The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-01-31

tOlu the senate HlllliIN tblIllilllltN'
Germany has no idea of the num-
Der of men the United States has
in France. Secretary Baker told the
committec
Secretary Baker said the United
States would nave 100000 men
available Tor duty in France IN 1918.
Turning from the delays in the
war. Secretary Baker spoke of what
he said was Il plan for the war.
He said there was Il plan. but that
1t was so extraordinary that it had
to bc studied abroad.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-Secretary
Baker in a LONG personal statement to-
day before the Senate military COM
mittee replied TO Senator Chamber
lain's charges of inefficiency ana
breakdown in the war department.
Without prepared manuscript IN
q frank conversational manner the sec
rotary OF wan told the senators he
came to defend no mistakes or short
comings. but to insist most emphatlcal-
" that deficiencies where disclosed had
promptly been modified: that they We're
the exception rather than the rule, ana
that the very magnitude of Americas
undertaking made errors OF Judgment
n mistakes likely.
Incidentally in defending the war
machinery against the charge or m
efficiency and lack Of initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured,
the secretary of war disclosed some
facts hilbert held confidential.
France and Great Britain. he said'
are supplying artillery to the Amerl-
can forces because they themselves
wished to do So. as they had an excess
on hand and wished to save ships for
more vital necessities. ,
Thirty-two divisions of nationai
guard and national army troops in
camp in the United States-more than
1000, 600 men in aii--are considered
ready to go overseas for service Wheh-
ever il is decided that they shall move
Every American soldier who can nse
a rifle, Secretary Baker old the som
ators. already has been provided with
one and the rate Of manufacture aS-
sures "A steady supply as troops become
ready 10 use them.
Due to lnpaticnce.
AT the outset the secretary 'alu nc
thought much criticism came from the
Impotence Of the American r"op!" L"
do this great thing greatly"
He conceded freely that In 50 2Ht"l
an enterprise ii was Impossible that
there should not be- delays an" snort
conungs." The confidence of IT, '""ii
try. however. he said. W.is nec'. .'''.H 4,
the tremendous effort.
The mistakes cited i'm Senatn h; nj
berlain's speech. Secretary BAR" 'n-
! VIGIL GU. ShN' 81 nc '''' - -" -
Without intent, he said, the cii'1t 9,
the senator's speech was to &iN". IN"
country TIE impression that ih" o"li'i'
encies were characteristic rather '';r
occasional" He Said he "aS nut "a 80
10 defend individuals or deny d,..'N.
and false starts.
But, | think | can SAY j; "'Ai'.
dencc that in them we ave sought ;h'
remedy"
That there are more than I,oco,. o1
men under arIHS in this C"UntrN MIS-
stated hv Secretary Baker IN rrfcrrmg
to the oasvS a. ALLEGED nsGI,t 90 81
dead IL ca"lp "itCd ny Senator - ;J!-
berlaim
For one reason or aruthcr. TIE m
prcssion has one uut into the ,uun.lr
to some extent that tn" Nar &'rart
ment has fallen down in the conduct
of tn" war said Secretary Hakcr. II
want to address 'n"s'if t. hat pdtS-
ton.
Country Entitled to Know.
There are several reasons Why |
should ask tho committee to hear nc.
FIRST, the country is entitled to know il
that is a fact. The country is entitled
to know what this way Is and what the
problems are and now we are to meet
them. Second, | have a deep sense Of
duty to the officers and civilians that
are laboring with devotion, sacrifice and
zeal and are spending ~slecpless nights
10 bring this army up to its greatest
efficiency and success"
Describing the spirit of army officers.
Secretary Baker said he had seen
Strong, griZZled men turn away from
his desk in tears" when they found
that they could not so to France
where the glory Of their profession lay"
but must remain in Washington to
press forward preparations. There was
no case. he added. OF n officer who
had not accepted his duty with his
whole heart.
Men Of high places in civil life
throughout the country. he said. had
come to Washington to accept salaries
/ Of Office boys, many no salaries al all,
to place their experience ut the disposal
Of the nation.
Gentlemen said the secretary,
speaking with great earnestness, lit
would be a tragical thing if this
momentous effort were to deserve the
comment that 1T had fallen down"
Want to "Hit Like a Man."
Tho impaticnce of the whole country
to ''do this thing greatly" ne said.
probably inspired much Of the criti-
ciSm. Every one of us var to see our
country hit like Il mar at the adversary.
I'VE look ack over the past ana see
that there have been short comingS:
that there have been delays. There are
things that could have been done bet
ter. But our effort is to learn.
IL have no purpose to defend individ-
| uals or myself. If | discuss here in
dividuals by name; if | refer TO General
Crozier or General Sharpe, or myself, 1t
will be only to make it lear. If any
Of us shoul figure in tomorrow cas-
ualties 1t would be as nothing beside
the object we all seek. | am not here
to deny short comings, but | think | can
say this: That where we have found
such short comings or mistakes we have
made every effort to correct them. ]
most earnestly ask that when you have
pointed out to you any short coming,
whether il seems well founded or not,
hat you instantly refer 1t to me n or
der that the processes of the depart
ment may sift the truth"
From Senator Chamberlain speech
Mr.. Baker aid ii had seemed to him
that although il vas not the senator's
purpose to make il so appear, the coun-
got an impression from the failures
delays that made them di'y0r-
ato t. Nytyut uyaS pAiO0 q