Evening star., 1918-02-13
SOME STILL DOUBT
BAKERS FIGURES
Members of Committee Balk at
100000 Army Estimate
for 1918.
NEW PROJECTS DISCLOSED

l I4 secretary BAKER IcpolI " tAo A'SAA
ate committee on military affairs. CIV
ing in detail the shipping figures upon
which he based his statement that the
prospects were not unpromislng 1or
putting a million and a half men In
France in 1918, has failed to remove
doubt from minds of some of the COM
mittee that his statement was justified.
In his tonnage statement Secretary
Baker, according to committee mem
bers, did not contend that 100000
American soldiers could be maintained
in Europe in 1918 with present ship
ping facilities, but expressed hope OF
| securing more allied vessels.
Differ as to Tonnage Figures.
American tonnage now available. ac-
cording to Secretary Bakers state,
ment was said to be less than 1,4oO,ooo
tons. conceded by Senator Hitchcock
Secretary Bakers statement reiterated
his contention that but two tons gross,
or 1.6 net tons. are required to maintain
each soldier in Europe. Senator Hitch
cock estimated it at five tons. Also, ac-
cording to committee members, Secre-
tary Bakers estimate that ships can
make the round trip in fifty days gen.
orally has been exceeded.
A detailed statement of cargoeS car
ried in the past was submitted, and,
it was said, in some cases showed that
vessels with 5000 to 10000 tonnage ac-
tually carried freight weighing only from
5000 to 5000 tons.
Senator James to Speak Tomorrow.
Renewal Of the Senate debate. which
has been suspended for few days, is
scheduled for tomorrow, Senator James
of Kentucky, an administration spokes-
man. giving notice that he will speak
Defense"
He will be followed Friday by SEN
ator Weeks Of Massachusetts,, a repub-
lican member of the military commit
tee, in support of the bills for a war
ca binet and munitions director.
Vast New Projects Disclosed.
Many new construction projects for
the Army, including munition plants.
ordnance depots. storage plants, port
terminals, hospitals. aviation work,
cantonments and housing, were dis
closed in a statement given the Senate
military committee by the War Depart
menE The work will cost total of
$268.650,000. and, while some of the
projects had been announced before, in
! most cases the location and cost had
! not been given.
The statement shows that s37.0o0.o00
| will be spent in building a gas-making
plant at Edgewood n j. while forty
| interior storage depots. to cost an ag-
gregate of S30.00O.0 900. are to be erected
| at unnamed points. On aviation work,
| including a new cantonment, the loca-
! tion of which was not given, sac, ,000, 900
/ will be expended.
| Ordnance depots are to be built on
| the south Atlantic coast and at some
| seaport" at a cost of 100000 each.
and one on the middle Atlantic coast
at cost Of $1,000. 900. An ammunition
| depot at some seaport" is to cost
! s1,5oo.000, and a like sum is to be ex-
pended for an ordnance depot in central
| Pennsylvania.
Millions to Be Spent for Hospitals.
Hospitals for soldiers suffering with
tuberculosis, are to be built at Dem
yer, Col, and Asheville. n. c.. at a
cost of 100000 each. and s12,sO0,0O0 is
| to be spent on hospitals at thirty-two
Army training camps.
A division cantonment for the Regu-
| lar Army is to cost ss.000.000 but it's
| location was not given. 1t may take
| the place Of the Regular Army train
| ing camp at Charlotte. n. c., which
! soon is to be abandoned because of un-
| is located
Eight millions will be spent on
| port terminal at Boston. Mass, and
100000 on a similar terminal at
Charleston, S. c. Two millions are pro-
vided for three powder bag loading
| points at sites not yet selected
To Relieve Congestion in Shipyards.
For housing for the shipping to re-
| lleve congestion in shipyard commune
ties the department plans to expend
$4,000, 600. This will represent a part
of the $4,000, 900 for this purpose pro-
| vided in bill which passed the House
today In addition to this. $500. 900 will
be expended at Newport News. Va for
| housing the negro stevedore regiments
engaged there in loading vessels
Another item is that of s250,O0O for
| a high explosives plant at Sandy Hook.
l.. I.
Brig. Gen. Littell. in charge of cam
tonment division and other construc-
| tion Jobs. also submitted state
ments to the committee. showing that,
| In addition to the new work his bureau
| has charge of construction now in
progress calling for an expenditure of
| sl35.s00.000. making the total for pres
| ent and future work s404.550 900.