The Washington herald., 1918-01-29
BAKER BARES
WAR SECRETS
CONGRESS
Says 500. 900 S. Soldier
viii Be in France Soon,
if Ships Are Ready. :

First definite announcement was
made yesterday that America would
have a half million men IN France
early this year.
She will have three times that
many ready to send before 1919.
Secretary of War Newton d.
Baker made these statements when
he appeared before the Senate Mil
tary Affairs Committee to reply to
Senator Chamberlain's assertion that
the War Department had fallen
down"
The Secretary made flat denial
that the military establishment had
collapsed. 1T would be a tragic
thing if the wholly unprecedented
effort would turn out to merit thai
charge" he said.
Admits Delays.
Mr.. Baker admitted there had been
delays in preparation
Il do not want TO add any color
Of prophecy as to when they VII
be removed" he declared. But every
effort will be made TO remedy them"
He reviewed picturesquely and IN
detail the enormous achievements OF
war preparation here and abroad, and
said at the end Of this long ana in
teresting presentation:
when it's all told. the story -
the war preparation will be shown
as tremendous response 10 a trr-
mendous responsibility. The Ameri-
can people will feel glad 60 hear IT,
Our task is TO hit. and hit bar6.
There will be no star-playing. but
team-playing More has been accom-
plished than the wisest ever dreamed.
There will he criticism. But -
far as the War Department is con-
cerned. there will be continuing ef-
fort and a hospitality toward every
/ suggestion that can come from the
outside
For nearly five hours the secretary
: talked 20 a room crowded to its doors
He said it was the longest speech
he had ever made in his life. The
Senate Committee abandoned its own
room for a larger one in the Senate
/ Office Building. An hour before the
appointed time. a thnong stood in the
Hobbies waiting to get inside. In the
end, only about 20 persons heard the
iseeIsisFy,x secrets IseEe verS SoHrposed
men, newspaper reporters and woTn-|
en- spectators who carried their inevi-
! table knitting with them.
Refers 20 Papers.
For the most part the Secretary was
not interrupted. He came armed with
a mass Of papers, but referred to them
seldom His remarkable vocabulary
was used to best advantage in many
striking phrases and similes, such as:
France was a white sheet OF paper
so far as we were concerned. on that
sheet we had to write not only an
army but the means Of maintaining
an army" he said.
Interesting revelations were fire.
Quently made. At one time the Sec
rotary described a midnight confer
ence in his Office at which the Enheld
army rife was selected on the eve OF
Gen. Pershings sailing. At another
period, he said Gen. Leonard Wood
recommended calling out the drafted
men before they were properly
equipped, so that their training could
begin. At still another moment he
told how the Russian breakdown and
the Italian defeats had switched the
war plan.
His hearers paid closest attention
when the Secretary repudiated the
suggestion that the srgus-eyed Ger
, man secret service had been able to
learn how many American fighting
men there are now in France.
Germany Yet MystIHed.
Why have YOU not let the public
! into your confidence on this point"
asked Senator Chamberlain.
Il hesitate to do So" replied the
Secretary. 'I have here an article
. in which Won HindenburE con-
! temptuously says the Americans adj
vertise their preparations"
DO you think there has been
minute at any time when the German
/ secret service did not know how
; many men we had in France7"
Yes sir. II 1 can rely upon my
best information, the German gov
ernment is stin mystifed about it
Does the British or the French
government advertise its plans?'' in
Quired Senator Myers.
NO"
THE American does not either.
does it?' put in Senator Chamberlain.
mo sir. Senator, IL / wanted 90
find out today how many men the
French or British have at the front.
could not do so. They will not
tell. 1 could know only in a general
way"
The Senate Committee will continue
its investigation. and the Secretary
will be summoned again, but not for
the present. II is the intention OF
the committee to proceed with other
branches OF the War Department.
Not EyasIye. -
Secretary Baker said: III YOU de-
sire TO go into other branches, 1 vii
lend you my AID"
At this time. he also said with
great Difference" to the committees
For some reason do not understand.
although I appeared before your com
mittee with the intention OF being
frank and the utmost desire 70 AID
you, seem to have left the impress
sion upon some members that / was
fencing in behalf OF some Of my sub
ordinates."
Members OF the Senate Military AZ
fairs Committee say they will not
abandon their efforts to push the war
cabinet bill.
There was the strongest contrast IN
the Secretsry's attitude toward the
committee yesterday as compared
with his previous experiences. lie did
not indulge in his cigar-in fr~s!