The sun., 1918-12-05

OF the armistice, Mr.. Baker gives this
hint at the policy the Government is
pursuing:
steps have been taken to reduce
orders and cancel contracts for such
items as will not be needed in France
In this connection, however. care is
being taken to assure ourselves that
we are not depriving France of ma
terial which she so urgently needs to
replace that worn out during her ter
rife self-denials Of the past four years
We cannot refuse to render oil the
assistance possible in the RECONSTRUCT
ton OF that heroic nation.
Under the heading OF Fighting
Equipment for the Army" Mr.. Baker
gives a summary Of what was accom-
plished in providing ordnance for the
army. When the armistice was signed
30,SS1 complete units had been con-
tracted for. November 1 10,634 had
been delivered, divided as follows:
Trench, 5000: light (field guns), $3.50;
medium, 1910; Heavy, SOS; railway, 10.
Browning Gun Report.
As to rifles Mr.. Baker shows that
2,137,025 of the. modified Enfields had
been accepted prior to November 1.
Browning machine gun production is
stated as follows: Light, 47.o19; heavy,
39.546. The following cablegram Is
quoted to show the performance Of the
Browning guns in action:
Experience OF Seventy ninth Divi-
sion in offensive operations September
% to October II, Browning machine
guns: Thirteen machine gun com
panies engaged, weather conditions
continuous rain and mud. There was
not one instance where the guns failed
to operate due to muddy and wet belts
The Browning machine gun and auto
matte rifle in active operation have been
SO satisfactory as to create an, in
sistent demand for these weapons"
Mr.. Baker gives much space to air
craft problems, including the produc-
ton figures published from time to
time in the past. He shows that 3,1S9
De Haviland and 101 Handley-Page
machines were produced in this coun-
try and 1900 planes had been shipped
IL France before the armistice was
signed. On the other side 2,676 planes
of service types had been provided for
the American squadrons by the French
Government. September 80 Gen. Per-
shing had thirtytwo air sQuadrons at
the front. the first Of them to be
equipped with American planes hav-
ing reached the battle areas in July.
Air service casualties. the report
says, have been higher than in the
artillery and infantry. and reports to
October "a showed 12S battle fatalities
and 224 by accident overseas. A total
of 262 men had lost their lives in this
service while in training in the United
States.
Health of Army Good.
The general health OF the army has
been surprisingly good, the report
shows, the death rate for all forces, at
home and abroad. to August 80 having
been at the rate Of SO per 1000 per
anDum. or little more than the civilian
rate. 1t compares with a rate of Co
per 1000 per annum during the civil
war and 26 during the Spanish war.
Pneumonia caused Sc per cent. of the
deaths.
There were $4,000 cases of influenza
among the troops in the United States
during the late summer and fall, and
OF the 20.500 deaths between Septem-
Der IA and November 1880 are
ascribed to the epidemic.
Discussing the embarkation service
afr. Baker says that in nineteen
months a total OF 2,075,S34 men and
$4,000 tons OF cargo were shipped
overseas. the great bulk OF these move
ments having been handled after jan
uary OF this year.
In closing his report Mr.. Baker
speaks this word for the men who
fought the war at home:
Perhaps a special word ought TO be
SAID in recognition Of those who from
civil life have come at the country's
call TO places Of eXacting toll and have
been denied the opportunity to per-
ticipate abroad in the heroic adven-
ture. but have nevertheless worked
on. sometimes in uniform and some-
times without even that badge OF dis
tinction. Theirs has been in an I'M
usual degree the call to self-sacrifice,
but they have been none the less sol
d!ers and have contributed in no small
way to whatever success has attended