Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-13
OUR ARMY FINEST
IN WORLD HISTORY
BAKER DECLARES
Morality and Fighting Power
Incompatible; Should Be
Utilized by Industry

overseas to put the final punch in
the war, Secretary of War Baker told
the annual convention of the Ma
fional Hardware Manufacturers AS
sociation and the American Hard
ware Manufacturers Association
here yesterday.
He gave n summary of the part
American business played in prepar-
ing America for the big contest, and
issued a challenge to critics OF the
administration with regard to eNpen-
ditures. He said:
Congress has appropriated in
year and a half $4,000, 100000 for
the waging of the war. During the
same period the War Department
placed contracts amounting to Sl4,-
O0O.0O0.000. We found il possible,
with the signing of the armistice, to
save through the cancellation of con-
tracts over $4,000, 100000. so that
the cost of the War Department may
not exceed 2.000.000,00O.
I'VE expended this money without
corruption or scandal. There have
been here and there human agencies
TOO weak to withstand temptations,
but throughout there have been
rectitude and efficiency, as well as
patriotism and zeal. / am not claim
ing any credit for the War Depart
ment, for the results were not the
work of the War Department, but
of the people.
Gained Supremacy in Air
Even in the case of the airplane
program of with you have heard
and read much. there is something
TO be said. We had first 10 grasp the
extent of the work on which we had
entered, without a great deal of
preparation.
Yet in a year we developed the
hest airplane engine that was ever
built, and had reached the point
where we were producing more air.
craft in a month than France and
England. with four years of prepara-
tion, could produce in six months,
and American planes with American
pilots were guarding our men over
head as they moved forward
Secretary Bakers story of the eX-
pahsion of the American Army, I
from 10000 men on the 1st of April,
1917, to more than 100000 in De-
cember of the same year, brought
applause. The army had reached
1000. 600, 900 by, March, 1918, and
100000 when the armistice was
signed.
"Undoubtedly." said Mr.. Baker,
Germany made extraordinary ef-
forts to destroy our troop ships with
submarines. yet thanks to the SUI
perb guardianship and seamanship
of the American Navy. 1000. 600 men
were transported to France, with the /
loss of less than 400 men.
Fine Spectacle in France
NO finer spectacle ever greeted f.
the human eye than the American /
Army in France to-day. When you T.
see the American Army, your heart /.
il you are a normal American, will !
he near TO the bursting point with |
sheer pride from patriotic emotion /
Young. brawny. smooth-faced, they I
are an inspiration to every Amer /
lean ct home.
"As YOU saw them in France un- .
der all conditions, in battle array, in I
camp and on the highroads, even in /
the hospital after battle, where their .
own issue was in doubt. you saw free /
men who knew why they were .
marching
The American Army, made in
America and finished in France,
fighting like heroes and living like /
gentlemen. playing with the French .
children. fraterniZing with their par
ents, romping across no mans land /
with death staring them in the face,
never lost its dash for a second, nor .
did l ever hear a whimper from any
of them.
"They liked their little jokes. Whv,
they came up to my automobile, !
looked it over inside and out and /
said. Pretty soft for You but when .
] asked them if they would exchange .
places with me they answered in a
yolley, NO.
These men are coming home. We |
must ask ourselves what we are go
ing to do for them They do not
need TO be coddled or ionzed. They
don't like that very much. l have
seen men who have won many hon
ors of war abashed in the presence
of praise
:oldicrs Deserve Our Best
These men have been in a great
enterprise. but that is not so impor-
tant to us now as the question OF
what we are going to do to present
10 them equally great opportunities
in peace.
Historians say we change our
emotions case of action and re-
action. Philosophers are looking TO
us to forget our patriotic bias and
embark headlong on course of self
serve better from us than that.
These brave boys of ours are
bringing their virtues home with
them. If the opportunity is open,
the man who was brave in battle
will be brave in life men who were
willing to die for their country will
he willing TO work for it,
We have come to the end of the |
military part of the war. Nobody
can tell how ready the world is TO
abandon war and write the fruits
of this war into treaties. It is too |
early to analyZe. But we do know
our Nation, both in freedom and in !
achieving first place in the CONNER /
Cial life of the world. has a great J.
future, a great opportunity.
We must make America worthy 4
of the cost of war. build up our in Il
dustries, realizing the possibilities of 4
our community life and recognizing \
the nee dof co-operaton and growth .
through the strength of our people. n
When the victory of the war is writ
ten there will be chapters devoted I
to the romance of the part played II
by business as absorbing as tlie ro-
nance of the soldier.
Our losses in man power have L
not been so great because of the /
lateness of our entry into the war.
We have no such grave problems to
face as France and England. Our
machinery for war was a great prod
uct of genius of the American peo-
pie, and of the Nation can get out
of the way of industry, by speedy
withdrawal, the limitations and re-
gff of