The sun., 1918-01-29
Secretary of War Asserts
All Will Be Equipped
as They Embark.
MINIMIZES SHORTAGES
Admits Hospital Faults, but
Insists They Have Been
Remedied.
TROOPS NOW WE'LL CLAD
Refuses to Reveal War Plan.
Averring Germany Is in 1g-
mOrancc Of Our Progress.
Speciol Despasch 10 THs ScS

Special Despasch TO THs ScS.
WAsHrNoToN, Jan. 2S.--Newton D.
Baker. Secretary Of War, appeared be.
fore the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs to-day in the dual role Of de-
fender Of his stewardship Of the War
Department and Of the war plans and
efficiency in the present war ex!sency
Of the entire war making machinery
OF the Wilson Administration.
He came to the Senate to present
his own answer to criticisms Of his
methods pronounced in public by Mr..
Chamberlain in his address to the Sc
cur!ty League In New York on Janu.
! ary ~, as we'll as to the speech deliv-
cred by MIR. Chamberlain in the Senate
last T'hurvday as a reply to the at
tack upon tine Senate committees
methods and Senator Chamberlain
leadership therein. embodied in the
Presidents denunciatory statement.
which followed the New York speech.
| War Plan Not Revealed.
| In him reposed the hope and trust
Of the Wilson Administration that the
defence which he had como TO utter
would be complete. convincing ana
overwhelming. Secretary Baker in his
address did not include any statement
OF the war plan Of the United States.
He cid not even tell the committee that
l ~v.St l,-A
| Mr.. Baker related much to-day that
he had withheld in the course Of his
recent testimony. He carried en,ightsn.
msnt on numerous ppiAts heretofore
c!caked in the secrecy which It has been
the previous insistence Of me Admins.
tration authorities that the safety Of
the nation and It's success in war de-
manded.
Secretary Baker told the committee
that 100000 Americans would be avail.
able In France by the end Of 1919.
Within the early months OF this ysar
the force In France will exceed 500. 900
and during the rest Of the year there
Will be 100000 more ready for trans.
r.rt abroad The figures OF SOC, 900 now
or about to be in France was the first
definite statement Of the strength OF the
American forces sent abroad to aid
France. Great Britain and italy in the
open In addition the Secretary said
that Germany was without knowledge Of
the number OF Americans in France al.
though aware that they were active.
Uniform shortage Overcome.
Among the points brought out In Sec.
retary Bakers address in refutation Of
the charges Of deficiency In administra-
tion uttered by Senator Chamberlain
were the following:
The shortage IN uniforms was being
made good as rapidly as possible and
actually there exists to-day hardly any
shortage.
The allegation that Major.Gen. Cor
gas. head OF the Medical Corps, had
been ignored in the selection OF camp
and cantonment sites was not true, sor
the reason that an accredited represer.
tative OF the Medical Corps, Gen. Cor
gass own designation, had participates
IN the Investigations and selections.
The delays Incident to chances In the
rife designs had been made for the Dur.
pose OF improving the arm and without
serious delay in the equipment of tbs
troops.
The machine gun problem was being
worked out on lines which would p-o.
vide these weapons at Just tire ratio
necessary for the equipment OF troops
IN the field, and that American troops
going to France were adequately sup
pied and wou'I be as fast or faster than
they were ready for debarkation.
Hospital Faults Overcome,
| The letters which Senator Chamber.
, lain read OF the indecent treatment OF
, army dead were sporadic Instances a nd
, utterly at defiance with army regulation
; and army custom. and there was no
, danger OF their repetition.
Gen. Pershing to-day has a stan Of
r more than 1000 men planning. direct.
S Ing. adjusting the disposition Of Q veri-
table nation OF men present and to ar.
rive on the soil of France. and in the
stan are not only tho best brains ana
3 the best activities Of the trained army
= men OF tho United States. but working
c sids by side with them In planning the
e projection OF the finish blow against
Germany are leaders IN commerce, in
= dustry and transportation from civil
G life, who have laid down their avocations
20 como 20 the aid OF America In the
death grapp!e with Kultur.
Also the Secretary told OF the regi-
ments OF forssters and tho regiments o.
stevedores, or tho bridge builders and
the builders OF great warehouses. Of the
const ruosion Of stupendous base hospi-
tails, OF permanent and OF temporary hab-
itations for the American forces over
:, States OF vast buildings Of steel and iron
o to be assembled here. shipped across the
!. Atlantic and reassemhled In France at
:. various American bases.
n New Ports Beins Developed.
lie told OF the nscessitous developrnert /
Of new ports on the coast OF France for
the accommodation OF Americas ship
ping. which could not berth at many
points as In our own ports OF naturai
harbor, but which were forced 10 make
harbors after they had chosen their
sites.
The story which Secretary Baker had
10 tell 10 the committee riveted the al i-
tcnt!on Of the committee and the iars.
J audience which assembled In one of tas