Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-10
Countess of Lisburne.

VIII rap NY accumulate. Arms OF the
most mouern and effective kind-in-
Guiding artillery, machine guns, auto
matte rifles and small arms--have been
provided by manufacture or purchase
for every soldier in France and are
available for every soldier who can be
gotten to France in the year 1918.
A SUBSTANTIAL ARMY IS, AL
READY IN FRANCE, WHERE BOTH
MEN AND OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
ADDITIONALLY AND SPECIALLY
TRAINED AND ARE READY FOR
ACTIVE SERVICE. No army of sim
liar size in the history of the world
has ever been raised, equipped or
trained so quickly. No such provi-
sion has ever been made for the COM
fort, health and general we'll being of
an army.
THE health report for December for
variety of reasons, became suddenly
less favorable than for the preceding
months. but the unfavorable condi-
lions have been met and Improvement
is already apparent"
EXPECTS CRITICISM.
Bakers statements were made, he
said, with a full realization that some
expressions Of doubt difference of
opinion and disapproval' has been
submitted to the probers
1.-The war department" he continued,
has spent eight months hearing SINH
lar expressions, analysing them, cor
recting the conditions out Of which
they grew, perfecting its organization
to prevent their recurrence; and all
the while driving on to the accom-
iuh, ant ~ hn Ii.
OPENS TESTIMONY.
II am glad to lay before the commit
tee and the country certain facts with
reference to the war departments
work." said Baker, opening his testi-
mony. Not all of 1t is new to you.
but it is well to have some underlying
facts freshly in our minds at times
when the consideration of details, how
ever important in themselves. might
otherwise obscure the real progress
made In the central task.
THE war department Is eager to
profit by all helpful criticism and 1
thank the committee for the inquiries
which it has made and for the CO. oper-
alton which it is giving and will give
in making our preparation increasing
ly adequate and speedy
ION the first day of April, 1917, the
regular army comprised 5791 officers
and 121,797 enlisted men, the national
guard in federal service approximate
ly 1888 officers and 1918 enlisted men,
and the reserve, four thousand enlist
ed men. There were also at that time
approximately 2753 officers in the re-
serve, but as these were on inactive
duty they cannot properly be consid-
cred in estimating the strength of the
army of the United States at that
time. On the 31st day of December.
1917, the regular army consisted of TO-
$50 officers and 475.000 enlisted men;
the national guard OF 1901 officers
and 475,000 enlisted men; the national
army of 100000 men and the reserve
Of S4.b75 officers and 72,750 enlisted
men. In other words. in nine months,
the increase has been from 1894 Off
to 1.42s.650 men.
NATIONS GREATEST ARMY.
During the war with Spain, the
army of the United States at its min
imum strength aggregated 272.000
men and officers. The army now in
the field and in training is, therefore.
roughly six times as great as the max
imum number under arms in the
Spanish American war.
The total number already in the
military service IL one and a. half
times as large as any force mobilized
by this nation.
"A substantial part OF our military
forces was selected by the operation Of
draft law, the execution Of which has