The daily banner., 1918-02-07
::R HITHHOLDS
ysrpI22n EInIIREe
To Tell The Senate PrObeTS in
Secret Session.
OPPOSE EllNITION DIRECTOR
Secretary of War Says United States
is Relying in Part on Allies to Carry
Troops Overseas.

! Troops Overseas.
! Washington, Feb. 7.-Secretary of
! War BBaker came for c.oss-examina-
( ton before the senate military com
mi'tee on his statement on the pre-
paredness of the army.
This statement critics in congress
have attacked as "gross'y exaggerat-
ed"
The principal point OF the whole
! contrOvc1Sy-the question Il W. ere
the army is going to get ships to
transport million men to France
| this year-was lefr untouched
This was partly because Secretary
Baker did not have the detail ed fig
| ures to show the committee on what
basis he made his assertion: partly
because the committee got into a
squabble over whether it would be
proper to have the secretary disclose
the figures In public
TIE upshot was the question was
left to be presented in detai'ei exact
statements to the committee in secret
session. The cross-eXamination then
was continued on other subjects of a
general nature.
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat, Ne
oraska, who has attacked particularly
! the statement the United States could
put million men in France this
yea. besides 100000 there early this
spring. insisted on Mr. Baker showing
his grounds for believing thee were
shirs available for their transport and
supply.
The secretary said he did not have
the exact figures in his mind
An estimate of $4,000 tons of ships
available for transport February I,
he thought was small rather than too
large.
The shipping board Senator Hitch
cock said, had advised him that on
November l there were available $50
American ships. all of more than 1900
tons each, including tank ships and
German and Austrian ships seized.
Mr.. Baker did not know how. many
troops that number of ships would
transport. He promised to inform
the committee later.
American tonnage losses, Secretary
Baker said, have been exceedingly
light. The service the navy has rem
dered in the protection Of the army"
he added. "has been unexampIed"
Senator Wadsworth cited del hys in
paving troops. The secretary said
this was a disappearing, diminii iishing
difficulty"
Questioned as to delay in aNments
to families of soldiers. Mr.. Bakdr said
indefinite addresses of dep hdents
gen by the soldier frequently pro-
duced that result. Difficulties jof ac-
counting for Liberty bond payments
and dependent allowances som htines
served to hold up pay of whoJ 7egi-
ments as much as a month at time.
Senator Wadsworth asked M. Bak-
err to explain the functions of Edward
R. Stettinius, recently appointed sur
veyor general Of war department. sup
ply Mr. Baker said he had told Mr.
Stettinius his functions" we're to
grow. TIE theory was to bri1 g the
needs of the five purchasing bureaus
fCr Mr.. Stettinius 10 review them and
-traiehten out con9i ting needs.
II won't hesitate to ask congress
fer 'eeislation when it is necessary"
be added.
"Have YOU changed your views re-
rardfng the minister of munitions
bl,?" asked Senator Weeks, Repubn-
"an, Ma~so chusetts.
"Discussion If a minister of muni-
tionns Is dificult unless we know Just
what is meant" the secretary replied.
Il think wn have NV an agency that |
corrclates all purchases of the war
lepa artmert"
This agency includes shipping, he |
aid. He did not think it would be |
necessarv 'to wrench out" systems |
now used should such a measure be |
passed
Isn't it true Mr. Stettinius virtu-
a1'y s 4 director Of munitions now in
he war department ?" asked Senator
2're,in 'uyren Republican, New Jer- |
Sey.
a little mar th@n that" Mr. Bak- |
er replied. IT e munitions director |
Tndcr the English system does not |
lea' with the variety of things Mr. |
Stettinius does"
Secre airy Paker added the war in j
dustries board is production ag ncy. |
rather than a purchasing agency.
why don't you put Mr.. S'ettinius |
At the head of the council OF national |,
lefense AMI the war indus res board !
and make him. III effect. a director of |
nunitions?" asked Senator Feeling
luysen.
There is no occasion for the inter-
vention of a new body" replied Mr.. |
Baker The problem Of the war in
dustres board, he added, was to de- |
termnc priority between government
departments: also to distribute or |
dors. so as 10 dislocate industry as !
little as possible.