The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-01-31
Will Have Army of !. 500 600 in
France This Spring., J3s54

France This SPRING 3ss
Am msss1 viz have 3 an army s1e 81 go.
900 in France early this year, with
100000 more trained. and equip.
ped ready to follow as quickly as
ships can be provided to carry them
and the outlook for ships is not un-
promising
Secretary Baker gave this infor-
nation to the world yesterday in a
statement before the senate military
committee, barring much that until
now has been carefully guarded with
the army's military secrets, in an
has broken down preparing for war.
From early morning until late af-
ternoon the secretary addressed the
committee and crowd including
many members of both houses of
congress, gathered in big hearing
He spoke extemporaneously, begin
ming with details of the mammoth
task of building an army of 1,50O,-
900, answering such complaints of
inetficiency as We're cited by Senator
Chamberlain in his recent. speech,
and declaring that such instances
were isolated and not general.
Some questions were asked and Mr..
Baker, from time to time, had as
sistants go to the telephone for re-
ports on specific questions.
Then, toward the close of the day
the secretary delivered dramatic
general statement OF the American
war plan, telling OF the. coming of
= the allied missions, OF the day and
night conferences with men fromSthe
scene of battle in which the plans
now being executed were adopted,
tgnine expectations in building the
,arny, and it's industrial supports at
home, transporting men across the
!. ocean, constructing railroads in
France and preparing to strike the
enemy with every resource at the
country's command.
When Mr.. Baker closed it was
apparent he had created profound
impression. Chairman. Chember-
lain said SO before he left the stand
i There was no attempt at cross eX-
animation. The chairman proposed
that the. secretary be given a rest,
and it virtually was agreed to re
later after the committee has COM
jIpleted its hearings OF officers of the
medical corps, aviation section and
other branches of the service.
While many things disclosed i'm
iamazed. when told that the men Of
'thirty-two national guard 'and ma
Etional army divisional camps are
ready to go today at need. When
members wanted to know why such
things had not been given publicity
luctance of military men to reveal
their war plans and quoted German
remarks about America S advertise
ment of her preparations.
/, Emphasizing that he was not there
to defend himself or anybody else.
the secretary urged the committee
and a uoin haCa
shortening or failure Of the depart
ment that it might be corrected.
Frequently he paused to seek strong
er language to describe the devotion
of his associates in the department,
military and civilian.
said, the impression has gone out
into the country, to some extent at
least, that the war department has
fallen down.
1T would be tragical thing il
this tremendous effort, this wholly
men, We're in fact to turn out 70 de-
serve the comment that it had fallen
down"
Mr.. Baker stood personal response
bility for getting men under train
ing before their equipment was
Such officers as Mai Gen. Leonard
| Wood, he said, had urged this pol
icy. He described conferences that
| evolved the ordnance program and
| it's fulfillment, submitting documents
to prove that France and Great Brit
chine guns for the first forces at
their own urgent request in order
that ships might be used for other
purposes.
In all that was done prior to the
departure of the firk troops, Cen
eral Pershing shared in the de lin;aa
reached rtsi d. Mr.. Baker declared. and
now surrounded with staff of train
ed regular officers, Pershing is in
France as the "eyes of the armv."
Every step taken SINCE has been
founded on his long daily cabled re-
ports of what is going on at the
fighting fronts.
Tables were cited to show, that
overcrOwding in the camps and can
tonments had not been general and
that the sickness had come mostly
in the camps. where medical opinion
had agreed it was least to. be ex-
pected.
The history of the development
and building of the cantOnments was
given in detail to show that every
precaution possible had been taken.
Analysing the efforts OF the ora.
General Crozier had urged 70" years
a great artillery preparation; that
he-at least had realized the time gun
making required. But even France
herself with the enemy at her
throat" he said, had not been able
to see what vast gun programs the
war would lead into.
Pleasant Ridge.
Mrs. Lavina Immersion spent last I