South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-16
WAR MINISTER
WILL REPORT To
PRES 7 WILSON
Arrives on Former German
Liner and Goes Directly
to Washington Without
Making Statement.
onal News Service

AN ATLANTIC PORT. April 16.
-supremeIy confident of the final
outcome Of the war. Sec'y of War
Sewton d. Baker. personal repre-
sentative in Europe for the past six
weeks Of Pres't Woodrow Wilson,
returned 10 the United States to-
day. Mr.. Baker left Immediately fer
Washington to make a personal re-
port 10 his chief.
The war secretary was admittedly
impressed with the general serious
ness OF the situation now confront
ing the allied armies in northern
France and that part of Bels um
still retained by the Anglo-Releian
forces. But, ne was plainly optinhs-
tic over the inevitable result. De-
tails OF what ne found in his per
~onaI inspection must, of course, be
left 10 be communicated to the
president who will determine
whether they are 90 be cOmmuni-
Gated 10 the people of the country.
But speaking generally the secretary
indicated that he is certain that the
cause OF democracy yet will
triumph.
Investigation Thorough.
Members Of the secretary's stan
mo accompanied him declared that
his investigations have been most
thorough and that he will make 4
number of specific recommendation
o. the president
10 was understood that the secre-
tarv has been deeply impressed with
the necessity of the United States
hurrving co its aviation program.
He received several important rec
concentrations from the British and
French aviation chiefs which are TO
he reelected i'm radical changes
" bicb will be made in Washington
aImost Immediately. one of these
will be TO have the American aero
rianes absolutely standardized so
that parts viii De interchangeable
vith the new British and French
types.
More Machine Guns.
The sec.etary also will make Ger
tain very important suggestions in
connection with the American artll-
I,r, arm OF the service. More and
more machine guns OF the Brown
ING type are TO be rushed across 10
arm the American soldiers who are
,o take .heir places ON the battle
'front.' AT once In addition certain
-,res of heavy artillery which have
uroven. their worth on the battle
.rnnt are TO be constructed here
ard sent overseas
The secretary and MS staff had
,pv the warmest pre- Sc for the
work OF Cen Per~hiug and his
army. The action of Gen. Pershins
Fl, rendering 20 the allies the entire
American strength for use as the
s-preme war council saw it was
nointed 90 AS the best evidence Of
fbc disinterested position which the
United states has assumed in the
war
Praise Foch's Appointments
Gen. Ferdinand Fochs appoint
uent as eeneralissimo of the allied
armies was characterized as the
areatest slngle step which the
r-nited states and its co-beligerents
have taken 20 win the war Because
- ressons which are most obvious
tbe secretary and his staff could
-ct discuss the plans which this
.-.c,4 French expert on military
Strategy n evolved 90 meet the
,.-essrt dams ous situation. but u
oas emphasized that the coming SIX
,.c.l,- will be momeutous IN the eN-
trcme.
Sec.v Baker viii reach Washing
., about six O'Clock tonight ard
y,iu Seek am early appointment with
"a. Dresident at which he Will
,.-ese1t the result of his ohser'a-
lions aboard Pending that confer
ance his attitude was summed up '>
mo Of his fellow passengers.
..The American army and navy
50, .v,iDr The balance of power i'm
he present war. The German mill
-. ,,acbine. now az its zenith. viii
bo checked when the time comes.
rbs tate of democracy is in the ball
ance but the allied nations assisted
e., The entire resources of the United
$500 uriu dominate the situation
-, tho last gun is fired