Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-09
BAKER AND army
GET CLOSER TOUCH
Visit to Remove
Handicap Of Fighting
1900 Miles Away"
MUTUAL GAIN in TASKS
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1915 By the New York
Evening Post Inc.
Secretary Baker once remarked that
the war was 5000 miles away, and he
earned q plethora Of criticism for
saying It. But the truth 10 that the
United States government notwith-
standing the facilities Of cable aud
mail communication. finds itself Gtiu
5000 miles away in dealing with the
tremendous enterprise in France to
which the nation has pledged its hu-
man and physical resources.
The French war ministry 10 but =
few hours ride from the battle front.
Premier Lloyd George and the Brit
ish cabinet can go across the channel
to their troops In . single day-they
can even telephone to star headquar-
ters.
But Gen. Pershing IL today organic
ing big field army which Is expected
to participate in a large way in the
offensive operations Of the allies this
year. and neither the cable nor the
malls can put the government and its
commander, 5000 miles away. into the
close touch SO necessary In order that
the people in America 9nay be in
structed in the kind Of support that
is most essential for them to give in
backing up their troops in France.
To Pick Up Loose Ends.
Mr.. Baker goes at the behest of
President Wilson to ind out what can
be done in the United States to carry
w = Vryff T..
mum efficiency. He goes to pick up
loose ends and to remove inevitable
friction.
Before he went he smi1ingly told the
correspondents that when the person.
mel Of his party was announced. tho
vious. In his party are John D. Ryan,
In charge of the aircraft program;
Gen. Hines. who manages the embark
alton OF troops, and Surgeon General
Gorgas, whose business it is to care
for the health of our troops as well
as the reconstruction of the wounded.
AS for the aircraft program, contact
between the aviation commanders
abroad and those at home has not
been of the best. Misunderstanding
are bound to come when It is attempt
ed to treat of technical matters by
chimes, with q certain pride Of in
vention, are interested in pushing
their machines. There is some natural
rivalry. Then there is the big Ques-
ton of whether after all America can
handle the whole aviation production
where from day to day plans and
specifications must undergo changes
to meet an ever-changing situation.
VIII Got Clearer View.
Perhans II would ha hetfer IN eon-
centrate on one part Of the aviation
program in America and transfer
American workmen and material to
France. This has been debated and
argued for some time.
There is no telling whether the visit
OF John D. Ryan will mean q small or
large readjustment in that direction.
Certainly Mr.. Ryan will como back
with a clearer idea Of what Gen. Per-
shing wants and needs than he has
will be better able to ask for things
he needs when he knows Just what
the situation in America has been
By "Gen. Persh.ns" in this sense
has delegated
the execution of our aviation opera
lions in France and through whom
all requests for men and materials
ordinarily come. Contact with Gen.
alton section. where there has been
no little Misunderstanding. as the
recent testimony Of Maj. Gen. Kenly
so frankly indicated.
Speed for Transports
Gen. Hines goes to France to invss-
tigate the turn Ground" ct the ports.
He will inspect the warehouse faoili-
ana the " e 3 s's snd
tonnage are ever his concern. Tho
allies have beaten the submarine in
the past year not only by depth bombs
ton. but BY conserving tonnage. That
Is the mission Of Gen. Hines.
As for Surgeon General Gorgas.
gossip says he goes to undertake q
back. It is rumored that Cen III ireland SH
Is coming from France to be surgeon
general. II Gen. Gorgas II soon retired
for ago. Gen. Robert Noble, who 10
on this side. 10 mentioned prominent
ly. too. a. the kind Of man who could
t h. an d.cds 70 a:
Gen. GorgaS in an advisory capacity
in France with Gen. Pershing and the
allied war council. His record - q
sanitarian In unexcelled.
On the other hand 1t 10 suggsstsd
that he has gone abroad TO inspect at
ed, SO that he can como back with
new ideas for . huge plan Of recon-
struction.
Secretary Baker himself has many
things he wants to talk over with
ton sometimes gets out Of touch
with its base. In this case the base
In the people Of the United States.
They want casualty reports promptly.
Morale Back Of the Lines.
Tho military authorities whose
minds are concentrated on the busi-
ness Of fighting cannot always be
the Importance Of reporting back in
detail Just what L. going on. Morale
10 80 Important back Of the lines as
In the trenches. Again. this is work
which Gen. Pershing must delegate
se. eSol0ed by him RGa ana tho p seers-
.tary Of War. It may be that some
Of the things Mr.. Baker wants done
cannot be accomplished. and that mill
itery necessity prevents. By consul.
tation with the commander.in;;ehief.
answer public opinion at homo.
The Secretary Of War himself again
decided on the mission to France.
He readily obtained the Presidents
consent mdssd; before Eth he NE left he
son ct the white House and presuma-
bly carries to Gen. Pershing . per-
sonai message Of the appreciation
which the commapder-in-chief at
homo feels for the splendid way in
which tho commander Of our expo
dictionary forces has executed his Job.
It IL an open secret that both the
President and Secretary Of War feel
that their selection Of Jack Pershing
was q wise one, and that no political
general or personality could have
done what he has done and will do.