Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-01-12
BAK Err HANDLED
WITHOUT GLOVES

said Mr. Baker
you gave that Impression"
Il said initial rush needg' are
filled" explained Mr. Baker I
But YOU ought to define your state /
ment: it gives the country the i'm
preston that every need In the camp
is supplied said MIR Weeks.
MIR. Baker said rifle shortages since
General Grehle reported, had been
substantially corrected.
'It would have been very fortun-
ate II Ne could have got machine guns
sooner" he added,
"ls there @y reason why 1900
should be held I'm storsEe7' asked
senator Hitchcock. referring to tcsti-
mony by General Crozier TO that IF
feet
II did nat know. that" said Mr.
Baker.
Dcpiorcs Tnrdy Contracts.
kevertiue TO delays I'm machine gun
deliveries Senator Hitchcock deplored
tardy contracts for LOWS guns and|
NJ srs,l Baker relQincd thai. large pro
<Se~on would begin iu February
This aroused Senator llltchcok
That is not so. he retorted sharply
| siapping his hands together at the
secretary. 1--WE won't have large
quantity before 1919 In actual use.
We haven't one now"
we have nine,' Mr. Baker sug-
gested smiling Seriously he added
! that production was being speeded up
and that his latest information was
| lhat quantity production OF the
| Browning guns would begin IN Febru-
AIRY.
Senators Hitchcock and Weeks both
called the secretarx,s attention to
| tngtittnttH pf
manufacturers given contracts for the
Browning gun, that production In
quantity would not begin before
April.
such testimony, Secretary Baker
conceded. would be most reliable
| Secretary Bakers formal statement
Of yesterday regarding army prepared
ness, Senator Weeks declared. would
| "unintentioually mislead the coun-
try"
The country" said the senator
Should not be lullcd 10 sleep 10y a
general statement Of facts that do not
exist"
During the rapid oss-questioning
the secretary was apparently serene
| putting cigar and answering all
questions calmly.
| Secretary Baker said he was mot
surprised" st the machine gun short
age reported AZ Camp Bowie In view
| OF the general machine gun situation.
| Senator Weeks said that witnesses
declare machine gun units "are prac-
| tlcally throwing their time away" by
not having guns for practice.
- think YOU should give this your
immediate and earnest attention" ="
Senator Weeks said.
Shortage I'm Mules
Secretary Baker said there was a
shortage OF about 90 per cent IN
saddles; 40 per cent in saddle
| blankets There were plenty Of
horses but "A small shortage in mules.
There was shortage in small arm
ammunition.
"Why nine months after the begin
ming Of the war Is there no supply
OF rolling kitchens for the camps
demanded Senator Weeks,
II cannot answer that" Mr. Baker
REPLIED 'I suppose II ls because tho
training units are not on the field
and do not need rolling kitchens"
Returning TO the question OF pur-
chascs by the supplies committee OF
the council OF defense, Mr.. Baker
said.
"rhe process is being stopped and
| think II IS stopped now
what becomes Of the committee 2'
asked Senator NcEellnr
1T will disappear.' Mr BakeE re-
Piled, adding that Vice ChSDman
Fisenn man viii lie commissioned or
placed on n salary with tho reorcan-
lied quartermas'er generals office
"I want to protest against employ
ment Of MIR Elsenman because OF de-
velopments IN this committee ~cEnrd-
MIR. Eisenman and Mr.. klplan,"- said
the senator while Mr. Etserman
may be equipped. the rev yelauons be-
fore this committee. In my opinion,
show that Mr. Eisenmnn should not
be retained In any capacity
Secretary Baker, In rcplT praised
Mr. Eisenman. hts business enterprise
and judgment endorse everything
know he has done. slid Secretary
Baker. adding that Nr. Eisenman had
saved the government many millions
OF dollars lie promised 20 study the
commuters testimony regarding Els
onman's services.
When asked by Senator Wadsw orth
II i'm view OF the war situation. he
regarded the 1919 army estimate too
smail, Secretary Baker replied
"In view OF what has happened
since II would have been wiser for
them 10 have been much larger
lie recalled that congress reduced
shouldn't congress have been
asked to give more money! de
manded Senator Wadsworth. pounding
The table. Secretary Baker reiterated
that events would have justified larger
-nrrrupriattuuF.
Senator Hitchcock again brought up
the machine gun question and pointed
out that the war departments latest
estimates showed that July deliveries
Of Browning guns viii hc four umcs