The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-01-28

WASHIN6ION. jan Zhs-Iue
United States will have more
than 500, 900 men In France ear
u this year and more than
million and "a half" ready to
send, Secretary Baker told the
senate military committee this
afternoon
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2s.-De-
ciaring that "cvery man In 3,
National Guard and National
Army camps II ready now TO he
s~nt 20 France, whenever need
ed" Secretary Of War Baker to.
day struck back Mt critics Of the
war department.
In n statement hc delivered
before the senate military CON-
mittee, Baker showed the great
steps this government has
taken. some Of ti,em necessarily
sudden and some without suf-
ficicnt preparation. TO win the
war.
In reply TO those who have crit
cized the government. he declared
Prrshing q. KS Rife
That iaxity In the medical service
nj camps win not be tolerated.
Three officers have been court
martialod and dismissed because OF
neglect In attending sick.
Gen. Pershing himself o. KID the
adoption OF the modified Enfield
rife.
A great army was called out before
guns were ready for IL upon the rec.
ommendation of Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood.
Every man in Franco has his own
gun. and was trained to use II.
Many times as many men are now
In France as had been originally
planned for this date.
Gen Pershing decided against the
Lewis machine gun for land work.
on November 20 40 machine guns
were sent to each training camp.
Every mans in the % training
camps is now ready for service in
France.
Our army in F'rance-now large
and IL viii be largcr-will have the
type OF artillery 1t wants and needs.
Three hundred threeinch anti-air.
craft guns viii he turned out month.
ly In this country before another
year.
Official reports. based on careful
information. show that camp hos
pitfalls are the equal of civilian hos
pitfalls and In splendid shape.
Men Before Guns
Tonnage Is the crux of the whole
situation and this country is using
French guns to save ships for other
supplies.
The allies urged troops before
anything else, saying France and
England could supply us with artil.
lery.
Baker next turned TO shortages I'm
the supply OF ordnance. He review.
ed the situation. answering criticisms
in the dalay i'm settling on the modi-
fled Enfield army rifle.
Pershing Decided
Gen. Pershing. Baker said. was at
the conference at which the modified
Enfield was decided on.
We did not then know whether
our armies were to fight with the
French or the British"
Baker took exception TO the state.
ment In Chamberlain's speech that
the United States had a motley col
lection of rifles.
Every Man Has Gun
AS n matter of fact. we had COO.
600 Springfields. the best army rifle
in the world" said Baker.
The result of our decision to sub.
ordinate great speed In rifle produc-
ton TO excellence has been that not
a man has gone to France who has
not rifle and had training in the
use of Il.
MANY times the number of men
have gone TO France than IL was ex.
pected would be there by this time.
And not n man has gone to France
without firstclass rifle and train
ing in its use.
Doesn't Defend Self
"I am not here to defend myself.
or to deny that mistakes and false
starts have been made" he said.
1.-The impression has gone abroad
that the war department has fallen
down. The country is entitled to
know what this war is, what its
problems are"
Baker then paid n high tribute to
army officers and civilian helpers OF
the department alike for their de
voted. untiring efforts to rush war
preparations"
when we have found errors, we
Immediately sought the remedy" he
said
II have no bias in favor of individ.
uals. III Gen. Crozier, myself. or any
one else. had shown up some morn