Evening journal., 1918-02-06
SAFEGUARD Health
Of MEN N SERVICE
Baker Tells Probers Re-
organization of Medical
Departments is Sure
100000 MEN IN
FRANCE THIS YEAR
BY The United Press.

organization Nl Ati AiNlA AilA hANf a
medical department. and the public
health service, 90 brlng thc three
branches under the general direction Of
surgeon General Gorgos. IS conicm-
plated, Secretary of War Bakor stated
10 the senate military committee today.
Baker favors this plan. he said. and 10
has been endorsed by The surgeons SEN
cral Of the army and navy.
Startling disclosures of sickness and
neglect throughout National Guard and
National Army camps This winter is be-
lievod TO have prompted The co-ordlna-
tlon Of the three great national health
services.
Bakers revelation OF the impending
movement was brough forth under
sharp questioning hy senator Frehng-
huyscn as to health conditions at can
tonments Frelnghuysen also charged
there Is widespread apprehension over
/ possibility ~ malaria and other fever
epidemics at the Southern camps should
next summer prove unusually hot.
/ Don't you think, Mr.. secretary" he
said, that now is the time TO have
i vision about this?"
Baker said hc did, and that The
health Of the camps during the hot
weather is now being considered.
A strong move TO throw the hearings
in executive session developed at outset
of the hearing.
Reed and Kirby demanded confidential
data (which the committee wants"
should be- given IN secret session.
Hitchcock objected 90 the secret scs-
sion saying 10 wes only fair to the
Secretary and Go the House an . TO the
country That Bakers answers to "our
searching questions Dee spread broad
cast.
Baker supported the secret session,
declaring "the misfortune Of my first
appearance--if it can be termed a mis-
foriune-lay largely I'm the fact that ]
attempted 90 give a general perspec-
tive OF the whole field Of war work
! without supporting % with specific fg-
urcs think this should be given 10
the committee in secret session
Weeks attempted Go draw from Baker
figures as 90 the tonnage now at the
disposal Of thc War Department for
troop and supply transport. Baker did
not have this Information he said but
"can give 10 to She senator later
81 understand the department has
I9i,0 600 tons said Weeks
"l think that Is understanding H."
replied Baker.
Iichcoch here inierp0sei ihat this
information was That The United states
had only ii0OO0o tons of shipping in
all. but Baker did NOT comment.
Hitchcock. however pressed bis ques-
tioning regarding TONNAGE asking The
+ secretary what basis NE had Tor believ-
- lng The department could transport f.
] 10000 men 90 France during i9is
Baker said De meant there would ar
T tually Doe at least 100000 men in France
e early this year and l0O0oo0 more dur
] ing a year il shipping is available.
. In response 90 questions by senator
J. McKellar as DO supply Of ariluer> %
. camps and canionmcnis, Baker said tha
s National Guard battery units had beer
r so per cent. equipped with suns.
"It varies from per cent at Caml
!. ) Bowie 20 100 per cent at Camp Han
- cock. said Baker
h The National Army artillery units are
u heing equipped with sufficient guns io
r training purposes, he added.
SWITCHING Go the question oi arm,
Z supplies. Mckellar Wanted 10 know Wn'
s certain contracts had been kept secret
"Nlv military associates thoucht J.
Nd UeSI not TO NlNNl-' Nlir iHl't ili"' l'i4'
- said Baker. because it might invite
campaign of sabotage.
=. "Our contracts were not sccrei Th
l. only thing we prevented was publico
= iion I'm the newspapers of this infor
nation
well. the list was published 10 th
~ official Government bulletin" comment
\, ed senator Weeks. when the fuel ordc
=. was issued. I think that highly inn
n PROPER
Z Baker reiterated under qucstionin
i That there "is not now q single soldie
!, i'm "a single ramp, who is moi adequatel
y supplied with sufficient clothing y
keep him warm
is Thepe is some lack Of wooden unforr
Coatt vet. Baker admitted.
~ senator New read a letter saying q
Fort BENJAMIN Harrison there was O.
,. oVorsupply of shoes, but woolen uni
M forms were $50 short and with shir
raenis in transit there would only %
enough for one suit per man.
Wadsvorih asked Baker whether tho
was any legislation he ihoo51; ncce'
sary 20 remove hampering regulations
1T seems 10 me there are too man
,e check balances for efficient work. j
ne said.
re Baker replied after q pause that il
ld President of course had been given rel
le TO act as cXigoncics arise.
81 am not sure there are too many r.
strictions. ne said We are dcalin
with tremendous sums Of money and
needs much wisdom" He said. how
n ever. that Doe would ask the war com
mt eli Of The department IL ii could recon
ma mond any such legislation
ON Frelinghuysen asked why bodies
Mt soldiers who die at camps in this cou
no iry are sent home without their nm
o. forms and ion sheets as reported hc sal
.c- in letters from soldiers families.
nj Baker said orders were ihai b0di
e: should be sent home for burial IN ur
il- form unless the man died OF "a go
g- tagious disease, in which event he
el, wrapped in a disnfecting sheet
ne WadsNorlh here turned Go BakeI
To- appointment Of +. r. Stcttinius as su
sy' veyor Of supplies. They tried io :
~ the Secretary 10 aimit Sietlinus' po.
nm tion is purely advisory"
Baker retorlod IL WAS not fair
say it was only advisory, hocau
2. Steitinius with Bakers conceni %
Ii, nll power TO coordinate product
,r~, and distribution of army supplies "a
al determines priority Of supply with
oil the army.
rec Oueried by Weeks ~ 20 his att'tu
Inc on the proposed munitions minisi
nc Raker thought 70 would be "eXceedir
of ~ unwise" TO destroy the elabor'