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

nv dDitttICu prev louSig "i
Baker said it was with the intention
of being frank" but despite this de
sire he seemed ITO have left he feel
inc that ! was fencing In defense 81
some Of my subordinatcS." He denied
any such intention and aid when nc
concluded if there was anything else
the committee desired to investigate he
would do everything possible within
his power to assist without fear oi
favor and 10 effect any improvement
The secretary said that when ne
heard of the two letters g by sen
ator Chamberlain concerning hao
treatment Of sick soldiers he immedl-
ately asked Mr.. Chamberlain for all the
details.
81 want to follow those through tc
the very end" said he, and find ou'
who is responsible in order that | car
punish the guilty"
Although moro thar 1000, 900 men are
under arms in this country, MI. Baker
said, the numbcr of complaints re-
probably not more than IS. In each IN
stance, he said, Investigations ave
been made Immediately.
Wood Favored Call.
Major General Wood, Mr.. Baker said
recommended calling out a large army
although the men could not be pro
Vided at once with rifles and clothing.
Every soldier who needs a rifle has
one Secretary Baker said. land OF =
better type than if the British enfield
rifle had been adopted.
Some reports. the secretary said,
have not proved serious upon inquiry,
while others had. IN which case correc-
tions followed.
Trace Trouble to Briton.
In the case of the body Of an officer
who died at an aviation training school
being shipped home in a sheet, Secre'
tarN Baker said inquiry developed that
the camp was in charge of a British
aviation officer, who followed the Brit
ism method of sending bodies home un,
clothed, the mans clothes being shipped
in a separate parcel. An American Of
llcer was then put in charge.
Another complaint of neglect OF a
patient at Camp Wheeler, he said, de-
veloped that it was unjustified and re-
sultlng from the distressed imagination
of the widow"
There still are in the hands of the
inspector general nine cases being in
NestiSated. Mr.. Baker told of invest
igations which resulted in discharge OF
Lieut.. Charles w. Cole and Lieut.. John
q. Dye, for neglect of patients, as pub.
llshed in the newspapers Saturday and
Sunday. The judge advocate general
advised adding a prison sentence tc
NV "i''iiiSSbl. aIt Tia - btllS 'oll
Sidered.
The department sets its face against
That sort Of callous disregard of sol
diers' health, Secretary Eaker said. ~
want doctors and the country to know
that there lives and welfare are a re-
s~ponsihility which I will not permit
to be lodged or handled in "A cavalier
fashion"
Sick Are Well Treated.
While camp commanders are held re
: honsible for health conditions. Secre,
tary Baker said, the surgeon generals
office has daily inspections and he has
appointed DR.. John A. Hornsby, q hos,
pltal expert, as his personal inspector
a telegram from DIR. Hornsby regard
ing camp conditions, Senator Chamber
lain aSsailed. disclosed them greatly
improved" with mortality reduced and
ample accommodations for all sick
No army could be raised in any coun.
Try, the secretary ~contended, without
danger from communicable diseases
All that could be lone was to provide
every means of science to meet tina
danger. That. he insisted, was being
! done.
Why Rifles We're Changed.
Taking up Senator Chamberlain.
attack on The ordnance bureau, Mr.
Baker said that mems minds differed
N''ou' tIH ~ pes .oisShnS 10 DE USED ant
about the quantity, He then disclosed
that the docisiorrto adopt the ~so-callet
rc-chambered Enfield rifle was reached
ia'r On" night j, shiS Office at a con,
Creme" htte"Ha1 Joy General pcrshing
VII" "as 3!rp2p.ng to go to France
i'ne.Hi Scott. Sfef of staff; Genera
G,.1s, assistant chief: General Crozier
thCp head OF tie war college and sew,
cSSi other Etaff' officers experts il
rifles" Il was late in May or early il
Jun"
Th> American Springfield rifle
Noc""taIy Baker said. was admitted,
'hC best military rifle developed by any
country, when this decision wa,
reached. There werr In stock abou
100000 OF them. IT was not know
Secretary Baker contouded whetheI
American troops would fight beside tn,
British or the French. The British
used IA rim cartridge rifle of one cali
hCr. and The F"encl a rim cartridge gun
Of another caliber. The British gov,
"Tnlnent had beer prepared to rearn
the entire British army with the EN-,
field. when the war broke out in 1914
The excellence of tho American weapon
was SO well known. that the British
decided to remodel their guns, but tn,
GuddennesS Of the war prevented then
making the change.
llldl htNlSloll lIlduc llipl UlSlll, 4Il
Eaker added, referring to the confer
ence at which it was decided to chang,
the American rifle, had the unanimou.
consent OF every man ut the confer
CnCe."
Wood Wanted Big Army.
After America entered the war, MI
Baker said, Major General Wood cam,
to his office and advocated the neces
sity of calling out a large army. Sec,
rotary Baker said there were not tn,
clothes or the arms. but General Woo
replied he knew that, but contendeC
the men needed to live together To-
preliminary training" He told Gen
eral Wood he agreed that the arm,
should be assembled as rapidly as pos,
sible. but it was. II intention to built
up the regular army and the nationa
guard and then the national army.
Concluding his statement regardin,
the decision to call many men early
Secretary Baker said:
the determination ultimately wa!
upon an attempt to meet the need 70
training. 1t was deemed wise to pu
men into camp to learn camp Twins
and essentials Of "A soldiers life,
little in advance before they could b.
fully supplied with arms"
Regarding mate Chamberlain
statement hat rifles originally sent t,
camp were motley collection" Secre
tarfy Baker said he did not object [,