The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-02-06

70, the shipping board advised
(oesI gross available American
w. So ships Of 5,72f.s)o tons,
= tankers and former German
A1Strian ships. Secretary Baker
ri could not estimate how many
= Nj sonnage would supply.
70 huch discussed editorial in the
no oliian Magazine Of which
)on6 Roosevelt was associate editor,
oehi1 the war departments pfepafa-
- 70 send troops TO France. came ~
IN. Secretary Baker had replied 10
editorial in his first statement by
wing the war department had done
IFe than the magazine eontended It
euld.
No Inside Information.
DID The editor have any information
her than an ordinary citizen might
We had At that timer" asked Senator
ceks.
~Oh. no." said Mr. Baker, adding that
August, when the article appeared.
had been quite certain that the de-
Srtmeat could do more toward training
Doos than Il suggested and also that
- vas good promise that more could
done toward getting them TO frasee
% the article proposed.
ieuSspr Weeks asked u the war de-
Irsmsat had succeeded in doing as
Dch D Il had hoped for in October
Plans As Etcesdsd.
II cn answer that IN tha way Mr
hker ssid. -0n January we had
Snsported TO France more troops thar
! schedule had called for"
BOD combatant and non-oombatan'
pocsi" asked Senator Weeks.
sThat h the aggregate, Mr. Bake
d.
Senator Weeks said he had heard tha
military force ran about " pereen
1nbatant troops -.
Secretary Baker said he did not nav
figures but thought the forces =
rance might show that ratio II
reed 10 furnish Senator Weeks con
entially with exact figures a. to IN
umbes OF men shipped and the proper
b Of fighting troops.
7si,Ooo Tons Il Underestimate.
Senator Weeks asked what tounag
war department had available. II
IA he had heard il had 79l 900 ton
Feb. |. Mr.. Baker did not kno'
Eactly, but thought that was an un
s-estimate.
Senator Weeks asked II the depart
ent figured on net gro" or dea
ejpht tonnage. He said that he ha
ard that the German statements o
arase destruction by submarine
- based on dead weight calculation
q the English on net tonnage whie
nde the apparently divergent figure
ven by each side very close toseihe
fact, 49,. =,
Nr. Baker could not enlighten III
natof on the point.
sTs there any prospect OF more ton
Age becoming available at an carr
tei" asked Senator Weeks.
More Ships Available.
~Oh. yes" Mr.. Baker said. " reca
~ that 10000 tons additional ha
come available during the last te
vs."
The vessels we're withdrawn fror
Aeious lines where they had been rc
iced BY neutral shipping .
Much OF the tonnage original
ailable for men and supplies ha
n diverted TO the harbor and arsen1
oiecis abroad. be said, and the pur
Ne OF artillery abroad bad serve
relieve shipping somewhat, althoug
necessity Of transporting raw ma
Fials for the guns had figured in ii
ri result.
'rxscutivs Session Wanted.
Examination OF Secretary Baker WI
eRrfupted while senators diseusse
-, into executive session TO perm
secretary to furnish coniidenti
eornation. The discussion was pr,
Sltated by Senator Reed, who thougI
committee was entitled to exa
eosaation as to the number OF me
France and other subjects.
n bink the committee and the publ
: eHtitled to know where he propos
set tho tonnage to supply the mi
DroaA,- continued the Nebraska Sc
-.
To Back Up Statements,
Il think the secretary ought TO
he % put those figures before us
hek up his statement that he expet
have q million men over there Il
arr
II think the whole question OF sh
nght to be discussed in an execut
ssion," said Secretary Baker in rel
Chairman Chamberlain, who asI
& views.
II don't think II Is necessary for
cretary to come here to disclose IA
order to justify statements he
lde,s interrupted Senator Kirby, d,
rat Il am opposed to it. ] think
mmittee in executive session ough
tertine just how far it is going
b Investigation"
"Lots Of Camouflage"
Benstor Baker agreed that the G.
tee should have every available
Eiuding confidential information. s
pr Weeks said he wanted to dev,
II what could be done in getting r
mitions and other products abr
/ without disclosing confider
hitter.
Ihe Massachusetts senator said, h
u, = thought there was good
easnouflage about keeping infor
y fpcm the enemy which is pubh'
'nnosal reports and otherwise"
Il want 10 make q suggestion, II
~ Secretary Baker interpose
IN misfortune for me, II ms
Il such, N my first ststemel
D ~ committee, lay In the IA
~ 4 atte1upted IN rive opiuious