The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-03-13
MANY OTHERS
TO VISIT EUROPE
Coming Of Summer Will Prob
ably See Other Statesmen
Making Trip.
BAKER AT HEADQUARTERS
Secretary Of War to Spend
Greater Part of Time With
Gen. Pershing.
(By David iawrcnce.l


Copyright. 1918. by the New York
Evening Post, }
Washington. March IS. Secretary
Bakers trip to France Is looieal con-
sequence Of his statement before the
senate military affairs committee that
nobody could visualize the war in Eu-
rope without actually seeing II.
The secretary long ago determined
to 40 TO France and obtained PresiY
dent wilson's consent more than six
weeks ago. The senate military af-
fairs committees nvestigationNchange
his plans somewhat, ms he felt he
ought to he nt tho disposal OF what
ever body in congress sought to inter-
roRate him.
Shortly aftcf tho secretary made his
impressive statement OF conditions as
he viewed them he informed some OF
the members OF the senate committee
Of his intention to so to Europe. and II
was informally agreed that Mr.. baker
would be In "a much better position TO
tell tho committee about the progress
OF the war machine after he had vis-
tied Europe than he was at tho preS-
ent time,
The secretary Of war, however.
isn't going merely on an inspso.
ton trip. From such conversation
a. some OF Us had with him before
he left, the impression 10 that he
will work out among other things
delicate questions Of personnel
with Con. Psrshino. as for instance
who should have command Of the
various divisions on the battle
front whsn large numbers OF Amer
iesn troops are put into tho fight
ing line.
Spend All Time With Pershina.
Mr.. Baker viii spend practically all
+ hia time with Gen Porshlng at the
,merican headquarters. though he
xpectcd 10 visit the front Itself and
90 how American troops In the
ronchcs were being cared for.
There will be no cercmOnlnls or for-
,nliticH if Mr.. Baker can avoid thht
yhon he gets through lis conferences
Ith Gen Pcrshlng. he probably VIII
pend n day In Paris and dhy IN
ondon. but the chief object of his I
,urnev II TO nnd out from Gen. Per- /
hing how supplies have been coming ,
hat can be done In the United states ,
, speed up, how soon he wants more
oops and general survey OF the
Ilitary situation. which could hardly /,
, given in cablod or mail communl-
Itious ana which can he best ct
aimed on the spot. ,
or course. the president. Who has =
npliclt faith In Mr.. Baker. viii be
iidcd largely by the lhtter's reports
him, no II may bo expected that I'M
,rtnnt decisions ~ military policy I
NJ follow the secretary Of wars visit. n
incidentally. II 10 " marx OF CONN .
nee IN the rsorganrsd war depart n
On, tina, the president permits the n
ers.sry Of war 10 be away for sew. o
81 week, at time. But with Gen. II
orge w. oosthAl, and hi, splendid y, ~
1an,Iation IN the auartsrmAstsr de. "l
rtmsnt. with the new system intro =,
cod by Cen. Wheeler IN the ord. !, !,
nee bureau. and with Cen. peyton ui
'rsh. who has jus, come back from =
anes. now diseharuina the impor'
u dutie. of ehief of stah, the war
,srtmsnt can run also pretty we'll
IN occasional directions and ,nstrue.
ns By cable from the secretary
lie IN France.
he cables are working so well these
~ that Mr Baker can Keep In as 81,
" touch hs Dee would ~ he were Nis- \.
X a cnntonmsnt in Texas a.
ir Bakers tourney cHtH hllshcs in *
rntally n valuable precedent for a a.
z time "a has boon urged that other m.
mbers of our cabinet should famil-
re- thsmselsy- Ht nrst hand With r.,
ditlons abroad They have hvsi- -.
a 20 let 20 - their departments. a.,
the value 90 or derived from per- =,
al confcrcgrr and hrat hand in =.
rtion ls a c0mpensHfion that has -.
n too little appreciated. i,.
More 20 v,st Europe. Nc
Before the war - over. however. -
would not be surpris,ro 10 had m.
"a G-..s.-- n....f. - e. o..