The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-29
ARMY OF 100000
IN FRANCE SOON
100000 Ready Within the
Year, Says Baker.
IN SHAPE FOR ANY CALL
Thirty two Divisions in United States
Are Ready to Co to the Front. With
Rifles and Equipment Fer All.

Z
! Rifles and Equipment Fer All.
I Washington, Jan. 29-The United
/ States will have 800, 900 soldiers il
: Franco early this year.
There will be an army of 10000
more available for duty in France be
fore the end of the year. These viii
be fully equipped and will have artil
lery to support them.
Germany has no idea OF tie number
OF American troops now in France
These disclosures were made by
Secretary of War Baker, when he was
before the senate military committee
TO reply to charges of inefficiency
made against he war department.
The reply was intended a an ans
wer to statements, last week, b. Snn
ator Chamberlain. Democrat, Oregon
chairman of the committee, in a
speech in the senate.
The secretary described how great
American railroad systems-one 500
miles long ports. terminals, supply
warehouses and other facilities on an
France for the army in France
In 2 frank conversational manner.
he told the senators he came to de,
fend no mistakes or shortcomings. but
to insist emphatica!iv deficiencies
where disclosed, had promptly been
remedied. These were the exception
rather than the rule The very mag
nitude of Americas undertakings
made errors Of judgment and mistakes
likely.
In defending the war machinery.
the secretary disclosed some facts
hitherto held confidential.
There are no win the United States
sixteen national army camps and six
teen notional guard camps tthirty-two
divisions of troops, filled with men
ready to go. said Secretary Baker.
II do not know how fast it may be
necessary to send them to France"
he said 81 know how fast we have
sent and how fast we plan to send
them. What We have tried to do was
to get the men out as rapidly as we
could estimate on the production ca
pacity of the country being able to
care for them"
The secretary spoke of what he said
was a '.plan for the war" He said
there was a pan. but It WIS 50 extra
ordinary it had to be studied abroad.
Mr.. Baker then said Il think un-
derstood Senator Chamberlain felt
there wasn't any plan. I don't know
how the committee and the country
feel about it. but I want to say there
it plan. It's the only possible plan
under the circumstances. 1t was not
for us to decide the theatre Of war.
That theatre was in France. It was
not for us to decide the line Of COM
munication Il was 5000 miles away.
with one end infested with subma-
rines. 1t was not for us to decide
whether maneuvers in the open should
be attempted. Men already were in
the trenches in a death grapple"
He said that every soldier who
type than if the British Enfield rifle
had been adopted.
General Pershing does not want
Lewis guns for the ground forces, but
only for the aircraft, was another
statement
Major General Leonard Wood, he
said recommended calling out large
army. although the men could not be
provided at once with rifles and cloth
ing.
Referring to conditions at Camp
Meade the secretary read from a let
ter fom Major General Nicholson
This said there had never been a time
when each soldier had not had three
suits of heavy underwear and suffici-
ent heavy socks. He also reported
the food situation adequate.
The secretary said all foreign rep
resentatiyes and also the war coun-
ell participants, headed by Colonel
House, had said getting ordnance from
England and France will not take sup
plies they need, but will help them.
Getting artillery from France, he add
ed. also will save ships.
Il am telling no secret when | say
ships ara the cruX Of our problem"
he said.
There are more than a million men
under arms in this country. he said.
referring to cases Of alleged neglect
Of the dead in camp, cited by s nator
Chamberlain
In answering questions, Mr.. Baker
said:
Britain and France We're easily ah'@
to supply American expedition. by
so doing, they save ships for othe:
purposes.
No shoddy was used except in over
coats. Uniforms are of virgin wool
No army ever assembled was fed
as well, as nutritiorsly and as appe-
tizingly.
Camp sites were selected by mill
tary experts. including General Wood,
and approved by Surgeon General
Gorgas' department
Newport Explosion Accidental