The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1918-02-18
SEC'Y BAKER PUTS
APPROVAL STAMP
ON CAMP WHEELER
WAR SECRETARY, ATTENDED BY
STAFF OF OFFICIALS; CAREFUL
~ lNSPECTS DIVISION HOSPiT-
AIS

Macon, Ga, February IS Newton
D. Baker, secretary OF war, was the
gdest Of honor at Camp Wheeler to-
day, and when he left this afternoon
at 4:40 for Augusta to visit Camp
Hancock, he put his official stamp
| OF approval on Camp Wheeler.
Just before boarding the train for
Augusta, the secretary grasped the
hand of Brigadier General Hayden.
commander at Camp Wheeler, and
said.
General, am satisfied the men of
the Dixie division are in good hands.
l want to congratulate you on the con
dition Of the camp and the personal
OF the troops"
Asked if the Dixie division would be
sent to France soon. Mr.. Bakel repli-
ed: "They will go when the time
|, comes. OF course, I cannot tell when
that will be-
There is a report they will leave
Macon by May 1" a reporter told him.
There is nothing definite on that
score" was the secretary's reply.
Asked if the division would be taken
from here before warm weather set
in and no other division returned, the
secretary's reply was: mot that I
have heard Of"
'How will the mosquitoes be taen
care OFF" was anotherquestion put
to him, and his reply was: 1.-THE gov
efnment is now working out that plan.
Busy Day for Secretary
The Secretary put in a busy day
here. He arrived in Macon at 1:30
O'clock this morning, accompanied by
Surgeon General Gorgas, Major w.
Fl. WEIGH, Lieutenant Colonel Furbush
and Edwin Newdick, the latter repre-
senting the committee on public in
formation. The party was met at the
Terminal by Brigadier General Hay
en- and other officers al Camp Wheeler
After breakfast at the Hotel Dempsey
the party was taken to Camp Wheeler
and first visited division headquarters.
At nine o'clock the civilian commit
tee was invited to see Mr. Baker and
shortly divisional review was order
ed The sun was shining brightly and
the ground was in good condition. AS
the troops passed before him Mr.. Ba-
ker several times expressed his ap-
prevail of the different units. One
hour was required for the entire div
ision to pass.
After the review the Secretary vis-
ted the base hospital Their he found
1873 patients. The Secretary passed
through the wards and took the hand
of each man he found in bed. He
asked each one as to the treatment
they were receiving and inquired if
they were being neglected in any way.
Invaribly tn reply from the men was
They are giving us every attention"
Fully two hours were spent in the
inspection of the hospital It was the
first National Guard hospital Secre-
tary Baker had seen, though he has
inspected several Of the hospitals Of
the environments. After he had finish
ed Mr.. Baker turned to Major Bliss,
IN charge of the hospital and compli-
mented him warmly on his work.
Wonderful, was the way the sec
RETRY expressed it. From the hospi-
tai the secretary and his PARTY went
to officers mess, which was attended
by forty officers and civilians and the
next Two hours before the secretary's
departure was given over to a discus
sion Of the war and the part America
is playing.
Secretary Baker told of the problems
faced by tell United States and de-
cl9red it is necessary for every per-
son in the country to do his "bit'