The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-29
GAVE TESTIMONY
 WHILE SEATED AT
 COMMITTEE TABLE
tcontinued from page one>

Although more than i,VVu,VVV men are ul- der arms in this country, MT. Baker said the number of complaints received have been relatively small, probably not more than is. In each instance, he said, in- vestigations have been immediately made.
 Some reports, the secretary said, have not proved serious upon inquiry while others had, in which case corrections followed.
 In the case of the body of an officek who died at an aviation training school being shipped home in sheet. Secre- tary Baker said inquiry developed that the camp was in charge of a British aviation officer who followed the Brit ish method of sending bodies home un- clothed, the mans clothes being shipped in a separate parcel. An Amerlcan offl- cer was then put in charge
 Another complaint of neglect of a pa tent at Camp Wheeler, Ga, he said, developed that it was unjustified and resulting from ''the distressed imagina- ton of the widow"
 CASES INVESTIGATED There are still in the hands of the inspector general nine cases being inves- tigated. NIr. Baker told of investigations which resulted in the discharge of Lieut.. Cha rles w Cole and Lieut.. John c. Dye for neglect of patients as published in the newspapers Saturday and Sunday. The judge advocate general advised, ad- ding a prison sentence to the dismissal and that is being considered. ''The department sets it's face against that sort of callous disregard of soldiers health" Secretary Baker said "I want the doctors and the country to know that their lives and welfare are responsi- bility which I will not permit to be dodged or handled in cavalier fash ion"
 While camp commanders are held re- sponsible for health conditions. Secretary Baker said the surgeon generals office 1 has daily inspections and he has appointed pr. John A. Hornsby, hospital expert l as his personal inspector. telegram | from Dr. Hornsby regarding camp con- dit.ons Senator Chamberlain assailed disclosed them greatly improved" with mortality reduced. and ample accommo- dations for all sick"
 | Secretary Baker read a letter from Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart. the writer who has a son in the service, commend ! ing hospital conditions she recently in spected Mrs. Rinehart said she was impressed by Senator Chamberlain s tragic letters"
 But I feel the mothers of the coun- | trX SnOQIQ knOW, W1Otc hIS INiitttisilt |, r'that the number of such cases is small. It is cruel to allow every mother l to judge the medical corps because here land there men are unwilling. or unable | to give the care that is their duty. These are conditions to be remedied. The shortage of women nurses is serious. But of cruelty and indifference, l have found notfing Ninety mine out of 100 boys are receiving better care than they could afford at home"
 EXPERTS IN CHARGE "And I wish to point out further, said Secretary Baker that the very heads of the medical profession, the masters of the profession are in con- stant touch with the surgeon general" No army could be raised in any country, the secretary continued, with out danger from communicable dis eases All that could be done was to provide every means of science to meet that danger. That, he insisted, was being done.
 Taking up Senator Chamberlain's at I tack on the ordnance bureau, Mir Ba ker said that mems minds differed about the types of guns to be used and about the quantity. He then dis closed that the decision to adopt the so -cal1ed rechambered Enfield rifle was reached late one night in his of flee at a conference attended by Gen eral Pershing. who was preparing tc go to France; General Scott. chief oi staff; General Bliss. assistant chief General Crozier, chief of ordnance, and General Kuhn. then head of the wal college. and several other staff of ficers "experts in rifles'
 RIFLE DECISION
 It was late in May, or early il June.
 The American Springfield rifle Sec. retary Baker said was admittedly tho best military rifle developed by an5 country" when this decision wa! reached There were in stock abou GOO. 900 of them.
 It was not then known, Secretar, Baker continued. whether American troops would fight beside the Britisl or the French. The British used a rim cartridge rifle of one calibre and thu French a rim cartridge gun of an , other calibre.
 The British government had beei prepared to rearm the entire Britisl army with the Enfield when the wa , broke out in 1914. but the suddennes of the war prevented the change.
 After America entered the war, MT Baker said. Major General Wood cam to his ciff0, and advocated the ne [ cessity of calling out large army Secretary Baker said there were no the clothes nor the arms. Genera Wood replied he knew that, but con tended the men needed to live to gether for preliminary training" H told General Wood he agreed that tn army should be assembled as rapidl, as possible, but it was said to be tn intention to build up the regular arm, and the national guard first and thel the national army.
 Concluding his statement regardin:
 the decision to call many men early Secretary Baker said:
 Ut was deemed wise to put mel
 into camp to learn camp living am ! essentials of a soldiers life. a littl l in advance. so they could be full.
 supplied with arms"
 MOTLEY COLLECTION"
 Regarding Senator Chamberlain
 statement that rifles originally sent {
 camp were motley collection Sec 1 retary Baker said he did not object {
 the term, but that the facts were tha
 i've had about 6O0000 Springfield rifle
 and something over 100000 Krags."
 ..The German army he added. "fur
 nishes an obsolete rifle for practice unt
 men learn to take care of a bette
 weapon.
 T do not mean to say" he adde'