El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-04-18
BAKER APPEALS
FOR RENEWAL OF
WAR SUPPORT BY
PEOPLE OF j. S.
Secretary of War Re
turns from Weeks
Trip to Fight Zone.
SOLDIERS HAVE
MADE GOOD, SAYS
Declines to Discuss Ger
man Drive on West
ern Front.
ny Leased Wire to New Mexican,

(6y Leased Wire to New Mexlcan.)
Washington, April 17.-Sec-
rotary Baker back from a
seven weeks trip to Europe
today called on the American
people for renewed support
for the war. The secretary ex-
pected to see President Will
son some time during the day
to report on his observations
abroad. "The American sol
der has made good in
France" Secretary Baker to-
day assured newspaper men
whoimet him. The French and
British authorities are uni
form in their praise of the
courage, endurance and sol
dierly qualities of our men,"
"The big thing for America to do
is to support the war" he continued,
ito support it financially and with
firm belief. The right arm of Amer
lea is in France. 1t is barred and
ready to strike. The rest of the
body is here in the United States
but it must support the arm. This
to Liberty Loans as we'll as moral
support of high confidence"
The condition of the American
troops, the secretary said, is excel
lent. They are well in every way
Their spirits are high, their be-
havior admirable and their relations
with the French and British cordial
and sympathetic" he said.
"One rarely meets an American
soldier in France who does not smile
and wave his hat. : The only sad
Americans there are those who fear
they may have to come home before
the job is done"
THE information | went to get !
got" Mr.. Baker said. His trip, he
said, would bring a closer and more
understanding cooperation between
the var department and the army.
AS for the secretary himself he
feels that he is now equipped with
the means of judging and appreciat-
ing the kind of cooperation needed"
1.-THE impression one gets in
France is one of determination, con-
fidence and enthusiasm" said Mr..
Baker.
"The American, British, French and
Italian armies are filled with this
tremendous spirit and the civilian
populations show the same feeling"
he said.
Everyone is quite determined TO
see the job through and quite conf
dent of the outcome. ] would say
that the general sentiment is one of
inspired determination. So far as
the work of our own forces is con
cerned, it gives one the impression
of magnitude, thoroughness and
speedy accomplishment. No hours of
work are being observed over there
and there are no limitations on
labor. A glimpse of the tremendous
extent of the American supply facili-
ties, lines Of communication, ware
houses and numerous schools for
men and officers, reminds one Of q
gigantic beehive filled with ener-
getic men"
Secretary Baker said he had been
interested to note the, extraordinary
extent to which American newspa-
pers carry the wal news. European
newspapers, he said, we're immeas-
urably behind those of this country
in that respect.
Mr.. Baker declined to discuss the
drive on the west front. He said
the situation had been apparently
covered by Premier Lloyd George
when ne stated that alternate periods
Of cheerfulness and anxiety must be
endured for sometime to come.
Secretary Baker outlined to Presi-
dent Wilson and heads of the gov
ernment's wal making agencies to-
day the war situation in Europe. He
attended the regular weekly confer
ence the department chiefs hold with
the president and gave his observa-