The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-02-01

IL the WnOle regular American dIAhJ
had been sent into battle at once, Sec
rotary Baker said, like Englands, 1t
would have been destroyed.
In eloquent words, Secretary Baker
described how France welcomed the
first American soldiers, peasants KISS
ing the hens of their coats.
Without prepared manuscript and In
frank, conversational manner, the
secretary Of war told the senators he
came to defend no mistakes OF short
cOmings, but to insist most emphatic
ally that deficiencies, where disclosed,
had been promptly modified; that they
were the exception rather than the
rule, and that the very magnitude OF
Americas undertaking made errors OF
judgment and mistakes likely.
incidentally, in defending the war
machinery against the charge of inef-
ficiency and lack of initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured,
the secretary of war disclosed some
facts hitherto held confidential.
Allies Prefer to Furnish Guns.
France and Great Britain, he said,
ere supplying artillery to the American
forces because they themselves wished
to do so, as they had an excess on
hand and wished to save ships for
more vital necessities.
Thirty-two divisions of National
Guard and National army troops IN
camp in the United States-more than
a million men in all-are considered
ready to go overseas for service when
ever it is decided that they wall move.
Every American soldier who can use
a rifle, Secretary Baker told the SEN
atOrs, already has been provided with
one, and the rate of manufacture as
sures a steady supply as troops be-
come ready to use them.
"There are now in the United States
16 National army camps and ID Ma
tiOnal Guard camps (32 divisions OF
troops) filled with men ready to co.
said Secretary Baker.
ST do not know how fast it may be
necessary to send them to France" he
said. 81 know how fast we have sent
them and how fast we plan to SEND
them. What we tried to do was to get
the men out as rapidly as we could es-
innate on the production capacity OF
the country being able to care for
them"
Followed Pershing's Advice.
Lewis machine guns. he said. al
though they have been ordered, are
not being used for the troops on land,
because General Pershing and his staff
desire them only for airplane work.
Great Britain and France, he said, are
prepared to furnish machine guns for
the land forces until the American sup
ply arrives, and in fact, wish to do so.
Responsibility for calling out large
number of men before equipment for
them was ready, Secretary Baker as
Ssumed himself, but added that the
best military advisers, including Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood, pressed for it.
Charges of mistreatment of troops
in hospitals. Secretary Baker said,
were acted on vigorously, and he point
ed out that the war department. only
last week refused to permit dismissal
of two army doctors. who mistreated
soldiers. but insisted that they should
have prison sentences in addition.
Senator Chamberlain's speech, Mr..
Baker thought, had given the country
the impression that the deficiencies
complained of "were characteristic
rather than occasional" For that rea-
son he deplOred it's effect, but he en-
phatically declared he came before the
committee, not to defend individuals,
nor deny delay or false starts.
'But," said he, 81 think can say in
confidence that in them we have
sought the remedy"
Securing artillery from France, Mr..
Baker said, also would save ships.
81 am telling no secret when I say
that ships are the crux of our prob
lem," he said.
Secretary Baker said all foreign rep
resentatives and also the war council
participants headed by e. M. House,
declared that securing ordnance from
England and France will not take sup
plies they need, but will help them.
awe Are in War to Hit and Hit Hard"
In concluding his testimony Secre-
tary Baker said: "When the story
! has all been told it will be story
which I am sure your committee will
be glad to report to the senate as a
tremendous response to tremendous
responsibility. We are in the war to
hit and to hit hard. Our problem is
not one Of star playing, but of team
playing"
The mistakes cited in Senator Cham
berlain's speech, Secretary Baker de-
clared, gave disproportenate aspect.
Without intent, he said. the effect of
the senator's speech was to give the
country the impression that the def
ciencies ''were characteristic rather
than occasional"
| He said he was not there to defend
individuals or deny delays and false
starts