The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-29
BAKERSDISC0URSE OF GREAT INTEREST

was not a static thing; that our ad.
versary was a versatile and agile adj
versary that every day he revamped
and changed his weapons OF attack
and his methods of defense; that the
stories they were telling us were true
when they left England and France;
that an entirely different thing was
probably taking place there now, and
they told us of large supplies of Wea'
pons of one kind and another wrich
they had developed in France and
England and which, even before they
got them in sufficient quantity manu-
featured to take them from the in
dustrial plants to the front, were sup
erseded by new, ideas and had to be
thrown into the scrap heap.
Beyond Comparison.
"They said to us, this is moving
picture; it is something that nobody
can paint and give you an idea of. 1t
is not a static thing.
Wherefore, it became necessary for
us to have eyes therein an instant and
Immediately communication with us,
and we sent them over to France Gen
eral Pershing, and we sent with him
not merely division of troops-to
that | shall refer in a moment-but
we sent with him perhaps l can safely
say the major part Of the trained cX-
pert personnel Of the army. You know
the size of the official corps of the
regular army in this country when the
war broke out. 1t was pitiful hand
full of trained men, and yet it was nee
essary to- divide them UP and send
over to France officers of the highest
quality so that they would be at the
front and see in the workshops and in
the factories and in the war offices
and in the armies, where consulta-
lions would take place Immediately
back of the front-so that they could
see the thing with their own eyes, and
send us back the details by cable
every day of the changing character
of this war.
Men in France. -. /.
= ri tell no secret, but it is perfectly
we'll known to everybody in this group
that we have far exceeded what in
August, 1917, was regarded as an ideal
program. .*..s &c.. + !
In response to a question by Chair
man Chamberlain the Secretary said
the United States did not have more
than the minimum number OF men IN
France in August, 1917. n
After some discussion as to the pol
icy of governments in announcing mil.
itary secrets, Mr.. Baker said it was
not the policy Of the American or
other governments to do SO, and add
ed: 81 am saying this now, because
you have asked me why l have held
back these facts until now. | am say
ing to you that you could not get from
Great Britain at this minute don't
know whether I could get the number
of soldiers Great Britain has in
France or at home l could get an ap'
ton; could get whatever In
formation might be deemed helpful to
The Immediate military object to ne
accomplished, but could not get from
Great Britain or France either one the
actual number of troops they have at
the front.
PART II
"The French people had suffered,
Oh, suffered in way that not only our
language is not adapted to describe,
but our imaginations cannot conceive
The war is in their country. This wolf
has not only been at their doors, but
he has been gnawing for two years
and half at their vitals, and VIXEN
this unsuccessful offensive in France
had gone on there was spirit not OF
surrender but of fate about the French
people, and this mighty military en-
CINE which they had seen prepared to
overcome them for forty years was at
them, and their altitude was that no
matter whether every Frenchnan died