Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-02-02

viii Be News to Kaiser.
Chairman Chamberlain asked the
secretary why he could not take the
public into his confidence In the mat
ter.
Secretary Baker replied that he hes
itated TO do that. He referred to a
statement by General Won Hindenburg
to the effect that America was adver-
Using her Intentions
But isn't it a fact that Germany
has known all about this;" persisted
Senator Chamberlain
NO" replied Secretary Baker. "The
German government is still myStified
regarding the number of men now in
France. They know what is doing at
the front, but Germany is still mysti-
fed regarding the number of men now
in France"
U. S. Troops Welcomed in France.
If the whole regular American army
had been sent into battle at once, Sec
retary Baker said like England's, it
would have been destroyed.
In eloquent words, Secretary Baker
described how France welcomed the
first American soldiers. peasants kiss
ing the hens OF their coats
Without prepared manuscript and in
frank, conversational manner, the
secretary of war told the senators he
came to defend no mistakes or short
comings, but to insist most emphatic
ally that deficiencies, where disclosed,
had been promptly modified; that they
were the exception rather than the
rule, and that the very magnitude Of
Americas undertaking made errors Of
judgment and mistakes likely.
incidentally, in defending the war
machinery against the charge of inef-
iiciency and lack Of Initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured,
the secretary of war disclosed some
facts hitherto held confidential.
Allies Prefer to Furnish Guns.
France and Great Britain. he said,
are supplying artillery to the American
forces because they themselves wished
10 do SO, as they had an excess on
hand and wished to save ships for
more vital necessities.
Thirty-tNo divisions Of National
Guard and National army troops in
camp in the United States-more than
million men in all--are considered
ready 10 20 overseas for service when
ever it is decided that they shall move
Every American soldier who can use
Il rifle, Secretary Baker told the sen
ators, already has been provided with
one, and the rate of manufacture as.
sures steady supply as troops be-
come ready to use them.
There are now in the United States
1G National army camps and rs Ma
tional Guard camps CD divisions of
troops) filled with men ready to 60"
said Secretary Baker.
II do not know how fast il may he
necessary To send them to France he
said. Il know how fast We have sent
them and how fast we plan to send
them. What we tried to do was to get
the men out as rapidly rs we could es-
innate on the production capacity of
the country being able to care for
them.
Followed Pershngs Advice.
Lewis machine guns, he said, al
though they have been ordered, are
not being used for the troops on land.
because General Pershing and his staff
desire them only for airplane work
Great Britain and France, he said, are
prepared To furnish machine guns for
the land force until the American sup
ply arrives. and in fact. wish to do 50.
Responsibility for calling out a large
number of men before equipment for
them was ready, Secretary Baker as
sumcd to himself, but added that the
best military advisers. including Maj.
Gen, Leonard Wood. pressed for 1t.
Charges of mistreatment of troops
in hospitals, Secretary Baker said,
were acted on vigorously. and he point
ed out that the war department only
last week refused to permit dismissal
of two army DOCTORS who mistreated
soldiers. but insisted that they should
have prison sentences in addition
Senator Chamberlain speech, Mr.
Baker thought. had given the country
the impression that the deficiencies
complained of were characteristic
rather than occasional" For that rea-
son he deplored its effect. but he en-
phatically declared he came before the
committee not to defend individuals.
nor deny delays or false starts
But" said he y think | can say in
confidence that In them We have
sought the remedy"
Securing artillery from France, Mr..
Baker said. also would save ships.
81 am telling no secret when / say
chat ships are the cruX of our prob
lem he said.
Secretary Baker said all foreign rep
reScuL.tives and also the war council
participants headed b; L. Il House
declared that securing ordnance from
England and France win not take sup