Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1917-12-21
Baker Opposed to
Universal Training


Washington Dec. - secretary
iiakcrs annual report tor til" War
Department Jutt mad" ruhlic con
<tirU'.s only Il brief historical re
view Of the year and SO that II may
h" devoid of Information for the en-
"iHy shows no recommendation no
detailed Information OF tn" trans
por'ntion oi the army 10 France or
any army plans for the future
SECRETARY Baker does say. nowov-
cr. thai he does not favor universal
military training as national pol.
icy
Th" department has. not sought
and does not now seek legislation on
tn" subject. he says. chiefly for
tn" reason that the formation of Il
pcrman"n, military policy will incv-
itably b. effected by tn" arrange
m"nt con -"qucnt upon III" t"rmina-
iiun Of tn" present war civilized
men must hope that tn" fniur" has
in store II r,l lief from th" burden of
armament and the destruction and
waste Of war"
E>p,.litionarA Forces.
a. To III" cXprdiiipnary force In
france, Secretary lIak"1 SAYS ii
would h" unwis" to disrlusr details.
and therefore contents himself with
telling of the sending Of General
p.'rShing folloy"d by Il fun division |
of regular troops and Il contingent Of /
marines as the first units II" dc !
Scrihrs also the UrpduilHilun OF tn" |
Rainbow National Guard Division |
Nh" Forty ScCondI. adding:
"Thc purpose of This organization |
was to distribute the honor of early |
participation in tn" war over Il wild" |
area, and thus to satisfy in some par; |
the cagcrnceS uf these state forces !
to b" permitted to serve in Europe
High tribut" Is paid To III" "splcn- ,
did corporation Of the navy, by 7,
means of which th"s" cXpciitionary |
forces have been safely transported |
and have been enabled to traverse |
without loss tn. SO-Callrd danger |
one
II became necessary. Mr.. Baker |
says to build up an elaborate trans
port system for the cXpeditiOnarv |
fore. with great terminal facilities. !,
both in this country and in France.
and to gather "a larg" surplus of
supplies ON the other sid" as IA safe |
guard.
Explains Temporary Shortages.
This placed an added burden up |
on tn" supply dvisir". ui the a.
partmcn;". he says. "and explains in !
part so'~-' Of the shortages, notably |
those of clothing. which have TEN
rorarily embarrassed mobilization of
troops at home, "mharrassmonts
now happily passed"
Th" arrangement may hav" re
suited. Mr. Baker continues. in tn"
Transporting of AN army to Franc"
fully equipped. with ample reserves
of equipment and subsistence. and
with these large quantities of trans
portation appliances, motor vehicles.
railroad construction supplies and
animals. all Of which ar" necessary
for lii" maintenance" of rif.ciiv" OPP
.ratiunS Of the fore"
Secretary Baker "opens his report
with Il review Of tn" situation in
McXiru. which led ur To tn" with
drawal Of General p"r>hng's col
umn and pays a high compliment to
IN" self restraint aud consideration
OF the American officers and soldiers
both ON the border and in M"Nica.
Taxing up the wac with Germany.
! Secretary Baker Describes n fine
spirit of service shown hy th" Amer
lean people, without distinction OF
age. sex or OCCUPATION.
Mr.. Hak"r then turns Ia tn" meth
ID by which the army WAS placed on
= war footing tie shows that under
its fun authorized strength tn" reg