South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-29

facilities for the American army in
France. because OF the great de-
mands upon those already there.
Great Work Done I'm France.
I'm other words. France was a
white sheet Of paper. As far as we
were concerned we not only had 10
write an army on that sheet but
we also had 10 provide main
tenance. We have been buildins
facilities and agencies in France.
just as much as in this country, OF
the same character. We have built
docks terminals. sent over dock
machinery. cranes, even piles, ware
houses al ports Of Decentralization
for the storage OF vast supplies
needed before distribution. We are
taking over and are in process of
rebuilding a railroad 500 miles long
from our ports OF embarkation TO
our base of operations
We have had to build barracks
over there for our soldiers and in
the meantime 10 billet them around
in the French villages. BuMding
barracks over there and building
them here is a very different thing.
gentlemen.
When We summoned the lumber
industry of this country TO produce
the lumber TO build our own can
tonments. il came in a great and
steady stream from all over the
country, but when We talk about
building barracks in France, it
means this: II means 10 organize.
as we have organized regiments Of
foresters and sending them over in
to the forests of France which they
have assigned TO us for our use. cut
ting down the trees. setting up saw
mills. making the lumber OF vari-
Gus sizes, transporting it 10 the
places where it is TO be used. and
then finally using IT,
Even Planted Corn.
we have had TO go back TO the
planting of corn in France in order
that we might sometime make
harvest. our operations began in
the forests OF France. not in the
lumber yards as they did in this
country.
The war had a more or less Of
set character until the Russian
situation developed. The Italians
defeat caused a further change in
plans. As a result. what may have
been perfect plans had TO be chang
ed accordingly
That is a faint picture of what
has been going on over there, gem
tlemen." said the secretary. ION
this side, all that had 20 be done.
no, n
in addition we had TO build up an
army.
Record i'm Army Making.
Now let us be frank with each
other. Has any army in history
since the beginning of time been so
raised and cared for as this army
has been?
I'VE have raised this army. TAX
ing the regular and the national
guard. raising II tO war strength
and experimenting il by the opera
ton draft, and there arc senators
ina this room who said to me with
grief when we proposed that form
of raising the soldiers should be
had. they shook their heads and
said MIR. Secretary. IL can't be
done. u il too Sudden TO address
To tho American people that mode
of selecting soldiers And yet has
any great enterprise within the
knowledge Of any man i'm this room
ever been carried out with more
unfailing justice. with more intclli-
gent explanation and commenda-
ton to- the good sense Of patriotism
of the American people and has any
great and revolutionary change in
our mode of practice ever been ac-
cOmpIishcd 80 splendid;y a. the OPP
Grafton OF the selcCtiye service sys-
tenn?
we have got those young men
in camp and they are surrounded
from the day they left home until
the day they come back TO il. if in
Gods providence they can come
back, with more agencies for their
protection and comfort and health
and happiness. physical. spiritual
and mental. than any army that
ever went out on a field"
At the request Of the chairman
Mr. Baker put into the record a
statement showing the number of
hospitals. army and Red Cross. es-
tablished in France with the num-
Der of the personnel of each.
In conclusion Mr.. Baker earnest
" assured the committee that the
war department welcomed every
criticism that might help it find its
own defects and urged the mem
bers to bring in every report of
shortcomings and failures.