Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-06
WANTED-MALE AND FEMALE
MANIFESTATIONS,

statement that he had said a million
and half troops would be available
for shipment in 1918 and that the pros
pect of forwarding them was not I'M
promising"
"Why do you think IT is not I'M
pr0mising?' insisted Senator Hitch
cock.
Secretary Baker replied that esti-
mates made as to available tonnage
indicated the possibility.
When he had made the statement
Secretary Baker added, there was in
his mind the conclusions of the ship
ping board as to what tonnage it
could produce in 1918. There were
other factors as to shipping he added,
sue has vessels in nOn-essential trades
or on domestic routes which might
be released by sailing vessels or neu-
trail tonnage.
Il am asking you for the basis of
your assurance to the country that the
prospect was not unpromising, that
We would have a million men in
France in 1915" persisted Senator
Hitchcock.
Is Anxious to Tel.
II am anxious to tell you what is In
my mind" answered Secretary Baker,
asking again that he be permitted to
explain his statement as far as pos
sible without disclosing military in
formation.
Before General Bliss went to Eu-
rope, he said, the subject was dis
cussed with members of the shipping
board and others as to the extent to
which the emergency fleet corporation
would supplement the existing ton
mage" and the extent that tonnage
then available to America would nsed
to be supplemented by international
! arrangement in order to carry onD Ne
allied program"
| Secretary Baker said he did nd Hax.
sonally determine the question Eue
| that it was done by General Blisa and
others.
Upon Senator Weeks suggestion the
committee dropped the shipping ques-
ton until the secretary could get in
| formation from his department to
: properly answer the questions. This
will be furnished to the committee in
executive session.
Senator Kirby wanted to adjourn
until tomorrow when an executive
session would be held but other SEN
ators objected and the examination
went on.
Senator Weeks then asked Secretary
Baker II he knew how many pairs CT
shoes were required per man in the
French and English armies. Ma. Baker
did not, but said he would obtain the
information. The senator said he
wanted to know in order to deter
mine if We are buying more shoes
than are necessary"
Programs in Army He Says.
Senator Weeks said he had received
letter in which it was charged that
many men in the army are of German
sympathy and that many officers and
men in conversations expressed pro-
German sentiment
The writer of the letter, he said,
cited an instance of an American Off
..cer being sent home from France by
General Pershing for that reason.
The senator said he had also heard
of chaplain who had been dismissed
for similar reasons.
Secretary Baker said he had receiv-
ed no information OF such conditions,
but would make an inquiry.
II don't doubt but that something
of that sort exists" said the Massa-
chusetts senator, land / think we
ought to make an example Of some
one"
Senators Get in Row.
Senator Reed said it was unfair to
question the secretary in large audi
] forum filled with spectators and i'm
pugning that the army was reeking
i with treason.
"Why should the question be asked
at alI?" he demanded.
I'm not responsible for calling'the
secretary into a large auditorium
Senator Weeks broke in. Il think
this examination should have been
held as all others-in the committee s
own room. have no desire to exploit
anything in public
1.-THE secretary himself asked in a
letter to the chairman" Senator New
lof Indiana interrupted. that the
meeting. be held in large room where