The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-01
in France in August, 1917.

continued:
"And then the editor goes on:
"And by next year, 1913, we could
have had 100000 men to send over,
or any part of 100000 men, which
we could ship
"Now, instead of having $4,000
or 100000 men in France in 1917,
we have many more men than that
in France, and instead of having
half a million men whom we could
ship to France if we could find any
way to do it in 1918, we will have
more than one-half million men in
France early in 1918, and we have
available, if the transportation fac
ilities are available to US (and the
prospect is not unpromising) one
and half million who in 1918 can
be shipped to France"
Senator Weeks asked whether the
Secretary knew who wrote the edi-
torial and Mr.. Baker said he thought
it was attributed to Mr.. Wiggin, the
editor-in-chief.
Quizzed by Chamberlain.
"Why, asked Chairman Chamber
lain, shave you not felt it proper to
let the public into the confidence with
reference to these things that you
are telling now?"
"Senator, I confess that I have
hesitated and I still HESITATE" re-
piled the Secretary. 81 have here
a statement from Field Marshall Won
Hindenburg, in which he lis quoted
as saying in German newspaper in
contemptuous fashion of US that we
have advertised our preparations for
this war in an unworthy manner"
"Do you think for a moment, Sec
retary Baker," said the chairman,
"that there has been ary time within
the last year that the German secret
service has not been fully advised as
to everything we have done?".
Germany Mysti6ed.
eyes, Senator, know. If I may
rely upon the confidential informa-
ton which we get from confidential
sources, the German government is
still mystified as to the number Of
men we have in France or have had
there at any time"
The chairman said he doubted this.
After some discussion as to the pol
icy of government in announcing
military secrets Mr.. Baker said it was
rot the policy of American or other
governments to do so, and added:
England Wouldn't Tell.
81 am saying this now because you
have asked me why I have held back
these facts until now. i am saying
to you that you could not get from
Great Britain this minute do not
know whether could get the number
of soldiers Great Britain has in
France or at home. I could get an
approximation; i could get whatever
information might be deemed help
full to the immediate military object
to be accomplished, but could not
get from Great Britain or France
either one the actual number of
troops they have at the front.
"It may be that precaution is un-
necessary and yet that is the precau-
ton which military men have observ-
ed, and I have no further point to
make in the matter of the number Of
troops there than to show, as was
showing when I read that extract,
that our original intention was to
make our military effort in 1918; and
in August, 1917, Jealous advo-
cate of immediate military activity
laid down as the maximum obtain
able program, a thing which has
been multifold exceeded.
Wolf at the Door.
"Why did we decide to send some
troops to France in 1917? 1t is no
secret. When Marshal Joffre came
to this country from France, when
the British mission came from France