The Tomahawk., 1918-02-07
BAKER ANSWERS
SENATE CRITICS
Says Lack of Guns no Longer Ex-
lists and That Greatest
Need Is for Ships.
EVERY man IS READY
Many Times Numbe: Of Soldiers A.
ready Overseas IS Originally
PIanned-Hospita1 Condi-
tons Good.

tons Good.
Washington, Jan. 30.-Secretary of
War Baker struck back at critics of
the war department with the declara-
ton that every man in 80 national
guard and national army camps is
ready now to be set to France When
ever needed"
Tonnage is the crux of the whole
situation, and this country is using
French artillery to save ships for sup
plies, he said.
The Allies urged troopEbefore any
thing else-saying France and Eng
land could supply us with artillery.
In a sweeping statement delivered
before the senate military committee
Raker showed the great steps this
government has taken--some of them
necessarily sudden and hence with
out sufficient preparation-to win the
war.
Facts and Figures Given.
In reply to those who have criti-
cised the war department, t:le secre-
tary of war declared:
That laxity in the medical service
at camps will not be tolerated.
Three officers have been court mar
tailed and dismissed from the army
because of negligence in attending
sick.
General Pershing himself o. KID
the adoption of the modified Enfield
rifle.
A great army was called out before
guns were ready for it on the earnest
recommendation Of Major General
Leonard Wood. who said the men
would first need other training be-
sides that in the use of guns.
Every man in France has his own
gun and is trained to use it.
Many times as many men are now
in France as had been originally
planned for this date.
General Pershing himself decided
against the Lewis machine gun for
land work.
On Nov. I, 140 machine guns were
sent to each training camp.
Every man in 50 training camps is
now ready for service In France.
Has Right Type Of Artillery.
Our army in France-now large,
and it will be much larger"-will have
tie type of artillery it wants and
needs.
That 300 three.inch antiaircraft
guns will be turned out monthly in
this country before another year.
Official reports based on careful
information showed that camp hOspi-
tails in many cases are the equal Of
civilian hospitals and all are in splen-
did shape.
Greatly in Earnest.
Secretary Baker was greatly in ear.
nest when he replied to Senator
Chamberlain's charges of inefficiency
In the war departme nt at a public
hearing before the senate military
committee.
Incidentally in defending the war
machinery against the charge of in
efficiency and lack of initiative to pre-
bare for war when war was assured.
the secretary disclosed facts hitherto
held confidential.
At the outset the secretary said he
thought much criticism came from i'm
patience of the American people Ito
do this great thing greatly"
lie conceded freely that in so great
enterprises it was impossible there
should not be delays and shortcom-
ings." The confidence of the country,
r In r~fl -
the tremendous effort.
Medical Staff the Best.
II want the country to know that
the health and care of the men in
camps is responsibility I will not
allow to be lodged" said Baker. He
next took up measures taken through
tho surgeon generals office under Ba-
ker's direct orders, to inspect camp
hospitals. y
I'VE have a medical staff, the like
Of which does not exist elsewhere on
the face Of the earth. No army was
ever brought together or ever can be,
that will not be subject to communi-
cable diseases. The most We can do
Is fight these things"
Change In Ordnance.
Baker next turned to shortages in
the supply of ordnance. He reviewed
the rifle situation, answering criti-
cisms of the delay in settling on the
modified Enfield as the army rifle for
the United States forces.
General Pers:ling. Baker said, was
ut the conference at which the mOdi-
fed Enfield was de cided on. 1t was a
week before Pershing went to Eu-
rope.
I'VE did not Their know whether our
aandifs Eioh% Erono a>h;nd nrlffa