The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-01-12
Force in France Sufficient For
Offensive Operations Baker
Testified la Senate.
CLAIMS SPEED RECORD
Secretary Of War Admits Errors
And Delays, But Says no Similar
Army Was Raised So
Quickly.

Washington, Jan. 11.-Secretary Ba-
ker has replied to criticisms of his
departments conduct OF the war in a
long and exhaustive prepared state
ment presented to the Senate military
committee and asserted that the Amer
lean army in France now is strong
enough In numbers and sufficiently
trained and equipped to assure active
operations.
Epitomixes Reply.
Conceding delays and errors Of judg-
ment In so vast an undertaking, Secre-
tary Baker epitomized his reply in
these words:
No army of similar size In the his
tory Of the world has ever been raised.
equipped or trained SO quickly. No
such provision has ever been made for
the comfort, health and general we'll
being of an army.
invites Criticism.
81 am glad to lay before the COM
mittee and the country certain facts
with reference to the War depart
ment's work." said Secretary Baker,
opening his testimony. mot all Of II
Is new to you, but 1t Is well to have
some underlying facts freshly in our
minds at times when consideration of
details, however important in them
selves, might otherwise obscure real
progress made In the central task.
THE War department is eager to
profit by all helpful criticism. and I
thank the committee for the inquiries
which It has made and for the co.
operation which 1t is giving and will
give in making our preparation In.
c~reasingly adequate and speedy.
Always Green Men In New Armies.
Mr.. Baker declared there are always
green men in new armies. Replying to
Senator Weeks criticism that there
was too much technicality, too little
pep" in getting rifles, Mr.. Baker said
changes made in the rife to get a bet.
ter weapon Is not a technicality. SEN
ator Weeks said the War department
hasn't taken advantage OF the full
rifle making capacity OF the country,
even now.
I'VE could make about $4,000 rifles
a day." said Senator Weeks. I'VE are
getting only 1000"
II again call your attention to the
fact that the war was 5000 miles
away" said MI. Baker.
ut makes no difference whether II
was 10000 miles or one mile away"
said Senator Weeks. 1.-THE fact re.
mains that we didn't take advantage Of
manufacture in this country OF q rife
which millions of British soldiers are
using satisfactorily"
Gerard Warned v. s.
Senator New asked Mr.. Baker
whether James w. Gerard, then am
bassador to Germany, had notified this
government in May. 1916. that Ger
many planned renewal OF submarine
warfare.
Mr.. Baker said he had received such
information but must regard 1t 10 con.
6dential and not discuss II.
Gerard discussed It publicly in his
books" said the senator. Wouldn't
that have been q good time to settle
about the kind Of rife we were going
to have?"
Relied on German Word.
TEN years before would have been
q good time" said Mr.. Baker. "You
must also remember that in May, 1916.
We were relying ON definite assurance
from the German government that II
would not renew U-boat warfare"
"And the word of the German gov.
eminent was accepted against that OF
our own ambassador" asked New.
Mr.. Baker replied that Congress and
the President evidently relied on Ger
many's word.