Evening journal., 1918-08-27
PRODS BAKER ABOUT
DELAWARE REGIMENT
Congressman Polk Writes
to Secretary of War
About Status
DENIES PREJUDICE
KEEPS IT IN CAMP


Regiment. is being Disseminated against
by the War Department, or that that
department has any resentment against
the Delaware Senators and Congress-
man for the reassembling Of the regl-
ment after It's members had been dis
tributed throughout the Hath Regi-
ment at Camp Mcclellan, is emphatl-
cally denied by Secretary OF War New
ton d. Baker in a letter to Albert F.
Polk. Congressman from Delaware.
At the urgent request OF many Della
wareans because OF the alleged preju-
dice being shown against the Delaware
Regiment Congressman Polk, on Au-
gust 7. wrote to Secretary Baker for an
explanation OF the keeping Of the Della
ware boys at Camp Dix and the depart
ments failure TO MI the regiment at
war strength out Of the many contn-
gents Of drafted men who have been
sent 10 that camp.
Secretary Bakers reply was an EN-
phstlc denial OF any prejudice against
the Pioneer Regiment, and asserts that,
because Of its being reassembled after
being Joined with the iiith Regiment
at Camp Mcclellan, Il necessarily would
take the department sometime 10 com
.pete plans for the formation OF the
regiment again, but that II has taken
much longer than he at first sntici-
pated. He adds that the Pioneer Regi-
ment has now been filled TO war
strength and is fully equipped for SER
vice.
Congressman Polk's letter 10 Secre-
tary Baker follows:
House Of Representatives, Washing
ton. D. G.. August 7th. 1918.
"Hon. Newton ID. Baker. Secretary OF
War, Washington, D.. c.
'Mr Dear Mr.. Secretary: In order
that my attitude toward the adminis-
tratlon and the war program may not
be msconstrued by what follows in
this letter, / desire to say TO you that
since ] have been a member OF the
SiXty-flfth Congress ! have supported In
every detail the program OF the admin
istration and war department on the
floor OF the House.
81 have received so many letters and
personal calls regarding the treatment
which the Fifty-nlnth Delaware Pioneer
Regiment has been, and Is receiving at
the hands OF your department. that /
cannot longer refrain from calling your
attention 10 the character OF these com
plants which have been made TO me by
the people OF my district
"The Fifty-ninth Pioneer Regiment
left Camp Mcclellan on January ~.
1918. with fourteen hundred and sixty
five men. After arrival at Camp Dix,
two hundred and ninety-three men Of
the Delaware draft quota were assigned
TO the Fifty-ninth Pioneer Regiment out
Of a total Of twelve hundred and eight
men. The three hundred and eight men
drafted in March were not sent 20 Camp
Dix, but TO Oglethorpe. So, the Fifty
ninth Regiment received none OF them.
on April 4, three hundred and ten men
were drafted from Delaware and sent
IN Camp Dix. These men were at
tached % the Delaware Regiment, but
not permanently. I understand that |
fhe war department ordered these men |
sent 10 the Seventy-eighth Division. !
and. as the Delaware regiment is not /
mart Of this division, these men Will be |
sent 20 other regiments. made up OF /
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New
York men.
.The people Of Delaware say this to |
me. You can therefore see that every |
effort and excuse is made In order that |
this regiment may not receive It's num-
her 20 nm it 20 war strength. Had the /
drafted men from Delaware been as
signed 10 il. as we understand was to
he done under orders reassembling the
Delaware regiment, Il would have had
its quota for a pioneer regiment OF in
faniry. Thus:
ii65 ist Delaware Regiment.
1903 In the first draft.
30s Draft March ist
$40 Draft April ist.
i2s Draft April 26th.
3li9 Total
OF understand the number necessary
for a pioneer regiment Of infantry is
thirfy-three hundred and eighteen; so
Won can readily see that the Delaware
regiment would have had the men TO
have completed the organization OF the
regiment had the drafted men from n
Delaware been sent TO this regiment. Il
Seventy-two men have been taken from
the regiment and sent 10 other regl-
menls since its arrival al Camp Dix.
"The officers Of the Delaware regi-
ment were not allowed TO purchase uni
forms from the camp quartermaster
until recently, and they are not al
lowed to attend any Of the division
schools as the regiment ds not mem
her of any division. All arms and
equipment except clothing and mess
kits were taken from them at Camp
Mcclellan on January and new equip
ment was not given 10 them until April
90 Having nothing to instruct the men
with. the regiment therefore was max
ing practically no progress.
~ EN- informed by constituents OF
mine that YOU have made the state
nent that you have no interest in the