The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-07

the secretary to come here to disclose facts in order to justify statements he has made" interrupted Senator Kirby, democrat. T am opposed to it. I think the committee in executive session ought to determine just how far it is going in this Investigation"
 Secretary Baker agreed that the committee should have every avail able fact, including confidential in formation. Senator Weeks said he wanted to develop just what could be done in getting men, m~nitions and other products abroad, but without disclosing confidential matter.
 The Massachusetts senator said, however, that he thought there was a good deal of camouflage about keeping information from the enemy which is published in annual reports and otherwise.
 BAKER EXPLAINS
 'I want to make a suggestion, if may" Secretary Baker interposed. '1he misfortune for me, if I may call it such, in my first statement to the committee lay in the fact that I at tempted to give opinions of the broad general situation as I saw it when the information lay in details that ought to have been gotten from the experts In direct charge, or in statistics giv- ing specific facts. I was attempting general survey. It was a misfortune for me to do that. I think it bet ter to give the committee specific statements and the committee is en- titled to that"
 Secretary Baker proposed to have detailed information of statements prepared at the department and sub mitted to the committee and then, if the committee desired to cross-ex- anime him later regarding the state ments. he would be glad to return.
 Senator Hitchcock asked if the sec retary would object to giving the com mittee the basis for his opinion that he expected a million men would be in France before fall.
 Not in the least" said Mir Baker 'T could have the committee go into the adjoining room and give it to you in three sentences"
 Senator Hitchcock thought the in-a formation should be given the same publicity as his first statement
 'The secretary conveyed to the coun- try said Senator Hitchcock, "the infor- nation that I think was very unfor- tunate.'
 Did you consider shipping an import ant factor?'
 Very important controlling, Mir. Baker replied. T was not relying wholly on the supply of American shipping"
 Senator Hitchcock asked how many tons of American shipping could be de- pended on, and Secretary Baker said he could not give the information.
 The Nebraska senator said he secured from the shipping board a statement of available American tonnage on Mo- vember 30: that there were 5S2 ships of 3.721,s0 deadweight tons, including tank CTS and former German and Austrian ships. all over 1500 tons
 HITCHCOCK INSISTS
 ''That was the grand total at the dis posal of the United States" said Senator Hitchcock, adding that excluding passen- ger ships. tankers and other noncargo carrying ships. only about 100000 tons was available for supply and transporta- tions of troops.
 Senator Hitchcock asked Secretary Baker if that statement conformed to his information, and the secretary said he could not remember. "If that statement is correct. how many troops can we supply in Europe ?" persisted Senator Hitchcock. T can't answer that" said Secretary Baker. "It would depend on the basis of calculation"
 Sclio'oi iiitSHoeh sdiu He uHuerstoou that the basis was five tons per man. Senator Weeks said he thought it was 50 pounds per man per day. Senator Beckham interrupted protest ing against efforts to drag out of the secretary Indirectly by probing certain questions, information which would be of value to the enemy.' Senator Hitchcock said he did not wish to be misunderstood, but he only desired to find the basis of MT. Bakers "assur- ance to the country that million men could be transported to France during 191S
 You said you expected to have 1000, ,O0o