The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-01-29

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-Secretary
of War Baker came back hard at his
congressional critics today He went
to the capitol early this morning and
laid his cards upon the table before
the senate military affairs commit
tee. 4
There was in evidence a rather Bit
ter undercurrent on the part of com
mittee members against the secretary
from the start.
Secretary Baker said he did not ap-
pear to defend himself or to defend
any individual in the war department
He came, he said, to make clear to
the American public, in so far as was
compatible with the efficient conduct
of the war just what the war de-
partment has accomplished up to this
time. THE country is entitled to
know the facts. 1t is entitled to
know what the problems have been
and what steps have been taken to
meet them" he said. The general
feeling throughout the country that
the war department had fallen
down" Secretary Baker attributed to
the fact that the country was impa-
tient to be in the fight The people
want to feel, he said, that the coun-
try, lis great and strong and can hit
like a man" at it's enemies. He said
that he too, had experienced a shock
of horror when he read the letters
Senator Chamberlain had read in the
senate telling of mistreatment of
wounded and dying men in the can
torment hospitals. But these, he said
were unusual cases; that there had
been not more than a dozen and half
of such complaints since the country
began its preparation for war.
Il want now to find who was guilty
of this inhuman treatment in order to
punish them" Secretary Baker de-
4 clared. Senator Chamberlain had
promised to give him the names signed
to the two letters in order that he
I might investigate and punish, he add
4 ed
The country now is passing
through a period of questioning that
I accompanied every great enterprise,
the secretary of war was convinced.
He himself often questioned whether
we have done all that we ought to
have done" he said "and it was nat
ural that the rest of the country
should do the same" Il am here now
with no hurriedly gathered data" he
said. Il am here to make compen-
4 one of you who has a question would
not hesitate to ask it, for that is the
only way that the confidence of this
great people can be buttressed in this
time of psychological crisis
Secretary Baker called attention to
| the cases of Lieutenant Charles w.
Cole of Camp Beauregard and Lieu
tenant John W. Dwyer of Camp Funs-
ton, who recently were court mar
tailed and ordered dismissed for neg
lect of duty in the performance of
their medical duties. Secretary Ba-
ker declared he had recommended i'm
prisonment for these officers.
1.-THE action taken in these cases, -
4 Secretary Baker said, lis that of the
| department setting its face against
. callous and Indifferent treatment of
soldiers. l want doctors and the
! country to know that the lives and
welfare of the soldiers are a respon-
sibility which / will not permit to be
| lodged or treated in any cavalier
fashion.
"Those who are Indifferent and
negligent will be punished as the pen
! atty provides"
Secretary Baker declared he had
ordered Surgeon General Gorgas to
inspect the camps and environments
and when the investigation was com
pleted that officer reported conditions
unsanitary.
Secretary declared he himself gave
the reports to the newspapers.
q Il did that for two reasons" said
4 Secretary Baker, 'for / wanted no
q concealment and / wanted the help
I of the country"
4 He added he had advised continu-
Il Gus inspection of the camps by an Of
! ficer of the staff of the surgeon gen.
eral and told of the subsequent APP
pointment of DR.. Hornsby to this duty