Evening star., 1918-04-17

Newton D. Baker returned to the War
Department today, back from a great
adventure" in war observation like none
ever before vouchsafed an American
Secretary Of War. ssss1}s
He told newspaper men that athe
American soldier has made good in
France" and said that French and Brit
ish are high in their praise Of the 3cour-
age, endurance and soldierly qualities
Of our men,"
"The only sad Americans in France
he said, "are those who fear that they
may have to come home while before
the job is DONE"
Silent on Future Steps.
The Secretary declined any comment
upon the present drive or upon further
plans for sending American troops.
supplies or artillery across the .watAr.
Later in the day he was to go to the
White House to lay before President
Wilson detailed information about
both the military and political, situa-
ton he gathered while abroad. He
summed up his trip to the newspaper
men by saying he had got the informa-
tion he went abroad to get; had real
ICED more fully the problems of Ameri-
can participation in the war, and said
the result would be a closer co-opera-
ton between the department and the
Army in France.
ed in the picture and relic bedecked
anteroom of the Secretary's ofdce for
the interview with the returning secre-
tary. When his secretary. Ralph Hayes.
nounced. All set when you boys are
ready" they filed into Secretary Bakers
Office, where he shook hands with them
and. without waiting for questions, stated:
Il Just want to say first I am de-
lighted to see the fullness and COM
pieteness with. which American news
pape-s are carrying the daily news OF
what Is going on at the 'front.' The
completeness of the reports Is amaz-
ing"
Department Censor Present.
Gen. Mcintyre, censor of the War De-
partment, was at the interview, in addi-
ton to few visitors. including Commits
sioner Louis Brownlow.
When Secretary Baker was asked what
was the one outstanding thing Americans
thought quite while, then answered.
slowly:
..The big thing for America to do is to
support the war. The right arm Of Amer
lea is in France. 1t Is bare and Is ready
to strike hard. The rest of the body is
here in the United States. and it must
support and invigorate that arm. This
erty loans and by adopting an attitude Of
confidence in it's Army in France, which
that Army so richly deserves"
The Secretary LOOKS tired. but alert.
His face is bronzed, evidence of the
hind the lines he has made. He was
attired in blue serge suit. He talked
readily and fuently about all subjects
except those connected with military
developments and plans. stating that
he could not discuss these at present.
The story of his trip will be made
public from time to time. The present
system of giving out casualty lists
without addresses will be continued.
and he intimated that information he
had gained abroad had convinced him
that solution of that problem was
comparatively simple.
Compares France to Beehive.
The Secretary said he was impressed
particularly with the extent of trans
portation facilities. warehouses for sup
plies and the schools for training our
men in special tasks. He compared
France to "a beehive full of energetic
people," Among the fighting forces, he
said, there are no hours and no lini-
tations upon labor" 81
He said the condition Of our soldiers
In France was good. They are well,
strong and robust physically; their spir-
its high and their behavior admirable.
Their relations with the French and
British are cordial and sympathetic.
Everywhere one meets an American
soldier in France, he said. the visitor is
met with smile and perhaps wavo Of
the hat. He said there 10 health,
American soldier which has bean esps-
Ecially Impressive.
'.The American soldier has made good
lContinued on Twelfth Pagel