New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

fairs to-day that the question of increas-
ing the army's big gun programme was
being studied.
He told the committee, also, that the
question Of widening the draft age limits
was being studied.
The aircraft reorganization is appar-
emily being studied, too, for it is now ten
days or more since action by the Presi-
dent has heen expected, and still no ap-
pointment of director Of airplane pro-
duction is announced. The House Mill
tary Affairs Committee did not ask him
about aircraft
Here is delay on three vital aspects Of
war preparation upon which u decision
was momentarily expected before Secre-
tary Bakers return from France. Has
hls coming back prompted the 'studying"
which is holding up action on airplanes,
on draft legislation and on increased big
gun building? Is Mr.. Baker himself the
cause Of the sudden slowing down of the
war machine, which was running at un-
precedcnted speed while he was away?
The delay of aircraft reorganization is
especially puzzling. In Mr. Bakers alb
sence Assistant Secretary Crowell acted
with promrtness when the revelations of
the failure of the aircraft programme
were made The Marshall committee
was forthwith appointed It was decided
to put one single man in charge of air
craft production and divorce it from the
War and Navy departments. Mr..
Crowell and representatives of the Navy
Department, it is understood, agreed
upon the single aircraft executive All
this happened days ago. This man thus
selected was not Hepry Ford, who to-day
withdrew his name from possible con-
slderatlon, so his action does not cause
the delay
The Marshall report was made several
days ago; so the Administration is not
waiting to hear the results of this in
Vestlgatlon AS matter of fact, the
conclusions reached by Mr.. Marshall and
MS associates do not differ in any es-
sentlal respect from the conclusions
reached by the Senate Military Affairs
Committee; so that report does not up-
set the plan already conceived of an
pointing single civilian as director of
aircraft production. A movement for
the reorganization of aircraft produc-
ton that was going ahead rapidly
stopped when Mr.. Baker got home
Meanwhile aircraft factories are waiting
patiently for orders to produce, and DAYS
are being lost on programme that is
already months behind.
AS for Zig guns, the question of add
ing to our programme has been "studied"
for months. According to Mr.. Baker. it
is still being studied, in spite of the fact
that IN the steel trade it was understood
before he got back that the decision to
nulld many more guns had practically
been reached. "The Iron Age" contained
news article more than a week ago
about the orders for artillery which were
being expected by steel manufacturers
Our artillery programme has been
known for months to be lamentably in
adequate. To get more guns will re-
qulre the building of additional fonn-
dries, and it will be months before an
additional gun can even be started. It
will be the end of 1919 before manv mora
guns now planned can be built. Yet Mr.
Baker told the House committee TO-DAY
that additional artillery was still being
studied.
With regard to the draft, Congress has
been scolded for it's slowness in passino
war legislation, and there is much ius-
tlce IN the complaint against it. But the
House has been waiting for weeks to
know what the War Departments draft
plans were. 1t was told it would know
when the Secretary returned. 1t is asked
still to wait while the question of the
size of the army is considered with ref
erence to shipping.
With regard to the draft, also. the
war Department had got it's plans readv
while the Secretary was away General
Crowder favored making every one from
elghteen to fifty liable to conscription.
plan which would have an excellent no1;t.
lcal effect abroad and important indus
TRIAL possibilities at home. This plan.
apparently, is dead, either as a result of
secretary Bakers opposition or of the
opposition of the President. And there
is no plan to take it's place Congress- is
asked to wait
ASIDE from telling the House Military
Affairs Committee to wait while o,cs-
tlons were being studied, the Secretary
olo little except to tell of his trip abroad
as one member of the committee said. in
words OF glowing optimism" He told
what fine army we had in Eurone
what French officers said about it. and
now the adversary''- habitual ex-
preston for Germany he brouobt hoo,,