New Britain herald., 1918-01-28
EXAGGERATION BY
 SEN. CHAMBERLAIN BAKERS DEFENSE
Secretary of War Tells Senate Committee Real Conditions
 Have Been Distorted
DOES NOT ACCUSE
 CRITIC OF MALICE

VI UlI1lANA In Straightforward Explanation of
 Situation, Head of War Department EAdmits False Starts and Errors
 Have Been Made But Denies His As
 sistans Have Been Guilty of Ineffi-
 cicncy.
 Washington, Jan. 2S.-Secretary Baker today replied to Senator Cham -berloin's charges of inefficiency in the war department, at public hearing before the senate military committee. He began making a verbal statement without manuscript.
 MT. Baker sold his statement was not exactly supplementary to his re- cent one to the committee but a. comprehensive statement of all army activities in the war, especially reply ing to the charge that the department mad fallen down. At the outset the 'secrctary said he thought that the criticism came from impatience of the American people ito do this great thing greatly.
 He conceded that in so great an en- terprse it was impossible that there should not be delays and shortcom- ings The confidence of the country, . however, he said, was necessary to the tremendous effort.
 The mistakes cited in Senator C'hamberlains speech, Secretary Bal1- CT declared, gave a dlsproportonate aspect. Without intent, he said, the effect of the senators speech was to give the country the impression that the deficiencies were characteristic rather than occasional" k He said he was not there to defend individuals or deny delays and false starts.
 But think can say in confidence that in them we have sought the rcm- edy,'' he said.
 That there are more than 8 million men under arms in this country was stated by the secretary in alluding to . the cases of alleged neglect of the dead in camp cited by Senator Cham berIain.
 Major Gen. Wood, MT. Baker said, recommended calling out a large army, although the men could not be at once provided with rifles and clothing.
 For one reason or another the irn- pression has gone out to some extent 4 that the war department has fallen down in the conduct of the war" the secretary said. ''I want to address myself to that question.
 There are several reasons why l should ask the committee to hear me.
 First the country is entitled to know what this war is and what the problems are and how we are to meet them. Second I have a deep sense of duty to the officers and civilians that are laboring with devotion, sacrifice and zeal and are spending sleepless nights to bring this army up to it's greatest efficiency and success.''
 The impatience of the whole coun- try ''to do this thing greatly, the sec retary continued, probably inspired " much of the criticism. Every one of us wants to see our country hit like a man at the adversary.
 We look back over the past and see there have been shortcomings, that there have been delays. There are things that could have been better done But our effort is to learn.
 T have no purpose to defend indi- :, viduals or myself. If I discuss here individuals by name, if I refer to Gen. Crozier or Gen. Sharpe or myself it will be only to make it clear. If any of us should figure in tomorrow's cas- ualties it would be as nothing beside the object we all seek. I am not here to deny short -comings but I think I can say this:
 That where we have such short comings or mistakes we have made < every effort to correct them. I most earnestly ask that when you have pointed out to you any short coming, whether it seems well founded or not, that you instantly refer it to me in order that the processes of the de- partment may sift the truth.'
 Every soldier who needs a h. rifle has one, Secretary Baker said and of better type than if the Brit ish Enfield rifle had been adopted
 Lewis Guns for Aviators OnIy
 Defending the lack of Lewis ma- chine guns Secretary Baker reiterated that Gen. Pershing does not want Lewis guns for the ground forces, but only for aviation.
 Declaring that by securing artillery ! from France, MT. Baker said it also would save ships.
 1T am telling no secret when I say that ships are the crux of your prob 1em," he said.
 Secretary Baker said all foreign representatives and also the war coun- cll participants, headed by Col. House, declare that securing ordnance from England and France will not take supplies they need but will help them a From senator Chamberlain's speech AIr ft,siser said it seemed 10 him, al
 (Coatin acd On Ninth Pagc).