Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1918-01-29
Secretary Declares One and Half
Million Men Are Available to Be
Sent TO France Within the Year
Newton D. Baker Creates Profound Impression ore
Senate Military Committee In His Supplementary Test-
mony Makes Detailed Statement of the Original Plans
of Department and What Actually Been Done In the
Premises,

WASHINGTON. Jan 2S.-Amer-
ics viii have an army of one-half
million in France early this year.
with a million more trained and
equipped ready TO follow as quick
ly as ships can be provided TO
carry them-and the outlook for
ships is not unprOmising
Secretary Baker gave this in
formation To the world today in a
statement before the senate mill
tary committee. bearing much that
until now has been carefully
guarded with the army's military
secrets, in answering charges that
the government has broken down
preparing for war
From early morning until late
afternoon the secretary addressed
the committee and a crowd in
cluding many members OF both
houses Of congress. gathered in a
big hearing room of the senate
office building He spoke extern
poTsneously. beginning with de-
tails of the task of building an
army of z billion and a half. an
swering such complaints OF inef-
fciency as were cited by Senator
Chamberlain in his recent speech,
and declaring that such instances
were isolated and not general
Some questions were asked, and
Mr.. Baker from time to time had
assistants 90 to the telephone for
reports on specific questions
Makes General Statement
Then toward the close OF the
day the secretary delivered a dra-
matte general statement Of the
American war plan. telling of the
coming Of the allied missions, OF
the DAY and night conferences
with men from the scene Of bat
tie in which the plans now being
executed we're adopted, and OF
success beyond the most sanguine
expectations in building the army,
and its industrial superintendents
at home. transporting men across
the ocean. constructing railroads
in France and preparing to strike
the enemy with every resource at
the country's command
When Mr.. Baker closed il was
evident he had created a profound
impression. Chairman Chamber
lain 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 recall him for further
examination later after the COM
mittee has completed its hearings
of officers of the medical corps,
aviation section and other
branches of the service
While many things disclosed
impressed the committee, il was
frankly amazed when told that the
men Of 30 national guard and ma
tional army divisional camps are
ready to go at need Members
wanted to know why such things
had not been given publicity be
fore Mr. Baker spoke of the re-
luctance Of military men to reveal
their war plans. and quoted Ger
man remarks about Americas ad-
vertisement OF her preparations
Emphasizing that he was not
there to defend himself or any
body. else. the secretary urged the
committee again and again to lay
bare any shorteOming or failure
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, mill
tary and civilian
Denies Wholesale Charge
For one reason or anther." he salt
the impression has gone out into th
to some extent at least. ths
he war department has fallen down.
1T would be a tragical thing
his tremendous effort. this wholly VI
,recedented sacrifice made by me-
we're in fact to turn out to desery
he comment that it had fallen down
Mr.. Baker took personal respOns
1ility for getting men under trainin
,efore their equipment was ready 4
he last shoe button" Such office
IS Mai. Gen Leonard WOtOd. he sal
lad urged this policy. He describe
that evolved the ordnanC
program and its fnlhllment, submi
ing documents to prove that Franc
Ind Great Britain were supplying a
iIlery and machine guns for tire fir
iorces a. their own urgent reque
n order that ships might be used Il
,ther purposes
In all that was done prir to the d
,arture of the first troops. Ge1er
oershing shared in the deliberatioI
Ind approved the decisions reache
yIr. Baker declared. and now So
-ounded with a staff Of trained reg