The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-12
SENATOR'S WILL
ASK GERARD TO
ANSWER BAKER
Committee on Military Af-
fairs Rcsents Sccretary's
Evasivencss.
INERTIA UNEXPECTED
Ex.Ambassador May Tell of
Warnings to u. S. to
Prepare for War.
CONFIDENTIAL" REFUGE
Witness Admits Shortages in
Motors, kitchcps, Overcoats
and Blankets.
CONFIDENTIAL" REFUGE

WASHINGTON. Jan. thames W.
Gerard. formerly Ambassador OF the
United States to Germany. will be in
mIttee on Military Affairs. This decision
was reached to-day after Secretary Of
War Baker had completed his mornings
testimony and excused himself for the
afternoon to attend a Cabinet meeting.
He will testify again tomorrow. The
comr1ittee's determination to hear the
Ambassador followed upon the cross ex-
animation OF Mr.. Baker by Senator
New OF Indiana yesterday.
Senator New had asked the Secretary
why, In view Of the persistent succession
Of dispatches from Berlin addressed to
the State Department by Ambassador
Gerard. there had been such inertia dis
played by the Administration In in
aueuratinG its plans for adequate pre-
parednes.. In avoiding direct answer
10 these interrogations the Secretary
took refuge in the statement that the
matters were Of too confidential a char
act.r to admit Of discussion in the COM
mittee.
Attitude Astounds Committee.
This statement. in view OF the fast
that Mr.. Gerard, apparently with the
complete acQuiescence Of the Admins
tration. has published both In news
papers and periodicals rs we'll as in book
form the recount OF mis- Berlin expert
ences from 1913 to the hour Of the sever
anre of diplomatic relations with Ger
many. sstounded the committee. The
rcticence Of Mr.. RaksY on . subject Of
such vital import caused the committee
10 decide to summon Mr.. Gerard to the
witness stand.
In the discussion Of this point yester-
day Mr.. Baker was asked II he knew
that in May. 1915. mbsssador Gerard
had notified this country that Germany
would renew her policy Of ruthless SUBJ
marine warfare. He replied II cannot
tei you whether l knew that at that
time or not. Any information I had on
that subject was Of a confidential char
acter'
Senator New pointed out that this
statement appears on Page 345 OF Mr..
Gerard's book. MY Four Years In Ger
many" which must have been done with
the consent Of the Administration. but
formation he had was confidential and
not 20 be discussed. A little later he
added:
1T is not to be forgotten that at the
time TO which you refer and subsequently,
this Government was relying upon very
definite assurances from the German
Government that 1t would not do that
thing
Secretary Fiereely GrilleA.
Secretary Baker was subjected to a
ferce grilling in the committee room
when he reappeared to carry forward
the testimony he started yesterday. Tho
burden Of his argument to-day was that
the supplies for the army were 'ade-
cuate," Pinned down by tho questions
o. Senator after Senator the Secretary
was forced to admit that his claim to
ths adequacy Of the supply referred ex-
clusiyely to supplies in the hands Of our
sold diers in France. On the point OF
sho-tages in camps and cantonmen:s he
vas forced to admit shortages In mac-
'icaly every requirement OF the soldier
except medical supplies and foodstuffs
Motor transportation, rolling kitchens.
uniforms. overcoAts. blankets were some
" the items Of the auartermasfer sup
plies in which there had been shortages.
The Secretary admitted that there were
still shortages He was also compelled
10 admit that In the matter Of the arna-
nent there were deficiencies which should
not be. Each time he made An adm's-
son OF delinquency on the part o. the
Ordnance Bureau or 0uartermaSters De-
pastment he was persistent to supple
rnent the admission with the statement
that IN each OF these particulars the
'verseas forces, however. were completely
equipped
The situation 10 satisfactory and
- Sx,t1 q a ..
cua'e," was q characteristic answer OF
the Secretary.
OissGr with I1Suisitop.
Senator wadsworth IN. - tried to
bring from the Secretary clearer dem
ri'ion Of the purposes Of The Board OF
labor Standards which has been regu-
latng the employment OF operatives In
the production Of army cloth. He urged
that strictness OF shop regulation inter-
Tered with the speed up programme OF
The army.
II must dIssg with you In that.
Senator" replied the Secretary. "The
delay is slight
Senator Wadsworth was o: the opin-
'oll that the admission OF labor leaders
would tend to foment strikes and dis
agreements.
Secretary Baker denied that any con-
''herable number Of contractors had ex-
pressed adverse views on the regula-
lions established by the labor standard
izsrS
senator Wadsworth suggested that the
protests we're, perhaps. more numerous
han the Secretary knew.
Roverting to the repeated assertions
the adequacy Of supply advanced by
secretary Baker. Senator Wadsworth
said
iour statements that we have sub
-tsnt'ally enough gives n wrong impress
son 10 the country when We have only
enough for the men actually In the f'ght-
ing and not for those In training"
aEree with Senator wadsworth.'
'aid Senator Chamberlain. "that your
hAa LtLnNula Rl,,c laaD al Ia