The Ely miner., 1918-02-01
BAKER ANSWERS
SENATE CRITICS
SAYS Lack of Guns no Longer Ex-
lists and That Greatest
Need Is for Ships.
EVERY man is READY
Many Times Number of Soldiers Al
ready Overseas IS Originally
Planned-Hospital Condi-
tions Good.


WASHINGTON, JAN 30.-Secretary of
War Baker struck back at critics OF
the war department with the declara-
ton that every man in 80 national
guard and national army camps is
ready now to be set to France when
ever needed.
Tonnage is the cruX of the whole
situation, and this country is using
French artillery to save ships for sup
plies, he said.
The Allies urged troops before any
thing else-saying France and Eng
land could supply us with artillery.
In a sweeping statement delivered
before the senate military committee
Baker showed the great steps this
government has taken-some of them
necessarily sudden and hence with
out sufficient preparation-to win the
war
Facts and Figures Given.
In reply to those who have critl-
cised the war department, tae secre-
tary of war declared:
That laMty in the medical service
at camps will not be tolerated.
Three officers have been court mar
tailed and dismissed from the army
because of negligence in attending
sick
General Pershing himself o. KID
the adoption of the modified Enfield
rife.
A great army was called out before
guns were ready for it on the earnest
recommendation of Major General
Leonard Wood. who said the men
would first need other training be-
sides that in the use of guns.
Every man in France has his own
gun and is trained to use it.
Many times as many men are now
in France as had been originally
planned for this date.
General Pershing himself decided
against the Lewis machine gun for
land work.
On Nov. 1, 140 machine guns were
sent to each training camp.
Every man in SO training camps is
now ready for service In France.
Has Right Type of Artillery.
"Our army in France-now large,
and 1t will be much larger"-will have
tie type Of artillery it wants and
needs.
That 300 three-inch anti-aircraft
guns will be turned out monthly in
this country before another year.
Official reports based on careful
information showed that camp hospi
tails in many eases are the equal o
civilian hospitals and all are in splen
did shape.
Greatly in Earnest.
Secretary Baker was greatly in ear
nest when he replied to Senator
Chamberlain charges of inefficiency
in the war department at public
hearing before the senate militar,
committee.
Incidentally in defending the wal
machinery against the charge of in
efficiency and lack of initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured
the secretary disclosed facts hitherto
held confidential.
At the outset tie secretary said hi
thought much criticism came from i'm
patience of the American people TT
do this great thing greatly"
lie conceded freely that in so grea
enterprises it was impossible ther,
Should not be delays and shortcom
ings." The confidence of the country
however, he said, was necessary tt
the tremendous effort.
Medical Staff the Best.
'T want the country to know tha
the health and care of the men il
camps is a responsibility will no
allow to be lodged" said Baker. III
next took up measures taken through
the surgeon generals office under Ba
ker's direct orders, TO inspect CAM
hospitals.
I'VE have medical staff, the lik
of which does not exist elsewhere OF
ever brought together or ever can be
that will not be subject to communi
cable diseases. The most we can d.
is fight these things"
Change in Ordnance.
Baker next turned to shortages il
the supply of ordnance. He reviewe,
the rifle situation, answering crit
cisms of the delay in settling on tn
modified Enfield as the army rifle TO
the United States forces.
General Persiing, Baker said, wa
at the conference at which the mod
fled Enfield was decided on. 1t was
week before Pershing went to Ell
rope.
I've did not then know whether ou