The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-17

will be restored to such an extent that
they will return to duty. 1t is only the
remaining 20 per cent who will be sent
home to be cared for and re-educated by
the government, not to be returned to
civil life until they are fully able to sup
port themselves and places have been
found for them.
The whole vast project of American
operations was mapped out before the
secretary. 1t represents one of the great
est undertakings any nation has ever
engaged in and even to the man under
whose hands have passed all the plans 1t
was amazing because of it's bigness and
the thorough, workman-like way in which
General Pershing and his officers are
doing their great job.
FIGURES ARE ASTOUNDING
| The figures of the task are astound-
ing. Those who went with Mr.. Baker
over the whole complicated system that
is being set up say that its size can
not be grasped except when 1T is actu-
ally seen In the single item of ware
houses for American supplies in storage
behind the lines an almost unbelievable
project is being rapidly completed. III
all the warehouses were strung together,
they would stretch from Washington TO
New York as one vast vault OF war ma
terials in reserve.
Hundreds of miles of railways have
been laid docks and jetties constructed
Until today. transports have made the
round trip to France in Is days against
the so or 20 it took so often during the
winter.
Mr.. Baker returned more than ever
| confident Of the capacity and Juds-
ment of General PershinS for the 5reat
burden of responsibility he is carry
| ing. The American commander Is sai1
| 10 be developing and broadening even
no 10 building iS GX-
panding.
During his visit to the American
sector Secretary Baker spent some-
time at an artillery school, where
American gunners are being trained.
The party witnessed trial attack Oh
trench. beginning with machine
gun barrage where bullets battered
down on the hypothetical enemy po-
sition like rain running into light
howitzer and trench mortar bompard-
,nenr before which the ground was
torn and twisted by lighter shells. ana
eliminating in salvos from heavy
trench mortars aimed at the destrac-
ton OF machine gun nests or other
local strong points that might check
an advance.
When it was over the party ex-
rIored the bombarded position. They
found that the big shells had torn
holes 40 feet across aud II feet deep
wherever they landed.
FRENCH ARE ENCOURAGED
No doubt was left in the visitors
minds of the stimulus given FTcnch
spirit by the arrival Of American fight
ing forces in France. Mr.. Baker was
given repeated proof of the amaz-
ing degree of comradeship that has
surung up between the American and
| French soldiers and the Americans and
the civil population among whom they
move daily Differences of language
have not hindered this friendship IN
the least. In trains. or street cars, in
barracks. in restrooms, Mr.. Baker saw
! for himself the CHEEKY greetings ana
| the complete understanding between
| them Where the tongue fails stsn
language is quickly devised. France
| has taken the Americans to her heart
ard they are responding in kind.
When he left for Europe Mr.. Rake,
nut the war department routine from
his mind 1t will take him some days
| to catch step fully with what has gone
forward in his absence. He is cx-
pccted. however. to face his problems
with a new prospective and officials
here anticipate that the result will
be shown in the nature Of his deci-
sions. for to a man filled with the
no room for petty obstacles or con-
s'derations in the job ahead.
The only question on which the
secretary exercised his authority as
head of the war department during
his absence related to the publication
of information concerning the troops
in France and their activities. Hc
cabled instructions that all such i'm
formation should be given out from
the Headquarters OF the expeditionary
forces. Mr. Baker went abroad con-
viEced that the publication Of casualty
lists In the form originals used was
hafmless, He was quickly convinced,
however, by the wisest military ad-'
visers in Europe that valuable In
formation could be furnished % the
enemy in this way and II Is very
evident that General Pershing's will
Is to govern hereafter al that II given
cot about the activities " tho troops
in France.