Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-06
BRITISH VESSELS TO HELP
Continued from page I

mate how many troops that tonnage would
supply.
Transportation of fighting troops was
temporarily reduced, Secretary Baker
said, in discussing the shipping situa-
ton, by the necessity of sending larger
engineering forces He did not have with
him detailed statistics regarding avail
able ships, but promised tn supply IT.
The Shipping Board and War Depart
ment, Secretary Baker said are IN constant
contact. exhaustivey studying the SNIP
ping situation. Gen. Bliss, he said, took
the information abroad rs basis OF cal
culation in connection with the shipping
situation. About $50. 600 tons additional
have recently been secured
Secretary Baker said he had not de-
terrnned whether troops would be kept
in the southern camps next summer. II
the summer weather was extreme as
this winter weather has been, some would
have to- be moved.
American tonnage losses, Secretary
Baker said, have been exceedingly hight.
''The service the navy has rendered in the
protection of the army" hc sud, has
been uneXamplcd
"That was the grand total at the dis
posal of the United States, SAID Senator
Hitchcock, adding that excluding pas
senger ships, tankers and other
carrying ships cnly about l,4C0,o00tons
was avaiable for supply and transporta-
tion ot troops.
Senator Hitchcock asked Secretary
Baker if that statement eoniormcd to his
information and the Secretary said nc
could not remember
"lf that statement is correct how many
| troops can We supply TO Europe persist
| oI Gopotnr lIifphpnPk
Il cant answer that said Secretary
! Baker. 1T would depend on the basis oil
calculation
+, Senator Hitchcock said he understood
that the basis was five tons per man
Senator Weeks said he thought II was
/ fifty pounds per man per day
SENATOR RFckHtM PROTESTS.
Senator Beckham interrupted, protest.
ing against efforts to drag out OF the
Secretary indirectly hy probing questions
information which would hc of value 10 the
enemy
Senator Hitchcock SAID he did not wish
! to be misunderstood but only desired =
find the basis uf Mr.. Baker $ assurance u
the country that million men could bt
transported TO France during 1918
Il am anxious to tel you what is IN my
j mind, answered Secretary Baker, askin!
that he be permitted to explain his state
lncnt as far as possible without dlsclosinl
military information.
BEFORE Gcn Bliss went to Europe, {
said, tho subject was discussed with men
hers Of the Shipping Board and others q
10 the "cxtcnt 10 which the Emergenc,
Fleet Corporation would sIpoplement tn
existing tonnage and the extent tina
tonnage then available to America Woul'
need 10 be supplemented by nternatlona
arrangement III order 10 carry out IN
! Allied program.
>ccrctar, baker said he did y person
,lly determine tie question tut that It "
done by Cen Bliss and others.
Upon Senator Weeks suggestion. IN
committee dropped the shipping qnesi loi
until the Secretary could get lniormatia
from his department % property ansWe
the questions This will be furnished Z
| the committee III executive session.
QUESTIONS SPIES N ARMY.
Senator Weeks said he had received
letter in which ii was charged that man
men in the army are Of German sympath
and that many Officers ard men I
conversations EXPIRE sscd pr0-Germanscnd
! ment
The writer of the letter, he said, cite
an instance uf an American OtItctf beIil
sent home from France by Gen. Pershin
Tor that reason. The Senator said he ha
: also heard Of chaplain who had bee
dismissed for similar reasons.
Secretary Baker said he had received n
information Of such conditions but woui
make inquiry.
/ Statements attributed to Lord Nortl
| cliffe saving preparations We're being mad
: in America for raising an army tut Int
: was keng made To provide for its tran'
. portati0n across the ocean were read b
: senator Hitchcock.
! Secretary Baker said be had not hear
. | Of the statement and could not refnemht
1 If the subject had been discussed IN Col
5 fcrcnces with Lord Northcllffe
4 Declaring that everybody knows tn;
r about one hall OF the men, both office
: and enlisted men IN the camps. have naYl
been trained with artillery or machn
q guns, Senator Alckeilar asked Il
IS >ecretaIyi { he thought II wise To sendmC
|. to France unframed.
o Secretary Baker replied that man
: artillery officers were being trained
+ France 1T a school turned over by Il
French and hat Il took more time To ira
artillorymcn than otilaers.
The plan Of the department, The Sc
rotary added. Is 70 gtye rs much tfaInt
, IN this country as possible by coneentra
lng artillery supplies III units ilkelcst
20 first Go France but IN no case Tor tn
! to he used III combat until their training
/ completed on the other slde. | thereto
: do not think il unwise 10 send men oy
who are not completely trained.