The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-11
BAKER IN FRANCE FOR CONFERENCE
 WITH PERSHINC

l(s Baker, the Secretary of War, has ar rived safely at a French port en route to the headquarters of General Per shing, on an important tour of mili- tary inspection and conference.
 The fact that MT. Baker planned to go to France was known here for several weeks before his departure. MT. Baker was aware that newspaper men were acquainted with his inten- ton, and on the day he left Washing ton he said goodbye to those who were in the habit of calling on him at the War Department. There was a general understanding among press representatives here that no an- nouncement of his departure would be made, and that nothing concerning his voyage should be published until the War Department announced his arrival That announcement was au- thorized at Il o'clock last night by the Committee on Public Information.
 Secretary Baker is accompanied by Major Gen. William N. Black, Chief of Engineers of the Army; Lieut.. Col M. l.. Brett, and Ralph Hayes. the private secretary of the Secretary of War.
 There had been some speculation as to whether Secretary Baker would remain in France for an indefinite period and serve in an official capac- ity as the political representative of the United States on the Inter-Ally Supreme War Council at Versailles. The United States is now represented on the Supreme Council only by Major. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, the Chief of Staff of the army, whose functions are purely military, but the statement issued last night in connection with the announcement that Secretary Baker had arrived makes the flat statement that the Secretary's visit is military and not diplomatic" stFor some time" said the official announcement, Secretary Baker has desired to visit the headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces. He saided from an American port about Feb. 27.
 Secretary Baker has not deter mined the length of time he will re- main in France, but his stay will be long enough to enable him to make a thorough inspection of the American forces abroad and to hold important 1 conferences with American military officers.
 ''It is expected that not only will Secretary Baker. visit the American headquarters, but his inspection tour will cover construction projects, in cluding docks, railroads, and ord nance bases, now under way back of the American lines.
 ''The Secretary's visit is military, and not diplomatic. It is essentially for the purposes of inspection and personal conference with military of- ficials."
 In the absence of Secretary Baker the affairs of the War Department are being handled by Benedict Gro wel, the Assistant Secretary of War, who is now acting as Secretary of War. Major Gen. Peyton c. March, who recently returned from France, is acting as Chief of Staff.
 The length of Secretary Baker visit in Europe is a military secret. Everything known here of the cir cumstances of his trip abroad indi- CdL6S lIldl l1S VIII ICoul1lC IIC OullCI of Secretary of War upon his return. Major Gen. Leonard Wood, who was sent to France in line with the practice of the War department to have the commanders of divisions in spect the fighting front, is still in France. It was known before Sec retary Baker left Washington that he desired to consult with General Wood and it was evident that General Wood was to remain in France until MT Baker had the opportunity of meeting | him there. There now seems to be reason to believe that General Wood will not return to the United States in the near fture. and it is believed that he is slated for a high command from General Pershing, probably with the rank of Lieutenant General. That rank would carry with it command ( an army corp consisting of six o1 more divisions.
 Considerable feeling has been man.
 ifested over the belief that General Wood was not to have an opportunity ] to demonstrate his ability as a com
 mander in the war. He is senior to General Pershing on the list of major
 generals in the regular army. Gen. eral Pershing's present highest rank is
 held by virtue of his post as com mander of all the American expedi- tionary forces in the field. It was SUD- posed that General Wood would re- turn to the United States to resume command of the National Army di- vision at Fort Riley, Kan, to which
 he is still nominally attached. But it is now the understanding that he will
 remain in France with the proba-
 bility of assignment to command a
 much larger force.
 MT. Baker said before he left Wash
 ington that his visit to France was
 not to be ceremonial. If he should
 confer with statesmen of Great Brit ain and France while he is in Flu
 rope it would not surprise, but the
 understanding is that his tour is of
 a business character purely, and such
 honors as are shown to him by British
 and French officials will be merely | incidental.
 WITT TN WITT TT AnnTAT