The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-02
ANSwERING SENATOR CHAMBER
LAN's CHARGES THAT Gov
ERNMENT HAD BROKEN
DOWN IN IT'S PREP
tf.\ ARATIONS FOR
WAR.
M BAKER. In Hearing Before Senate
Military Committee, Recires I'm De-
seh Story OF Building Army of
pfon and q Hsh-says Errors
Lave Been Removed as Quickly as
Descovercd.

" France early this year. with n mil
non more trained and equipped ready
~ Follow as quickly as ships can be
provided TO carry them. and the out
look for ships Is not unpromising.
Secretary Baker gave this informa-
don to the nation and to the world
today In a statement before the SEN
ate military committee. revealing
that which until now has been care
fully guarded with the army's military
seefets. In answering charges that
the government has broken down In
its preparation for war.
Prom early morning until late af-
tetnoon the secretary addressed the
'cofnmittee and q crowd. including
many members OF both houses of con-
ar>ss sathered in q big hearing room
OF The senate ONCE building. He spoke
sxtsmporaneousiy. beginning with de-
reih OF the mammoth task OF build
~. an army OF n million and a half
9nswcring such complaints OF ineffi-
cheney an were cited by Senator
Shembariain I'm his recent speech and
dschrinS that such instances were iso-
htsd and not general. Some ques-
ii9ns were asked and Mr.. Baker from
lime TO time had assistants to the tele-
phene for reports on specific ques-
tiVns.
NTnen toward the close OF the day
the. secretary delivered a dramatic
eep<rsl statement of the American
ver plan. telling OF the coming OF the
eptsd missions. OF the day and night
c6usersnoes with men from the scene
q battle In which the plans now be-
W. .executed were adopted and OF sue
os9a beyond the most sanguine expe.-
tAtions In building the army and its
inqustrial support at home. transport
iAt men across the ocean. construct
~ railroads In France and preparing
% strike the enemy with every re-
'pAbrcs at the country's command.
.fswhea Mr.. Baker closed It was ap-
rAfsnt he had created a profound i'm
bSsssion. Chairman Chamberlain said
- before hsJeft the stand.
:, There was no attempt at cross. .ex-
tAtlnation. The chairman propose
that tho secretary be given a rest anc
\ virtually was agreed to recall him
Ter further examination later. after
~ committee has completed It's hear
ints OF officers OF the medical corps.
kyiaSion service. and other branches
~lths service.
~.Naile many things disclosed i'm
Pftkpd. the committee was frankly
atsed when sold that men OF thirty
tvt''nationai ermy divisional camps
~ ready to yo today or at need.
vhen members wanted to know why
ssch things had not been given pub
n<ity before. Mr.. Baker spoke OF the
rsleetance OF military men to reveal
their war. plans and quoted German
rtn>arks about Americas advertise
msnt OF her preparations.
Emphasizing that he was not there
70 defend himself or anybody else. the
s>erstary urged tho committee again
spd again to lay bare any shortcom-
i9ss or failure OF the department. thst
~ might be corrected. Frequently nc
paused to seek stronger language TO
describe devotion OF his associates in
the department. military and civilian.
For one reason or another" ne
sfid. "the impression had gone out
into. the country to some extent Mt
ieast. that the war department has
fallen down.
N would be tragicai thing IL this
Tremendous effort. this wholly un-
rrecedented sacrifice made by men. To
turn out TO deserve the commen. that
u had falien."
Never In the history or time. he de-
V~'ro' hao an timy OF Its size heea
raised. equipped. trained and prepar~
ed for battle as had that of the United
States.
Mr.. Baker took personal RESPONSE
bility for getting men under training
before their equipment was ready to
the last shoe button" Such officers
as Major Gen. Leonard Wood. ho
said. had urged this policy. lie de-
scribed conferences that evolved the
ordnance program and it's fulnllment.
submitting documents. to prove that
France and Great Britain were sup
plying artillery and machine guns for
the first forces at their own request in
order that ships might be used for
other purposes.
In oil that was done prior to the