The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-06

ought to be discussed in an executive
session." said Secretary Baker in re-
ply to Chairman Chamberlain, who
asked his views. The tonnage matter,
he added. involved international ar
rangements and he suggested that he
be permitted to prepare a statement
to show the present status.
Il don't think it is necessary for
the secretary to come here to disclose
facts in order to justify statements
he has made" interrupted Senator
Kirby, Democrat. IT am opposed to
it 1 think the committee in execu-
tive session ought to determine just
how far it is going in this investiga-
tion.''
Secreting Facts "Camouflage''
Secretary Baker agreed that the
committee should have every avail
able fact including confidential infor-
nation.
Republican Senator Questions Him.
Secretary Bakers cross examination
was begun by Senator Weeks Of Mas
sachusetts, Republican, in connection
with the number of troops to be sent
abb DAD this year.
On January 1, Secretary Baker said
more troops had been transported to
France, including both non-com-
batanes and fighting forces, than had
been planned. Secretary Baker and
Senator Weeks agreed that it was i'm
proper to disclose the number of
American troops now in France.
Transportation of fighting troops was
emporarily reduced. Secretary Baker
said, in discussing the shipping situa-
ton. by the necessity of sending larger
engineering forces. He did not have
with him detailed statistics regarding
available ships, but promised to sup
ply it.
Recently Added 10000 Tons.
The shipping board and the war de-
lro~ soil
in constant contact. exhaustively
studying the shipping situation. Gem
eral Bliss. he said, took the informa-
tion abroad as basis of calculation
IN connection with the shipping situa-
tioi-. About 10000 tons additional
nave recently been secured.
senator Weeks asked if it was true
tnat the war department had $4,000
tons of ships available for transport
ing troops on February 1. Secretary
Baker did not know, but thought that
an underestimate. In making his for
mer statement that million men
more probably could be sent to France
this year. Baker explained he did not
oepeno wholly on American shipping
in his calculations.
Senator Hitchcock said that on No
vember 80, the shipping board advised
him the total gross available Ameri-
can tonnage was $50 ships of 3,721,S06
tons, including tankers and former
German aid Austrian ships Secre-
tary Baker said he could not estimate
how many troops that tonnage would
supply.
Refer to Roosevelt Criticism.
The much discussed editorial in the
Metropolitan magazine. of which
Colonel Roosevelt was associate editor,
attacking the war department prepa-
rations to send troops to France came
up again. Secretary Baker had re-
piled to the editorial in his first state
ment by saying the war department
had done more than the ma gazine con-
tended it should.
did the editor have any infornia-
ton other than an ordinary citizen
might have had at that timer" asked
Senator Weeks.
.Oh. no." said Mr.. Baker, adding
that in August when the article ap-
peared, he had been quite certain that
the department could do more toward
training troops than it suggested and
also that there was good premise that
more could be done toward getting
them to France than the article pro-
posed.
Senator Weeks asked if the war de-
partment has succeeded in doing as
much as it had hoped for in October.
Il can answer that in this way" Mr..
Baker said. ION January l we had
transported to France more troops
than our schedule had called for"
Both combatant and non-combat-
ant troops?" asked Senator Weeks.
40 Per Cent Arc Fighting Men.
THAT is the aggregate Mr.. Baker
said.
Senator Weeks said he had heard
that military force ran about 40 per
cent combatant troops.
Secretary Baker said he did not
have the figures. but thought the
forces in France might show that
ratio. He agreed to furnish Senator
Weeks confidentially with exact fig