The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-01-29

eminent. He declared tnat the pro-
posal for France to supply Pershing's
army with artillery originally came
from the officials of the French gov
eminent.
The secretary told the committee
that the movement of the troops in
large numbers to France was not in
serious contemplation as late as July
last
The question of clothing was next
taken up by Secretary Baker.
1T is perfectly true that the SUB
ply of clothing was inadequate he
said. "Our initial needs have been
met, however"
He then said the question of wait
ing until all men could be clothed
had been brought up and said the re-
sponsibility for calling out the men
rested with him.
1T takes somewhere between nine
and twelve months to train men," the
secretary said. Il do not know how
rapidly we can send men, | know how
many we have sent and | know how
many we plan to send, but | do not
know but what tomorrow there might
come a call to double the rate at
which we are sending men. There are
teen national army environments filled
with men ready to go
q am revealing no secret when /
say that the crux of the whole prob
lem is tonnage he said. Every
thing we can get on the other side
without disadvantage to our allies we
should get there"
Secretary Baker told the committee
] hot
Europe the military experts of both
Great Britain and France agreed that
they had surplus ordnance.
General JOffre and his associates
as well as all our own military men,
brought confident and positive assur-
ances, that not only is France able TO
supply us with ordnance but that we
are actually to maintain their organi-
zation in consuming their supplies,
said Secretary Baker.
Did the offer to supply us come
from the British and French gov
ernments," asked Senator Myers, of
Montana.
1T came first from the French and
then the British" answered the sec
rotary.
Mr.. Baker gave figures showing that
get $40 seventy-five-mil limeter guns
from France and would make "a in
this country. In April he said, 231
would be obtained from France and
70 would be made in America.
American production would increase
steadily during this year. In Decem-
Der of this year, the American produc-
ton of "75s" would reach 433.
&c htrf faf fn Isrf hn
lean army in France large as it is
now and large as it may soon be, will
be provided with all the artillery they
need and as rapidly as it can be used
while the production at home is
steadily rising, said Secretary Baker
II have sacrificed something for
that but l have never sacrificed will
ingly the health of any soldier, have
not intended to sacrifice the comforts
of any soldier, but / have intended
that they shall be ready when the
call comes. I should have felt a deep
er responsibility if the call had come
and they were still at home waiting
the taflors"
There is no shortage interfering
with the comfort of the men, he de-
clared.
When he resumed his testimony af-
ter the luncheon recess, Secretary Ba-
ker read a statement he had just re-
ceived from General Wheeler about
she'll production in the United States. |
General Wheeler said that the man
of rs mllimeter and three
inch shells aid increased about fifty |
per cent since the war began. The /
of Shells above that cali |
bre had increased about rs per cent. |
General Wheeler's report showed.