Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-15
SECRETARY BAKER AGAINST
UNIVERSAL MILITARY LAW
FOR THE NATION JUST NOW
Head of War Department De-
clares Himself Against Fu-
ture Preparedness and Re
views Past Year of His
Work.
(By Review Leased wire)

BAKER report lOE
w the war department made pub
lie today constitutes only a
brief historical review of the year,
and so that it may be devoid of in
formation for the enemy shows no
recommendations, no detailed infor-
nation of the transportation of the
army to France OF any army plans
for the future.
Secretary Baker does say, however,
tary training as regular national
policy.
THE department has not sought
and does not now seek legislation on
the subject" he says, chiefly for the
reason that the formation of a per-
m3hent military policy will inevitably
be affected by the arrangement con-
sequent upon the termination of the
present war. Civilized men must
hope that the future has in store a
relief from the burden of armament
and the destruction and waste of
war
However vain that hope may ap-
pear in the midst of the most devas-
tating and destructive war in the his
tory of the race, il persists-perhaps
because We are encouraged by the
analogous substitution OF courts for
force in the settlement of private con-
troversies; perhaps because all the
perfections of nature teach us that
they are the product of processes
which have eliminated waste and sub
stituted constructive principles for
destructive principles.
Defensive Policy urced
When a permanent military policy.
therefore, comes to be adopted. it will
doubtless be conceived in a spirit
which will be adequate TO preserve
against any possible attack those vital
principles of liberty upon which DEM
ocratics institutions are based, and yet
be 30 restrained as in no event to
foster the growth of mere militarist
ambitions OF to excite the apprehen-
sion of nations with whom Il is our
first desire to live in harmonious and
just accord"
As TO the expeditionary force in
France, Secretary Baker says II would
be unwise TO disclose details, and
therefore contents himself with tell
ing of the sending of General Perish
ing followed by full division of reg
ular troops and a contingent of ma
rines as the first units. He describes
also the organization of the rainbow
national guard (the Forty-second),
adding:
The purpose of this organization
was to distribute the honor of early
participation in the war over a wide
area and thus TO satisfy in some part
the eagerness of these state forces to
be permitted to serve in Europe"
High Tribute Paid
High tribute is paid to the 'splen-
did cooperation OF the navy. by
means OF which these expeditionary
forces have been safely transported
and have been enabled to traverse
without loss the so-called danger zone
infested by the stealthy and destruc-
tive submarine navy of the enemy"
1t became necessary, Mr.. Baker
said, to build up an elaborate trans
per system for the expeditionary
forces with great terminal facilities
both in this country and In France
and to gather a large surplus Of sup
plies on the other side as a safe
guard.
This placed an added burden upon
the supply divisions of the army" he
said. "and explains in part some OF
the shortages, notably those of cloth
ing. which have temporarily embar-
rassed mobilization of troops at home.
embarrassments now happily passed
The arrangements made have re-
suited. Mr.. Baker continues, ''in the
Transporting of an army to France
fully equipped, with adequate re-
serves of equipment and subsistence,
and with those large quantities OF
transportation appliances, motor We
hicles, railroad construction supplies,
and animals, all of which are neces-
sary for the maintenance of effective
operations of the forces"
Review Mexican Situation
Secretary Baker opens his report
with a review of the situation in Mex
ico which led up to the withdrawal Of
General Pershing's column. and pays
a high compliment to the self-re'
straint and consideration of the Amer
ican officers and soldiers both on the
border and in Mexico.
Taking up the war with Germany
Secretary Baker describes a fine
spirit of service shown by the Ameri
can people without distinction o:
age, sex or occupation"
Those who believed" he adds,
CONTINUED On Page Six)