Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-16

i1dSoh.
oh, I've done that" replied Mr..
Hitchcock. 81 have made a nuisance
Of myself taking these matters up
with the Secretary of War. Ho
hasn't time to bother with details.
No ono man could do the work he has
before him.
Senator Hitchcock challenged Sec
rotary Bakers assertion before the
Military Affairs Committee last week
that the War Department. had a war
plan. After listening to the Secretary
he said, he was convinced that no
Elan exists.
Mr. Hitchcock called the delays in
the shipbuilding program as "worse
than farce" ITS nothing short OF
crime" he said. He spoke Of tho
whole war administrative machinery
as "obsolctc and cumbersome" and
contendcd that the War Cabinet and
munitions dictatorship plans would
insure the coordination that now was
lacking. lie went into the equipment
Of soldiers, presenting evidence of in
sufficient clothing and ammunition as
proof that the War Department had
failed to meet the necessities Of the
time.
In speaking of President Wilson'S
opposition to the War Cabinet and
Munitions measures, Senator Hitch
cock remarked:
Ills attitude is unfortunate but
not altogether unnatural, since he be-
licvcS that al legislation should
originate with the Executive"
When Senator Hitchcock early in
his speech spoke Of 100000 pairs
OF shoes having been ordered for al
army OF 100000 in France as showing
haphaZard methods in the War De
partment. Senator Myers interrupted
ut seems to me you are going into
figures that might be questioned"
said Senator Myers. "Can you vouch
for their authcnticity?"
81 do and | can verify Them" said
Senator Hitchcock.
'Who made that statement about
2l,000,000 shoes for 100000 men?" de-
mandcd Senator Williams.
Il cannot reveal tho name," said
Senator Hitchcock. Il am not at lib
erty to, but l can assure the Sen
ators that l am speaking from facts"
1.-THE Senator is making statements
upon hearsay, and this is going out
to the country insisted Senator Will
liamS. ut would have been wiser if
the Senator had not repeated this
hcarsay stuff"
II am perfectly willing for the SEN
ator to dispute it and bring in any
evidence to the contrary" retorted
Senator Hitchcock. The inquiry l
have made as to this ard some other
matters has been among men who
have come here to serve the Govern
INrr Il i;
to Get any of the men into trouble
But they are in Il position to know
what the records show"
Mr.. Hitchcock told Of $50 tons OF
meat being spoiled on the way to
France because the refrigeration
plants aboard ship had not been OPP
Grated. The meat was shipped back
to Hoboken. Senator Martin wanted
to know where he got that informa-
ton, and Mr.. Hitchcock said that it
had been widely published and never
denied. Senator Weeks interrupted
to say that the $50 tons of meat in
cldent had been put up to Secretary
Baker or the Quartermaster General
before the Military Affairs Committee
and that the witness said it was true.
1.-THE Senator is mentioning these
things on the floor Of the Senate"
protested Senator Martin. at seems
to me he should have brought them
to the attention of the War Depart
mont instead"
II have done So" replied Senator
Hitchcock. II have done it without
avail"
Senator Hitchcock was "thunder-
struck" he said, over what he called
tho calm assertion of Secretary Baker
that he could land 100000 more
men in France by end Of year. Only
If there were 100000 tons of ship.
ping available and it was used inces-
sanity, without loss from sinking by
submarines, the Senator said, would
1t be possible to accomplish such a
task
II am curious to know" interposed
Senator Penrose, whether any ex-
PLANTATION has occurred to the Sen
ator as to how the Secretary Of War
was SO sadly apart from the facts.
Had he not been informed or did he
allow his sanguine disposition and
hopeful nature and optimism to pre-
dict result the facts did not justify?"
THINKS BAKER DOES NOT KNOW
FACTS.
II would not like to attempt to ex-
plain the motives which led the Sec.
rotary Of War to make such a state
ment," replied Senator Hitchcock. ~
think it is a terrible thing to mislead
the people when facts are ascertain
able. My own opinion is that the
Secretary Of War has not been in
touch with the Shipping Board; that
there has been nothing to coordinate
tho Shipping Board with tho other
functions Of Government, and that
there has not been knowledge in high
places Of the actual facts. 1t Is
miserable thing for us to live in
FOOLS paradise and think we can do
the impossible. I do not think the
Secretary has deliberately misled tho
people; he simply doesn't know"
Insisting that he was loyal to the
President, Senator Hitchcock said
In the main, he had supported the