The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-02-16

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Wall Sc News 20 Kaiser.
Chairman Chamberlain asked 'h'
sNcrc;srS Why III crald not take th'
puhlIc ,utN bis 0sntdcace In the mat
ter
Sccretary Baker replied that he hes'
ila,,Vi 20 do thar. tie referred TO
staiensea; by General von iindenourf
10 the effect that America was auver'
tisias her intentions.
"But isn't II a fact that Germany
has Known all about thisy" persisted
Senator Chamberlain.
NO" replied Secretary Baker. line
German government is still mystineu
regarding the number of men now IN
France. They know what Is doing nj
the front. but Germany Is still mysu'
fed regarding the number OF men now
In France"
v. S. Troops Welcomed In France.
II the whole regular American army
had been sent into battle at once. Sec
rotary Baker said. like England's. II
would have been destroyed.
In eloquent words. Secretary Baker
described how France welcomed the
first American soldiers, peasants kiss
ing the hens Of their coats.
Without prepared manuscript and In
a frank, conversational manner, the
secretary of war told the senator's he
came TO defend no mistakes or short
comings, but to insist most emphatic
ally that deficiencies, where disclosed.
had been promptly modified: that they
were the exception rather than the
rule. and that the very magnitude OF
Americas undertaking made errors or
Judgment and mistakes likely.
incidentally, In defending the war
machinery against the charge OF inef-
ficiency and lack of initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured,
the secretary Of war disclosed some
facts hitherto held confidential.
Allies Prefer to Furnish Guns.
France and Great Britain. he said,
ere supplying artillery to the American
forces because they themselves wished
to do so. as they had an excess on
hand and wished to save ships for
more vital necessities.
Thirty-two divisions Of National
Guard and National army troops In
camp In the United States-more than
a million men In all-are considered
ready to go overseas for service when
ever 1t Is decided that they shall move.
Every American soldier who can use
a rife, Secretary Baker told the SEN
ators. already has been provided with
one. and the rate of manufacture as
sures steady supply as troops be
come ready to use them.
There are-now In the United States
10 National army camps and 10 Ma
tiOnal Guard camps (32 divisions OF
troops) filed with men ready TO CO."
said Secretary Baker.
81 do not know how fast II may be
necessary 10 send them to France" he
said. 81 know how fast we have sent
liitlH anu IibN wv lla'I w SNhA
them. What we tried 10 do was to get
the men our rs rapidly as we could cs-
innate on the production capacity OF
the country being able 10 care for
them"
Followed Pershlne's Advice.
Lewis machine guns. he said. al.
though they have been ordered are
not being used for the troops on land,
because General Pershing and his staff
,icsire them only for airplane work.
Great Britain and France. he said. are
prepared to furnish machine guns for
the land forces until'the American sup
ply arrives. and In fact. wish to do so.
Responsibility for calling out large
number of men before equipment for
them was ready. Secretary Baker as
suined himself. but added that the
best military advisers. including Mai
Gen. Leonard Wood. pressed for IL.
Charges of mistrcatment Of troops
in hospitals. Secretary Baker said
were acted on vigorously. and he point.
ed out that the war department only
last week refused to permit dismissal
of two army doctors. who mistreated
soldiers, hut insisted that they should
have prison sentences In addition.
Senator Chamherlaln's speech. Mr..
Baker thought. had given the country
the impression that the deficiencies
complained Of ''were characteristic
rather thnn occasional" For that rea.
son he deplored Its effect, but he en-
phatically DECLARED he came before the
committee. not to defend individuals.
nor deny delay or false starts.
"But." said he. 81 think I can say In
confidence that In them we have
sought the remedy"
Securing artillery from France. Mr..
Baker said. also would save ships.
IT am telling no secret when I sny
that ships nre the crux Of our prob
lem" he said.
Secretary Baker said all foreign rem
resentatives and also the wnr council
participants headed ny r. M. House
declared that securing ordnance from
England and France viii not take sun
plies they need, hut will help them.
I'VE Are In War TO Hit and Hit Hard. >