The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-02-06

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Secretary
Baker, appearing for cross. examination
before the senate military committee
today. declared that he agreed with
business men Of the nation that there
should he director OF munitions In
the United States war department In
addition, the secretary declared that this
step was being approached gradually
daily
The position held by Edward r.
Stetlnius, as surveyor general OF mu-
milton purchases, was more than a di.
rectorShip Of munitions, as compared
with the British post, the secretary
said.
lie added that when Stettinim was
appointed, the latter was told that his
functions were to grow" Baker said
he would not hesitate to come before
congress for legislation as soon as IL
is apparent that II Is necessary.
May Make Army Camps. s
Secretary of War Baker also declared
there was a possibility OF army
training camps being moved from the
south this summer il the weather was
as extreme, comparatively, as Il was =
during this winter The secretary made
this statement incidental to answers OF
questions regarding health conditions in
the various army cantonmentS.
The principal part OF the whole con-
troversy, in which senate critics have
attacked Secretary Bakers war state
mentS as grossly exaggerated" was
left untouched.
Ship Question Unanswered.
That question was where the army
is going to get ships to transport one
million men to France this year. 2
II was left untouched, partly because
Secretary Baker did not have detailed
figures to show the committee on what !.
basis he made his assertion, and partly
because the committee decided il would !,
not be proper to have the secretary Of 4
war disclose the figures in public.
The upshot Of it was the question
of ships was left to be presented in de- p
tailed exact statements TO the commits
tee IN secret session tomorrow and the
subjects OF a general nature.
Full Power for Stettinius.
Possibility that the actual purchasing
power for the war department may he I
largely placed in the hands of Edward
K Stettlnlus, surveyor general was in-
dlcated by Secretary Baker
Mr. Stettinius is relied upon to do
this thing" he said.
Secretary Bakers cross examination
was begun by Senator Weeks OF Mas
sachuSctts, republican, in connection
with the number Of troops to be sent
abroad this year.
On January |, Secretary Baker said,
more troops had been transported to
France, including both non combatants
and fighting forces than had been
planned.
Won't Tell Number In France.
Secretary Baker and Senator Weeks
agreed that it was improper to disclose
the number Of American troops now in
France
Transportation Of fighting troops was
temporarily reduced, Secretary Baker
said in discussing the shipping situation,
by the necessity of sending larger en-
glncerlng forces.
Harmony Prevails"
He did not have with him detailed
statistics regarding available ships, but
promised to supply it. A
The shipping board and the war de-
partment, Secretary Baker said, are in
constant contact, exhaustively studying !
the shipping situation. General Bliss, he
said, took the information abroad as a
basis OF calculation in connection with
the shipping situation About 10000
tons additional have recently been se-
cured. 81
Senator Weeks asked IL Il were true !
that the war department had 7olM
tons OF ships available for transports 4
ing troops on February |, Secretary 4
Baker did not know but thought tn
an under estimate, In his former sta>l
ment that a million men more preA1
could be sent to Ftsnee tAis yesgs