The sun., 1918-03-11
Secretary of War Will
Hold Conferences With
Military Officers.
MAY BE GONE A MONTH
To Visit Paris and Lon
don and Probably Talk
With Lloyd George.
SEEKS PERsHING's VIEWS
Secrecy Observed About Trip
to Prevent Such a Fate as
Befell Kitchener.
MAY BE GONE A MONTH
SEEKS pERsHING's VIEWS

PARIS March 1O.-Newton b. Baker,
the American Secretary Of War; has ar
rived at a French port.
Mr.. Baker was accompanied by a staf
Of seven persons He arrived on board
an American armored cruiser. The party
was met at the seaport by a French
General representing the French army.
Major-Gen. Squicr. representing the
American army Admiral Moreau. repre-
senting the French navy; Rear Admiral
Wilson. representing the American
Navy. and the Mayor and Councillors q
! the municipality also met Mr.. Baker.
, Although the arrival had not been
announced previously the news spread
rapidly and great crowd soon gathered
~ the pier and packed the streets
I, through which the party rode to the
railway station, preceded by French and
American military escorts.
Secretary Bakers party remained but
few hours and left for Paris, whore
they will arrive early tomorrow in a
special car attached 10 the regular night
train.
Gen. Pershrg. Ambassador Sharp and
representatives of the French Govern
iieNt Will meet tile secretary on ms ar
rival in Paris. Secretary Baker plan.
to spend but few days in Paris. where
] he will meet President Poincare and
Premier Clemenceau. after which he will
visit the American troops in tho field.
| Special DeSpdscA to THE Sun
| WASHINGTON, March 1O.-Secretary Of
! War Baker. leaving Washington quietly.
| has made the trip overseas through the
submarine some and ia now In France
on his way to the American front. An
nouncement OF his safe arrival at q
French port came by cable Tonight. il
removes from the bon Of secrecy the de-
tails OF the Presidents plan. decided
upon some time ago after much deiibera-
ton. under Which a member Of his Of
fcal family was to make tho trip To
| France and see with his own eyes Amer
lean troops in action, learn first hand
! conditions existing in the theatre Of war
and come in personal contact with many
OF the chief actors in the great drama
on the western front.
The following statement was made
tonight by tho Committee on Public In
formation:
"A cable despatch from Paris to the
Associated Press Tonight announces the
! arrival at French port of the Secretary
! of War. For some time Secretary
fbdkpT mas uCSlreQ 70 WISH the hea0-
! quarters of the American cxpeditionary
! forces. He started from an American
, port about February ~.
Length of stay Undecided.
.Sccro,,rv p,l,or I'm. ,o, ao,.r,,,u.
the length NJ ,i,na hc n.,I, ,.ma;n -
France, but his stay will be long enough
to enable him to make n thorough in
spection OF the American forces abroad
and TO hold important conferences viii
American military officers
1T Is expected that not on,v wi,
Secretary Baker visit the America,
| headquarters but his INSPECTION tou,
will cover construction projects. incIud-
ing docks. railroads and ordnance bases
now under way bacl; Of the American
lines.
The Secretarys visit Is military and
purposes OF inspection and personal con
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u'SGuHS INC up.ohauc phases OF the
""riu connect
MY Baker VII reach the battlefront
at Tim" when American participation
in the lighting is on an increasingly
greater scale. He will visit all sectors