the maintenance or effective
operations OF the force.
Secretary Baker opens his report with
q review Of the situation In Mexico.
which led up TO the withdrawal OF Cen
eral PershinGs column. and pays nigh
compliment to the self restraint and COM
ssNnation of the American Officers und
Sold.ers. both on the border and in Mex
leo.
Takine up the war with Germany.
Secretary Baker describes a fine spirit
Of service shown by the American people
without distinction Of age. sex or oc'
curation."
Those who believed" he adds. that
the obvious and daily exhibition Of pow
or which takes place in an autocracy Is
necessary for national strength, dlscoV-
cred that a finer and frecr. and greater
national strength subslsts In FREQ peo-
pIe, and that the silent processes OF
democracy, with their normal accent on
the freedom Of individuals, nevertheless
afford springs Of collective action and
inspiration for self-sacriflce as Wide
and effective as they are spontaneous.
Mr.. Baker then turns to the method
hy which the army was placed on war
footing. He shows that under Its full
authorized strength the regular army
includes $4,000 officers and 100000 men
and that tho war strength contemplated
by the national defense act for tho mo-
tional guard was $4,000 officers and
$4,000 men. With the million add
tional troops Of the selected draft army
added. these figures furnish the army
Of 100000 men upon which all Original
war estimates were based.
Tho secretary describes the drafting
of tho national guard which he says re-
spondcd with zeal and enthusiasm /"
tho call. Ho describes also the cHpan'
sion OF the regular army and reviews
the reasons which prompted the govern
mont 10 20 TO sclcctive conscrtpt for the
remainder Of its forces.
Tho report then touches briefly upor
tho Officers training camps the CON
struction Of environments, with INC
problems encountered and solved
through the cooperation or the civlllhn
agencies created by the council &C Ma
tional Defense. end goes INTO some ne-
tail with various phases Of the canton
mont question to show the enormous
size Of the task. Tho building OF Ma
tional Guard division camps Is similarly
ci,cd and Mr. Baker discusses ut some
length tho work of the training camps
activities commission organized TO Gre
alto wholesome surroundings for tho
troops.
The aviation program Is touched
Upon briefly and no additional informa-
ton is given. Tho engineer department
and the part 1t played in rushing tech
meal aid 70 the allies IS outlined 10y
Secretary Baker rcncWS his rcCommcn-
dalton for moro adequate engineer
school with n suggestion that congress
plan for both engineer and ordnanc"
education In q broad and generous spirit
in order to create scientific agencies
Of value in peace or war and where
graduates Of West Point would special
ize. The suggestion is presented for
future consideration rather than inn
mediate action and no detailed plan Is
unfoldcd.
Taking up tho duartcrmastcr proc
lens with the outbreak Of tho war Mr.,
Baker cites few items or what it
was found necessary 10 supply. They
include: Twenty million pairs Of shoes,
: :, 600. oon blankets. $4,000 n1n yards Of
Flannel shifting. 5GOnh M" yards at
lcnting The work Is being don"
through the cooperation Of civilinn
agencies. the secretary says and adds:
THE dolar-u-rcar man has been n
powerful aid. and when This struggle is
over and the country undertakes to TAX"
stock OF the assets which II found ready
10 be used in the mobilizu ion OF Ira
power. a large place will Justly he given
TO these mon who. without the diStlnc-
ton OF title or rank. and with no
thought Of compensation. brought ex-
perinnce knowledge and trained ability
TO Washington in order that they might