Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-19
WAR. NOT PEACE,
IMPORTANT NOW,
BAKER, HERE. SAYS
All Speculation on Austria
DivOrCing Herself From Ger
many, or on Effect of Rus
Sia on Situation, Is Idle

Secretary Of War Baker. while in At
lanta Saturday afternoon on a flying
trip Of inspection to Camps sGordon.
Wheeler and Hancock, made an interest
ing statement 10 The Journal. announc-
ing an important change in the future
working OF the Selective service system
and CHASING as absolutely profitless"
all attempts to speculate on the dura-
ton OF the war, the chances of sepa-
rate peace with Austria. the effects of
Russia's varying actions and other sim
liar subjects.
Incidentally, Secretary of War Baker
expressed himself as we'll pleased with
Camp Gordon. which he had informally
inspected during the early afternoon.
Visits to the base hospital, the camp
library, the colored Y. NJ. L. 4. build
ing and other points about the camp, to-
gether with a minute and unexpected
survey of an infantry company's bar
racks. had CONVINCED him, he said, that
Camp Gordon was a model for cleanli-
ness and should be placed among the
better camps"
Secretary Baker was accompanied by
Surgeon General Gorgas, who made a
detailed inspection of the Camp Gordon
base hospital and seemed pleased with
the health conditions at the cantonment.
General Gorgas also expressed himself
as very optimistic about the health of
the new army as a whole, both in the
training camps and at the IrUuI In
France.
1T is absolutely profitless," said Sec
rotary Baker, for us to waste our
time in speculation about the nearness
or distance of peace. Neither 1 nor any
one else can have a real opinion in these
~ 30
cannot be anything but speculation
Whether there is a chance of separate
peace with Austria or whether the ten
dency of Russia's changing policies will
lengthen the war are things we do not
know about.
Our Task Set Forth
The task for u.s." continued Mr.. Ba-
ker, earnestly, ais to put forth every
effort toward a successful conduct of
the war while IL lasts. Our thoughts
should be conferred on this purpose and
the other things will then take care of
themselves"
When asked what disposition would
be made Of the hundreds Of thousands
Of men soon to be called, Mr.. Baker
said that the calling of country wide
quotas will be discontinued. Instead,
the men will be called serially The
plan. as announced by the secretary of
war, is to call a group of men from a
district Immediately after each ship
ment to the front of men from a camp
supplied with troops by that district
This will keep the training cantonments
constantly supplied with soldiers in the
making. Mr.. Baker pointed out, instead
Of having over-crowding at some times
and vacant barracks at others.
Mr.. Baker smilingly declined to dis
fpa Of "a
senate military committee.
That Is a closed book" he said. Il
have testified frankly before the COM
mittee Nnd all of my testimony was
made public, which can be published adj
visedly."
Decided Hurriediy
Mr.. Baker and his party, which, be-
sides Surgeon General Gorgas, included
Lieutenant Colonel G. L. Furbush. Ma
jOr w. H. Welsh, formerly dean of
the medical department of Johns Hop
kins university, and Edwin Newdick
representing the committee on public
information. arrived at Camp Gordon
at 1:O5, having been preceded a bare
hour by a telegram announcing their
visit
The SECRETARY OF war said that the
trip was as complete a surprise to him
as II was 10 the camp staff. He found
at the last minute that his train SEIZED
ule would permit the stop-over, he said
General Gorgas expressed a desire L
inspect the base hospital at Gordon anC
the visit was decided upon hurriedly.
Immediately on their arrival a
Chamblee, the party, met by Genera
william p. Burnham. Major R. E Beebe
Colonel Konrad Koerper and othel
mem bers of the Camp Gordon staff. mo
tored to base hospital, where both Sec
Rotary Baker and General Gorgas made
a detailed inspection of the base hos
pitaL Mr. Baker chatted with a mum
Der of the hospitals patients, taking thu
name of one private who was worried
because pay allotments to his mothel
had been delayed. Mr.. Baker promised
to look into the matter at once.
Compliments Burnham
Continuing the drive, the party pass
ed through the artillery section Of tn
camp, visited the colored Y. NJ. c. A,
made interested spectators for a few
minutes OF Bringing Up Father" a
the Liberty theater, and dropped il
most Unexpectedly on the men in tn
barracks Of Company E, Three Hun
dred and Twenty-eighth infantry. Sleep
ing quarters and mess hall were tour
ed attentively by Mr.. Baker and ne
as we'll as General Gorgas, compliment
ed General Burnham highly on the neat
ness and order which prevail in CAM
Gordon life.
Secretary Baker spent fifteen o
twenty minutes in the camp library
the first of its kind he has ever visited
Then the party motored TO the Geor
g1an Terrace, where they rested an