The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-11
ASSAULTS UPON
BAKERS REPORT
Secretary Of War on Gridiron
Today, When Senators Ask
Him Numerous
Questions.
A WRONG IMPRESSION
Picture Of Preparedness overdrax~n
In the Statement Of What
America Has Done
so Far.

United Press Leased Wire Service.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 11.-Secretary
of War Baker today sat under the IRE
Of senate military probers criticizing
him for his rosy review" of the sup
plies situation submitted yesterday.
Senators Wadsworth, Chamberlain,
Mckellar and Weeks joined in assaults
upon Bakers declaration that the in
itiai rush needs Of the army have been
fully met.
You have created the impression
throughout the country that every.
thing Is rosy, conditions are fine and
that there is no need for further
haste" said Wadsworth.
THE facts are" he added, that we
are approaching one Of the greatest
crises In our history. Our task In the
next eight months will be bigger than
in the past. It will be unwise, in my
judgment to create a false impression
OF security in the country"
In the face Of insistent efforts to
make him acknowledge that he had
overdrawn the picture Of preparedness
Baker stoutly maintained that his
statement was correct.
Our initial rush needs have been
met" he said. Every man in France
has full equipment There is plenty
of artillery there. Production Is going
forward at rapid rate"
'T don't know how you can say that
in view Of the lack of the rifles, artil-
lery and machine guns at canton.
ments,'' said Senator Chamberlain.
MY mind was not On the situation
in this country. 1 was thinking Of our
troops abroad" said Baker.
Senator Kellar said he was told to,
day by an officer from Camp Upton, N
Y, that there is no artillery there.
There is not enough, but there Is
some," Baker replied.
IF the ordnance department had
rushed the work to capacity ever since
April. it would not have been possible
to supply enough artillery and ammu-
milton by this time for all Of our
needs Baker added
THE reason 1 called attention to
your statement is that 1t creates the
false belief that there is no shortage"
said Wadsworth
That is true, there is none,' in
sisted Baker.
II must differ with you on that"
said Wadsworth.
Il repeat that the men abroad are
fully equipped with their initial needs
went on Baker. TT would, Of course,
be pleasing if we had enough artillery,
machine guns and ammunition fully to
equip all the training camps. But we
never will have all we need When
we supply present needs, We'll have
to continue, for We'll need more"
Senator Chamberlain inquired
whether Bakers feeling Of security re.
garding the artillery situation was
justified in view of the Italian disaster
and Pussian DETECTION
Wont France have to supply Italy
with ordnance?' asked Chamberlain
! And what will happen to us if she
dOes?"
I've not been advised that France
will be in the least unable to do for
us what she has agreed to do and is
eager to do" said Baker. Il think
common sense would tell you there is
danger there" said Chamberlain. 81
agree with Senator Wadsworth that
the wrong impression is being given
the country"
What I wanted the country to un.
derstand," replied Baker, "is that our
troops in France are and will be fully