Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-29
Tells Congress of Great Department Since War
 Begun.
BRITAIN AND FRANCE
 ASKED TO GIVE GUNS
Ordnance Supplied by Allies at Own Request-Wanted to Save Ships-COmittee
 Impressed.

Washington, Jan. 2S.--America will have an army of half million men in France early this year, with million and a half more, trained and equipped, ready to follow as quickly as ships can ba provided to carry them, and the outlook for ships is not unpromising. Secretary Baker gave this information to the nation and to the world today in statement before the senate mili- tary committee, barring much that until now has been carefully guarded with the army's military secrets, in answer- ine charges that the government has broken down in preparing for war. From early morning until late after noon the secretary addressed the com- mittee and a crowd, including many members of both houses of congress, gathered in a dealing room of the sen- ate office building. He spoke extemp- oraneously, beginning with details of the mammoth task of building as army of million and half, answering such complaints of incfficiency as were cit ed by Senator Chamberlain in his recent speech, and declaring that such instances were isolated and not gener- al. Some questions were asked and Mr. Baker from time to time had as- sistants to telephone for reports on specific questions.
 Dramatic Statement of Plans.
 Then towards the close of the day, the secretary delivered dramatic general statement of the American war plans, telling fthe coming of the allied missions, of the day and night conferences with men from the scent of the battle, in which the plans now ebing executed were adopted, and of success beyond the most sanguine ex- petations in building the army and it's industrial support at home; transport ing men across the ocean, construction railroads in France, and preparing to strike the enemy with every resource at the country's command.
 Impressed Committee.
 When MT. Baker closed it was ap- parent he had created profound in,- pression. Chairman Chamberlain said so before he left the stand. There was no attempt at cross examination. The chairman proposed that the secretary be given a rest, and it virtually was agreed to call him for further exam- ination later, after the committee had completed it's hearing of officers of the medical corps, aviation section and other branches of the service.
 Amazed at Readiness.
 While many things disclosed im- pressed the committee, it was frankly amazed when told that the men of 32 National Guard and National Army divisional camps are ready to go to- day upon call. When members want ed to know why such things had not been given publicity, before, MT. Baker spoke of the reluctance of military men to reveal their plans and quoted Germany's remarks about America is advertisement of her preparations. Emphasizing that he was not there to defend himself or anybody else, the secretary urged the committee again and again to lay bare any failure or shortcoming of the department that it might be corrected. Frequently he paused to seek stronger language to describe the devotion of his associates in the department, military and civil lan.
 Failure Would Be Tragedy.
 "For one reason or another" he said, "the impression has gone out in- to the country, to some extent at least, that the war department has fallen down.
 "It would be tragical thing if this tremendous effort, this wholely m porescedented sacrifice made by men. were in fact to turn out to deserve the comment that it had fallen down."
 Never in the history of time, he de- clared, has an army of it's size been raised, equipped, trained and prepared for battle as had that of the United States.
 MT. Baker took personal responsi- hility for getting men under training before their equipment was ready. Ito the last shoe button" Such officers as Major General Leonard Wood, he said. had urged this policy. He de- scribed conferences that envolved tho ordnance program and it fulfilment, submitted documents tor prove that