New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
Mr.. Bakers Oun
By G. w. Gilbert

w 7 AsH1NGToN, April 2o.-"so far as
wv our forces are concerned, any man
who goes to France will have an in
creasing sense of admiration for the mag
nitude, the thoroughness and the speed
with which the American army has done
its work." etc.
Those words sounded like an echo out Of
the past Involuntarily the mind went
back three or four months to the Senate
Military Affairs Committee and witness
before it. They sounded strange, yet how
familiar! Glowing with optimism, they
aroused-well, let us say--despair Wash
ington hadn't heard words like that in six
weeks because its Secretary of War had
been away. 1t hears them again because he
is back.
Newspaper men gathered eagerly to hear
Mr.. Baker. The Secretary who had said
and thought-the war was 5000 miles away
had gone the 5000 miles to see it. He had
seen it. The world wanted to know the
reaction upon the Secretary Of War that
resulted from his being brought into con-
tact with this terrible and moving struggle
that is going on to maintain the rights OF
men. 1t has the reaction. 1t is the same
old reaction-"I have done WE'LL" Inc
American army in France. Dee
hive of the most energetic people. :.
The amount done is an amazing story.
Washington heard and amazed.
They tell a story down here of an Amer
can war CORES spondent, writer with GU
of gentle colorful words and an eye 1or
seeing little incidents. One day the censor
, rose in his wrath against him. "Mr b.
he said, your story this morning is .he
last one like that I'll let go over the WIRE
The cable is crowded. What you send is
mostly bull The American people want
something else beside bull"
That censor had been in Washington
lately!
For six weeks the American people naa
been getting something else besides "buii
The press agent had been silenced.
l can't recall a prediction from M
Crowell, since he "sat in in placc OF M';
Baker. Mr. Baruch has not told the wor,a
what wonders he is going to accomplish,
Neither has Mr.. Stettinius nor Genera
Goethals. The appointment Of Mr.. Sch"aO
means, it is almost certain, an end 10 iHe
empty promises of Mr.. Hurley. A Senate,
said the other day, Il think we've reacne"
an end of lying about airpanes.
The capital had entered into an atmos'
phere of truth The truth about the SUI,
marine losses was told. I ieiu -"0N
Haig told the world that his troops we1s sas
fighting with their backs to the wa.
Lloyd George did not conceal the ugly po'
sibilities of the situation on the "s''
front.
Into this atmosphere foated rosy c,ouu
That rosy cloud was Mr.. Baker. in,'' ,'
spirits high, their behavior most adniisu'.
The only sad Americans are 'ho..
who for any reason fear they may nave "
come home before the job is done. .,','.
The American soldier has made gooo :"
France" That was Mr.. Bakers reaction:; f..
The rest of the country took " ~.
granted that we had brave men IN ran. w.
but Mr.. Baker cannot get over his sup. I.l,..s
that there really are Americans IN risa .ast
and that they are there to tight-ano "~
he got them there! Al,
His mind is still in the past. he Is ,ss;- or
defending himself before the Senate ml ~.
tary Affairs Committee. The truth VI u. -
matter is that MIR. Baker does not peisSs ~"
IN Washington as Washington Is so-u.
HIS War Department is a new depa.'"IhJis his
with new spirit. Mr. Crowell during of
absence has been better Secretary ~
war than he ever was. Washington 10 ~
Washington of Crowell, of Stettin'os' ~.
Baruch of McAdoo. the doers, nor
Washington of Baker, the word painsase @