Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-01-11
America Has Raised, Equipped
and Trained Army Quicker
Than Any Other Nation, He
Tells Committee.
MOST URGENT NEEDS
ARE NOW SUPPLIED
Questioned Concerning Lag
ging Orders for Guns and
Clothing He Declares Emer-
gencieS Have All Been Met,

Washington, Jan. 10.-Every phase
of the war departments preparations
for battle against Germany was out
lined and defended by Secretary
Baker today before the senate mill
tary committee. He answered those
who had criticised the department
during the committees investigation
with the assertion that no such army
as that now Under the American flag
ever had been raised, equipped or
trained so quickly, and that never be-
fore had such provision been made for
the comfort and health of an army.
The secretary read an exhaustive
statement when he took the stand and
when it was concluded questions be-
gan to fly from every side of the com
mittee table, launching a cross-eX-
animation that probably will continue
all day tomorrow.
Admits Some Mistakes.
Chairman Chamberlain and other
committeeman wanted to know par
ticularly about delays in furnishing
machine guns and rifles and much
attention was devoted to the army's
supply purchasing system. Mr.. Baker
admitted there has been some mis-
takes and delays but declared that all
fighting men in France were ade-
quately equipped and armed, and that
all sent would be. He took full re-
sponsbility for delay in approving n
machine gun, holding that the value
of the Browning gun now developed
was worth it. He also said the super
ior weapon obtained by having the
British Enfield rifle re-chambered for
American ammunition compensated
for the delay there
1900. 900 Under Arms.
More than 100000 Americans are
now under arms, Secretary Baker
said, and an army of substantial size
already is in France ready for active
service.
Members of the committee were
frank in their disapproval of the Sc
cret purchasing system of the depart
ment. Mr.. Baker, however. insisted
that it was essential to guard against
publicity concerning plants engaged
in war work.
Conceding delays and errors of
judgment in so vast an undertaking
Secretary Baker epitomized his reply
in these words:
mo army of similar size in the his
tory of the world has ever been raised,
equipped or trained so quickly. No
such provision has ever been made
for the comfort. health and general
well-being of an army"
America now has in France an
army of Substantial" size ready for
active service. Secretary Baker today
told the committee. Officers and
men. he explained, have been trained
specially for modern warfare, inde-
pendent lines of communication and
@,,J. -, Nf OF n inf1
and great programs have been form
ulated for the production of new IN
struments of war.
Arms Declared Ready.
Arms of the most modern and eff
fective kind, the secretary declared,
have been provided for everv soldier
in France and are available for every
man who can be sent there in 1918.
!, IT state the foregoing conditions OF
the war departments problem, and
some of the results attained, for two
purposes" he said ''In the first place
the American people are entitled to
know of the splendid effectiveness
with which thev have been able to or
ganiZe the man power and the ma
terial power of the nation in great
ca use; and second, our army in France
under General Pershing and our al
lies are entitled to have the benefit
resulting from the depression of the
morale of their enemies which must
come when the Germans realize that
the American democracy has neither
blundered nor hesitated, but actually
brought the full power of its men and
resources into completely organized
strength against their military ma
chine.
Record Is Claimed.
mo army of similar size in the his
| tory of the world has ever been rais-
ed, equipped or trained so quickly No
such provision has ever been made for
the comfore. health and general we'll
being of an army.
"By the cooperation of all interests
and all people in the country, the
nation is now organized and set to its
task with unanimity of spirit and
confidence in its powers. More has
been done than anybody dared to be-
lieye possible. That there have been
here and there errors of judgment and
DELAYS goes without saying; but l
should be wanting in frankness were
I to omit my own estimate of the real
unselfshness and intelligence with
which my associates, military and
civilian. have applied themselves TO
this undertaking. and the results DEM
onstrate the success of their efforts.
Army Increase Great.
| "On the first day of April. 1917,
the regular army comprised 5,791 Of
| f;cers and 121,797 enlisted men;
the national guard in federal service
approximately 3,733 officers and 76,-
| 113 enlisted men; and the reserve,
1000 enlisted men. There were also
at that time approximately 2,573 Off
GERS in the reserve, but as these were
on inactive duty they cannot properly
be considered in estimating the
strength of the army of the United
States at that time. On the 31st day
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