The sun., 1918-04-18
BAKER REPORTS
VICTORY AHEAD:
ARMY is SUPERB
Secretary Is Surprised That
Any Pessimism Should
Exist Here.
OUR TROOPS MAKE GOOD
Want to Get Into Fight and
Remain Abroad Until
Job Is Done.
OUR TROOPS MAKE GOOD
Npecial Despdtch to THE SuN.

WAsHIHCToH. April 17.-Secrc;ary
Baker. who resumed his duties to-day
q; the War department after his trip
the War Cornell this afternoon OF the
results OF his first hand observations
in Europe. Ii is understood that he Is
full OF confidence In the ultimate sue
cess o. the allied and American plan
TO crush German mil!,arsm and tina;
he expressed considerable surprise that
any pessi,nis,l should have permea.ed
certain circles here.
He fully appreciates tie magnitude
OF the task confronting the nation and
the need for far grcate- par;icipat ton
OF this country in the military opera
tons than was expected. but Mr.. Ba-
ker is said to feel that the role which
America Is now called upon to play is
by no means impossible OF fulfilment
The meeting OF the War Council was
held in the White House and was at
tended by the President. Secretary
Baker. Secretary Daniels. Chairman
Hurley OF the Shipping Board. Bernard
Baruch. chairman OF the War Industries
Board; Fuel Administrator Garfield.
Food Administrator Hoover and John
SHELTON Williams representing the rail-
road administration
BAKER Outlines situation.
No statement was made following the
meeting. hut Il became known that Mr.
Baker had given the various heads OF
important war agencies an outline oi
the salient features Of his obscrva ions
and that some time was taken up in dis.
a. Nf rl,-
secretary Baker had a talk this morn
Ing with the newspaper correspondents
and tine following transcript Of the Sec
r"tary's comment was later made pub.
lie:
so far as our own forces are con.
cerTed, any man who goes To France
| VIII have an increasing sense of admira
tion for tho magnitude. tire thorouChness
and the speed with which thc American
army has done It's work and by that. ot
course. refer chiefly to it's organization
OF lines Of communications. lines OF sup
ply. Its warehouse and distributing facll-
tiles. the schools organized for the train
ing of the special arms and the specia!
officers.
You get the impression OF the Ameri-
can army In France as a beehive OF the
most energetic people, and everyhoiy Is
doing his job with enthusiasm and sue.
cess. They know no hours and no
limitations on labor the question is to
get the most done possible. and the
amount done is an amazing story.
sOldiers' Morale High.
The condition of our soldiers IN
France is thing that | am very happy
to have an opportunity to tell in the
widest possible way. Our boys are we'll
physically-big, strong, robus, aud
healthy--and they are we'll in evcry
other way. Their spirits are high, their
behavior is most admirable. their reia-
tions with the French people and the
French soldiers and the British soldiers
to the extent l saw of them were cordial
and sympathetic. The healthtulness and
wholesomeness about the American
army over there is perfectly splendid
'"The enthusiastic expression OF all
those who have been or the battle line
Is that they want more
The American soldier has made good
!r France, and French and British mill
tary authori.!cs and critics uniformly
praise the courage. endurance ard SOL
derly qualities of the Americans.
The only sad Americans in France
are those who FOR any reason fear they
may have to come home before tho job
is done officers and men alike They
Of course want to come home when the
job in done, but just suggest TO any one
possesses some Information that might
oe useful and 1t almost breaks his
heart.