Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-01-31
WHAT U. s. HAS DONE

,;+ed States has made since the de-
orotion of war against Germany,
ould silence those in the senate and
,sde who have severely criticized
Sn covernemnt for the way in which
~ has handled the war, and have as
r+ad that the war department is on
i verge of breakdown. Chief of
ess critics is Senator Chamberlain
Oregon, chairman of the senate mil
~ affairs committee. Theodore
oosevelt, also, has had his say.
M Within a short time the United
ates will have in france an army
100000 men, Secretary Baker said,
la there are in this country now
100000 more soldiers who could be
Sipped abroad at once, if need be.
Secretary Baker explained why the
Emitted States is making preparations
Al such an enormous scale, and why
M erican troops have not yet taken an
&tiye part on the battle line. He said
america could have hurled her small
handing army of trained men into
he fray, but had she done so, her small
rrmy would soon have been annihilated
a was the case with Great Britain IS
army in the first years of the war;
Instead, the secretary of war said, it
HAS decided to send only a part of
BE standing army to France, and to
have the remainder in the United
States to act as a nucleus for the train
b. of more men, 100000 of whom
nc now under arms in this country.
only men in multitudes can be effec-
Eve in battle against Germany, it
fas pointed out.
The war secretary said Great Brit
BIN and France are furnishing field
tillery and machine guns TO the
american soldiers in France because
4 bese allies had so requested. They
vanted to provide the ordnance SO ships
IL the transatlantic trade could be
Used to greater advantage than the
s Carrying of American made guns over
ssas
America has encountered tremendous
1ificulties in France, the secretary
asserted. 1t has been necessary to re-
construct 600 miles of French rail
pads from seaports to interior points,
rom which the American army oper-
ates.
Scarcity of clothing at cantonInen,s
y the United States was admitted by
PIE secretary, but he said it was decid-
% by experts to put men in training
q the earliest practicable moment, for
Pc complete equipment would be
AVAILABLE long before the men were
ready to be moved from the canton
9 hents which they first entered.
Speaking of charges of neglect of
soldiers who were i'll, and other sen
Rtional charges which have been made
~ partisan politicians that the gov
Eminent was not adequately caring
pr its soldiers but was allowing them
g die by the wholesale from disease,
fhe war secretary said that such cases
:&HAs had been reported were merely iso-
Rted cases, and that the government
Fas doing everything possible to pre-
vent their recurrence.
Mr.. Baker, when Intercepted by
senator Chamberlain as to why the
var department heretofore had re-
<nsed to give a report on the actual
pate Of Americas participation in the
var, declared that it was contrary to
military policy of any nation to reveal
rs state of readiness. He said that
faeld Marshal Won Hindenburg of the
german army had ridiculed the Amer
vans for their boastfulness.
The war secretary said that Amer
gas war plans were formed on the
oVlee OF the French and British, who
pa been through three years Of the
Nar and who knew from experience
what was to be required to defeat
germany. General Pershing is the
an on the job, and preparations at
'me are governed by recommends
ps made by cable by General Per
ing and his staff of experts.
secretary Baker has revealed for the |
SC time to the Ameciran people what
war department really is doing.
TASK is the greatest task in the
"'f'd today and it is progressing with
q paralieled rapidity. 1t is we'll to
Ae eognizance of what the war de-
ftment already has done before crit
= ENG it for its failings.