The Washington herald., 1918-09-09
BAKER LANDS
OVERSEAS FOR
SECOND TIME
Secretary Of War in France
with Members of His
Department.
VOYAGE ON TRANSPORT
Official Mission Includes
New Chief of U. S. Air
craft Production.


Secretary OF War Newton D. Baker
has arrived safely in France, the
War Department announced last
night. He was accompanied by a
party of War Department officials.
The Secretary's trip. the second he
has made to Europe this year, was
made aboard a transport which car
ried the usual quota of United States
troops.
The official announcement follows:
The Secretary Of War has arrived
I'm France on official business. News
of the safe arrival of Mr.. Baker and
an official party was received at the
War Department today. The voyage
was made aboard a transport which
carried the usual. quota OF United
States troops. The Secretary was ac-
companied by Mr.. John d. Ryan. Sec
ond Assistant Secretary OF War (di-
rector of aeronauticsJ: Maj. Gen. W.
c. Gorgas. Surgeon General OF the
army; Erig. Gen. Frank T. Hines.
chief of the embarkation service. and
Lieut.. Col. George II. Baird. military
aid to the Secretary OF War"
Trip Regarded Important.
. Before Secretary Baker left for
Europe he stated informally that
when the personnel of his party be-
came known the Importance OF the
trip would be disclosed as II auto
matically. The object is accelerated
acceleration and high-power expan-
sion in war munitions and men.
1t was known that Mr.. Edward r.
Stettinius, former Second Assistant
Secretary of War and recently re-
lieved of these duties In order to give
his entire time TO army work in
France, had preceded the Secretary
abroad. Mr.. Stettinius is vested with
extra raordinary powers over supplies
and general service behind the lines
One OF the most important men,
bers of the Secretary's party clearly
is John d. RYAN. who only recently
was given almost unlimited author
ity over both aircraft production and
the practical application of airplanes
in wartime. The supply of aircraft
for the present million and a half
men Of Pershing's army and its
future four million is the greatest
problem in the way of supply that
confronts the War Department.
Ryaa FsrmuIstes Plans
Ar. Ryan went over With the exact
knowledge OF the production capacity
in this country, and he and Mr. Stet-
tinius will be able to advise Gen.
Pershing just what may be expected.
and when, in the way OF the required
number Of machines for the ultimate
American army OF from four to five
million men.
. The presence of Gen. Hines is almost
self-explanatory. There have been
from time to time reports that there
was unnecessary congestion at English
and French docks. II was understood
here last night that II 1t be possible
Gen. Hines will suggest some means
whereby when the United States be-
gins to send overseas the finished pro-
duct of the new draft the record OF
IS, 900 men a month to France will be
broken.
The War Department, In fact. Is
committed to policy OF having on
the Western front eighty divisions by
July !. 1919. The work of Gen. Hines
will deal with that demand of the
General Stan as a problem that must
be met.
Increase Hospital Facilities.
Similarly. the visit of Gen. Gorgas
has to do with the, vast increase OF
the army in the near future and the
consequently necessary increase in
the hospital facilities. 1t is likely
that Gen. Gorgas will select new
sites for new hospital buildings
rather than advise enlargement OF
the existing facilities by multiple
cation OF beds in any one institu-
tion. In many cases where the
United States has rented French
private buildings the capacity now
is at maximum use.
The greater part Of the new con-
structfon work. whether for hos
pitfalls or supply depots. undoubtedly
will be in what are known as the
American sectors. These sectors
extend from the Swiss border to the
sea.