Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-05
Demands Creation of Wal
Cabinet; Says Nation Is
Threatened With Disaster
UNLESS Something Is
Done;;" Calls Baker Unin-
formed
'PRO-G O-GERMAN," ,"CHARGE
OF JOHN S. WILLIAMS

Washington D. c., Feb. 4.-Secfe-
tary Bakers recent statement 70 the
senate military committee that the
United States would have half mil
hon soldiers in France early this year
and that prospects were not unprom-
Using for ships to carry million
more who would be ready during tho
year, were characterized by Senator
Hitchcock Of Nebraska, democrat, In
an address to the senate today as
absolutely preposterous and so exag-
gerated as to convey an entirely false
impression as to what we can do and
what we are doing"
"WiLD ExAGGERATioN."
When Senator Hitchcock declared
Secretary Baker had wildly exagger-
ated" in his predictions of ability to
send troops abroad, Senator Penrose,
republican, asked:
II am curious to know what inf1u-
enced the secretary to make such .
statement, so apart from the facts. Il
it his sanguine and hopeful nature or
his lack of information ?"
Replying that he believed the sec1es
tary merely lacked information, SEN
sts l1f.itchcock said: -. 80 80
Il consider it reckless tefrfbles
mistake, to so mislead the country.
PREDICTS DISASTER.
"Of course the secretary did not do
1t Intentionally, but only because he
did not have the information, because
there was no coordination Of the ship
ping board with other government
agencies"
Hoping to get 100000 men to
Europe without sufficient ships to
transport them was characterized by
Senator Hitchcock as living IN a
fools paradise"
unless something is done the
United States will face the worid's
greatest disaster" he declared.
81 can't believe the secretary intend
ed it as a gigantic bluff or intended to
deceive the people," said Mr.. Hitch
cock; "he is out Of touch"
M'kELLAR ANSWERS WILLIAMS.
Senator Williams of Mississippi, al
spokesman, asked Sen
ator Hitchcock for his authority for
statement that 21,OO0.0OO pairs oa
shoes have been ordered. Senator
Hitchcock said it came from civliian
officials in high position.
"Then it is mere hearsay after all,
Senator Williams replied, but Senator
Mcclellan. another democratic membei
of the military committee, cited testt
mony of the quartermaster general.
that from March to December 81 1917,
orders were given for 21,117,000 pairs.
100000 MORE PAIRS ORDERED.
81 am not going to delay the senate
with all the proof" said Mr.. Hitch
cock. Il am merely stating facts
NH -.A
understood 100000 more pairs OF
shoes have been ordered and he hopea
the allies would take some OF them
off our hands"
When Senator Hitchcock said he
was advised that large quantity oi
meat on ship had spoiled by reason
of a blunder in turning off a refrigera'
ton plant, Democratic Leader Martin
asked the authority for the statement.
Senator Hitchcock said it was widely
published and never denied. Senator
Weeks. republican. Of the military
said the Quartermastef
general had admitted 1t.
LEAVES CASE WITH PUBLIC.
Senator Williams demanded that
Senator Hitchcock disclose the names
of his informant in all cases and Sena-
tor Hitchcock declined.
Senator Williams then replied that
in accordance with legal practice ne
would enter general denial
And | shall leave ii to the jury,
reioined Senator Hitchcock.
Supporting the committees bills
for a war cabinet and munitions di-
rector, Senator Hitchcock declared
that Secretary Baker was, no doubt.
sincere but was misled by lack of IN.
formation regarding scarcity of ships
into making sancuine predictions. He
said President Wilson himself does
not know the real situation" and cited
this situation as an illustration of the
absence OF government coordination.
Administration leaders prepared to
reply to Senator Hitchcock, whose
speech launched the debate which has
been impending since Secretary Baker
made his statement and the president
made known his opposition to the mil
itary committees plans for reorgan-
izing the governments war machine.