Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-28

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fore the committee, Baker said he had
every intention Of being frank but
seemed to have created the impression
that he was fencing, seeking to defend
the indefensible and eyading the truth.
Senator Chamberlain read two let
ters, said Baker, (Which aroused ev-
cry instinct of indignation and resent
ment. l wrote Senator Chamberlain at
once, asking that the names of the
writers and lne names of the camps
be given me. l wanted then and | want
now to follow those cases through to
the very end that ! may punish those
guilty
Senator Holds Letters
" Senator Chamberlain suggested
that he got the letters in a confidential
way, but said he will try to get a re-
lease of the letters that l may have
them.
''These are two instances. I've had
others Some have proved not as ser
ious as they Mt first appeared.
When they have been due to the
failure Of the human element, punt
tive measures have been taken.
Baker cited three cases in which the
department., he said, "tirmly set Its
face against calous disregard for hu'
man life. - Three Officers have been
court martialed and dimissed from the
army. result OF proof that they neg
leeted their duty with regard to sick
-, a 90 Iais
Wants Country to Know
t'I want the country to know that
the health and care Of the men in
camps is a responsibility l will not al
low to be lodged, said Baker.
He next took up measures taken
through the surgeon general s office
under Baker $ direct orders, to inspect
camp hospitals.
81 selected Dr. Roger Hornsby, an
expert to act as my personal inspector
Of these camps, said Baker. "When
he came to my office DR.. Hornsby
was in uniform, showing that the sur
geon general already had drafted his
talents
Mrs. Rineharts s opinion
Baker read letter from Mary Rob
erts Rinehart who has visited praetlc-
ally all the camps.
a do feel some steps should be TAX
en- to reassure the country" wrote
Mrs. Rinehart we women viii not
rest until all ineompetents in camp
have been removed ! have a son in an
army camp would have no resitaney
in letting him be cared for in the
camp hospital. In fact he has already
been there several days with an infect
ed knee / know something about hos
pitfalls having been nurse and married
doctor"
Mrs. Rinehart wrote that though her
tour 'of camp hospitals had shown a
serious lack of trained women nurses
and shortages Of supplies, she had
found absolutely no evidences of cruel
ty or neglect.
Ninety nine men out of a hundred
in camp hospitals ~et better care than
they could get at home, Mrs Rine-
hart wrote.
She highly praised the base hospital
at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, deelar-
ing it is the equal of the best civilian
hospitals She suggested aa committee
of representative citizens from the
nearest city visit each hospital and
publish the result of their visit in the
local newspapers.
Medical Staff Praised
"There is no suggestion of remedy
in this letter that does not meet my
instant approval, said Baker. - We
have medical staff, the like of which
does not exist elsewhere ON the face
of the earth. No army was ever
brought together or ever can be, that
will not be subject to communicable
diseases. The most we can do is fight
these things"
Baker next turned to shortages in
the supply OF ordnance. He reviewed
tho riffs situation, answering criti-
cisms Of the delay in settling ON the
modified Enfield as the army rifle for
the United States forces.
Pershing Selected Rifle
General Pershing. Baker said. was
at the conference at which the modi-
fled EnfieiT was decided on. ct was
a week before Pershing went to Eu-
sswe did not then know whether
our army was to fight with the French
or British.
s.The excellence Of our Springfield
rifle was so well known that just be-
fore the war broke out the British
government was considering modifiea-
ton of its rifle to use rimless cart
ridge like ours
s.Our decision to change to the mod
IfiCd Enfield was due TO our desire to
take advantage Of the large product