The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-28
BAKER OUTLINES
WAR WORK
(Continued from page l.,

speech In the senate to show the
instances of delay and neglect Cham
berlain quoted were but isolated
cases in the midst of tremendous
amount OF successful work"
Referring to former appearances
before the committee, Baker said he
had every intention of being frank
but seemed to have created the I'M
preston that he was fencing, seek
ing to defend the indefensible and
evading the truth.
Senator Chamberlain read two let.
ters," said Baker, (which aroused
every instinct of indignation and re-
sentiment. I wrote Senator Chamber
lain at once, asking that the names OF
the writer's and the names Of the
camps be given me- l wanted then and
] want now to follow those cases
through to the y\ry end that may
punish those guilty.
Senator Chamberlain suggested
that he got the letters in confiden-
tial way, but said he will try to get a
release" OF the letters th.s .%~znay have
them. = -~-"--' d
These are two instances. I've had
others. Some have proved not as SER
ious as they at first appeared.
When they have been due to the
: sailure Of the n AaGnulItep punitive
measures have been taken.
Baker cited three cases in which the
department, he said, firmly set Its
face against callous disregard Of hui
man life" Three officers have been
courtmartialed and dismissed from
the army, result Of proof that they
neglected their duty with regard to
sick men in cantonments, Baker stated.
II want the country to know that
the health and care OF men in camps
is a responsibility I will not allow to
be lodged" said Baker.
He next took up measures taken
through the surgeon generals cfiice
under Bakers direct orders to inspect
camp hospitals.
81 selected Dr. Roger Hornsby, an
expert, to aSt as my personal inspector
of these camps" said Baker. When
he came to my office, DR.. Hornsby was
in uniform, showing that the surgeon
general already had drafted his tai
ents.
Baker read a letter from Mary Rob
erts Rinehart who has visited prac-
tically all the camps.
II do feel some steps should be TAX
en- to reassure the country" wrote
L.
rest until all incompetents in camps
have been removed / have son in
an army camp. I would have no hest
fancy in letting him be cared for in
the camp hospital. In fact. he has al
ready been there several days with
an infected knee. l know something
about hospitals. having been nurse
and married a doctor"
Mrs. Rinehart wrote that though
her tour of camp hospitals had shown
a serious lack of trained women
nurses and shortages of supplies, she
had found absolutely no evidences OF
cruelty or neglect.
"Ninety-nine men out OF a hundred
In camp hospitals get better care than
they could get at home" Mrs Kline
hart wrote.
She highly praised the bast hospital
at Camp Sherman Chillocothe, de-
claring it is the equal OF the best
civilian hospitals.
She suggested committee OF repre-
sentative citizens from the nearest city
visit each hospital and publish the re
suit of their visit in the local newSpa-
pers.'
"There Is no suggestion Of remedy
in this letter that does not meet my
instant approval" said Baker. We
have a medical staff, the like OF which
does not exist elsewhere on the face
OF the earth. No army was ever
brought together or ever can be. that
will not be subject to communicable
diseases. The most we can do Is to
fight these things"
Baker next turned to the shortages
in the supply of ordnance. He re-
4 H. cit
ing criticisms on the delay on settling
on the modified Enfield as the army
rifle for the United States forces.
General Pershing, Baker said, was
at the conference at which the mold
fed Enfield was decided on. 1t was a
week before Pershing went to Europe.
1--WE did not then know whether our
army was to fight with the French or
British
s"The excellence OF our Springfield
rifle was so we'll known that just be-
fore the war broke out the British gov
eminent was considering modification
OF its rifle to use a rimless cartridge
like ours.
"Our decision to change to the
modified Enfield was due to our de-
sire to take advantage Of the large pro-
ductive capacity OF factories making
Ent1elds for the British.
"The decision came at eleven
O'Clock one night late in May In my
office The officers present, including
General Pershing and General CTozier
were unanimous in selecting the modi-
fed Enfield"
Major General WOOD suggested the
calling out Of large army before
rifles or other supplies were ready.
Baker said. Baker told Wood that
would be foolish in view Of the dearth
of arms and equipment, he said.
General Wood told me-" Baker said,
"that the men called out would need
many things before they needed riflss
He said they needed to learn how to
live together. how to keep step and
how to observe rules Of camp santa
ton.
1.-THE decision arrived at was to put
the men in camps that they might get
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