The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-29

effort was to learn. His purpose, he de-
clared. was not to defend individuals or
himself, but he did assert that every eff
fort was made to correct mistakes and
remedy shortcomings when they were
| brought to light. He earnestly asked
members of Congress to tell him of
shortcomings whether Zeal or only sus-
pected. He thought there had been no
more than instances" of such shortcom-
| ings.
He did, however. wish to learn all the
| details of alleged bad treatment of sick
soldiers, referred TO by Senator Cham
berlain, that responsible persons might
be punished With more than million
men under arms, he recalled no more
than Is complaints and some OF these,
upon investigation, were found to have
no serious basis In other cases, reforms
| were instituted The body of an Off
Ger who died at an aviation school was
sent home wrapped in sheet. The
school in question was in charge OF a
British officer, VINO followed the British
custom in such cases. An American off
Ger was then put in charge of the school.
Lieutenants Charles X. Cole and John ID.
Dye were dismissed for neglect of sick
soldiers and the recommendation OF the
Judge advocate general for prison SEN
fences is being considered. "The depart
ment," said Mr.. Baker, set its face
against that sort of calous disregard OF
health of soldiers" No lodging OF re-
sponsibilities fof the lives and welfare
Of the men under arms will be tolerated.
There are % divisions Of troops in
as many camps in this country ready
to go to the front. MIR. Baker could
not tell how fast it would be necessary
to send them, but he did know how fast,
it was planned to send them, and how
fast they had been sent. Speed of trans
portation is based on the ability of the
productive capacity of the country to
care for men al the front.
Camp commanders are responsible for |
their men, but the surgeon generals Of |
fee has daily inspections of the camps |
and DIR. John A. Hornsby, hospital ex
pert, has been made Mr.. Bakers per
sonal inspector. He has found eondi- |
tions greatly improved, with mortality |
reduced and ample accommodations for |
all sick men.
A letter from Mrs. Mary Roberts Rine- |
hart. the author, who has a son i'm the |
service, commended hospitals she had |
inspected but she was impressed by Sen
ator Chamberlain's tragic letters" Mr..
Baker thought it was cruel to allow ev
cry mother to judge the medical corps
by individual eases of neglect and he
wanted mothers to know that the num-
Der of such cases as Mr.. Chamberlain
had instanced was small. Ninety nine
out of hundred boys are receiving bet
ter care than they would get at home,
he asserted, and there has been neither
cruelty nor indifference, though there is
a serious shortage of women nurses. The
masters of the medical profession are
in touch with the surgeon general Dan
ger from communicable disease is insep-
arable from the raising of an army, but
al that science can do to remove this
Danger is being done, Mr.. Baker insist
ed
Army officers, including General Perish
ng, and numerous experts, decided upon
he criticised adoption of the re-cham-
,ered Enfield rifle. Mr.. Baker said the ;
American Springfield was admittedly
he best of military rifles. II had been
Intended to remodel all British guns {
ilong the lines of the American weapon
,ut the war came so quickly in 1914 that 5
here was not time, he added. Great ]
5ritaln and France have an excess of ar 7
illery and machine guns, it was added,
nd themselves wish to supply the |
American forces abroad. The present 5
ate of manufacture makes certain rifles
nough for the army as soon as the re- I
ruits learn how to use them. Even the :
'erman army gives new men obsolete 5
Teapons to practice with a
He promised to look into reports of !
he dismantling of munitions plants. +
The idea in calling out men before a
qupment was ready for them was to y
ccustom them to living together in
urge groups. While General Wood earn a
silly recommended this course. Mr.. Bak- il
r assumed responsibility for adopting it. "
While acknowledging delays and false G
tarts, Mr.. Baker said: II think | can
~ in confidence that we have sought t
ne remedy" 81