Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-16
BAKER HOME FROM
TRIP TO WAR ZONE
Secretary Spent Six Weeks Visiting
Countries Of Allies; Had Mar
row Escape From Bomb.
i Associated Press to Every Evening

HY Associated PreSs 10 Every EYeHing
An ttI4n.ic Port. April rs Newton
d Baker Secretary oI Var, returned
- America today after 2 journey -
Europc .mpciicd bv his desire 70 confer
with British French and Italian military
aad political leaders regarding his own
country c0-operatIon IN the war against
Germany an3 rs ms wish also 70 become
intimately acquainted with the American
troaps under arms III France. On TINS
anprece..eused mission the Secretary was
out OF the country about SIX weeks.
CONFIDENT or VICTORY
4 return with sense Of pride and con
hdence 1t the achievements ol the nited
states ana Allied troops abroad that
would justify many trips across he
water Secretary Baker SAID Is ne stepped
aboard / tram which viii take hIm 70
Washington
Mr. Baker sad he would be prepared
10 discuss later the historical voyage which
eook hlm 10 England tnd France where
he conferred with the Entente war lead
trs. military and political, and Gen. Per
9hlng commanding Amerea forces IN
France aud assembled military facts which
he vii present tn President WIlSoG.
Tins was the only statement the Secre-
turn "a Washington, where he promised p
broad review If his voyage and lis results
Those Who returned with he Secretary
said they dld not doubt but that they
reflected AIr Bakers feeling when they
SAID there was complete optimism and
confidence among the people of the
Entente nations that the war would be
won.
So4Aat oN FokNEa GERMAN LINER.
Apparently III perfegt physical trim
with color IA his cheeks and eager 10
plunge into his duties al " Naslug1on the
Secretary stepped ashore ai $50 o'clock
Tins morning from the deck al a snp
winch once sailed the seas rs a German
merchantmen lis trip from Europe had
been undistafhed by any submarines
which might have lurkeJ IN ocean lanes
The weather had been ideal the voyage u
beautiful ono Alr Baker SAID
accompanying the Secretary Wero
Mai Cen II NJ Black ehlef of engineers
/ \ 4 (ol VI l. Brett Ordnance
Department. s \ and Ralph Iaves
AIr Baker private secretary
-ne>r ~ tNERvlENEB-
Questions asked Il the Secretary BY
n,.Hspaprrmro remained unanswered
Not aNard htsssld N reply 10 queries Il.
e. hI- opinion regarding Jhc Irish situation.
attfaft production and the appeal 81
Arthur ! Balfour he British foreign
secretary TOR the United states t. hurry
troops to France
AIr Baker fr7l learned today of the
death oi Senator Stone ot Missouri 1
must express MY deep regret he SAID
eloeG 14l FRoni nus uouu
The Secretary left American sh res
about siN Ncek- age arriving II a French
post on March 10 At Paris lie conferred
with Arthur ] Raltodr British foreign
secretary, and ten toeh oi the French
army
The great engineering feats which
Americans have accomplished ID ac-
eomnoiate the aecumulatrug ARRIVAL q
American soldiers n France were IN
spected hA the Secretary. III toureo
the American hines I'll communication
1t Que point hp narrowly escaped INJURY
from il German she'll Ito visited th,
Belgian front and met King Albert o
Belgium. went IL London and Na~ IL
ceiyed bY King George and visited Pie
mier Lloyd George and American Am
bassador Page.
SECRETARY VISITED fER@HING.
Returning to tranue. Alr Baker con
ferrcd with Gen Pershing 1T American
headquarters. approving tho Amerlcai
commanders action At placing nus troop