The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-29
Secretary Makes Flat Denial OF
Chamberlain Charge That
Plans Have Collapsed
TEAM PLAYING ONLY
KIND ALLOWED In BIG
MILITARY MOVEMENTS
Committee Favorably Imposes
ed With Detailed Statement
of What Has Been Achieved
Since War Began

Washington. Jan. 2s.--First deeHaeM
announcement was made today thAt
American would have half utntof
men in France early this year.
She will have three times that mang
ready TO send before 1919.
Secretary of War Newton d. Ralns2
made these statements today when N
appeared before the senate mtlttmxT
AFFAIRS committee to reply to SenatoE
Chamberlain's assertion that the wnn
department had fallen down"
The secretary made hat denial th&A
tho military establishment had eA34
lapsed.
1t would be tragic thing IL thm
wholly unprecedented effort woa16
turn out to merit that Charge" -
said -
Mr.. Baker admitted there had bsem
delays in preparation.
Il don't want to add any color ~
prophecy as to when they will be re-
moved" he declared. But every e4~
fort win be made to remedy them.
He reviewed In detail the enormcUA
achievements of war preparation hAea
and abroad and said. at the end OF
this long and interesting presentations
= hen IL ~ all told the story of tho
war preparation will he shown q
tremendous response 90 "a fremend~sa
responsibility. The American people
win feel glad to hear it.
Our task ia to hit and hit hAeA
There will be altar playing. hu4
team playing. More has been acconss
pltahed than the wtsest ever dreamsAs
There will be criticism But so fa&
as the war department La concerned
there will be continuing effort and D
hospitality toward every sugSesticA
that can come from the outside
For nearly five hours the secretary
talked 60 a reoyn crowded TO It's docYA
He said Ii was the longest speech h
had ever made in his life
Throns Gathers for Hearing.
The senate committee abandoned ftA
own room for a larger one In the seas
ate office building An hour before
the appointed time throng stood
in the Hobbies. but only about 25o per-
sons heard the secretary. These were
composed chiefly OF the committee
congressman. newspaper reporters and
women spectators VINO carried theie
knitting with them.
For the most part the secretary was
not Interrupted. He came armed with
a mass of papers. but referred to them
seldom. speaking In hls customary
clear, incisivs language. without efYort
and In logical progression. His re-
marhahle vocabulary was used to best
sdvsntag es in many striking phrases
and SMILES. such as:
"Ernnee was a white sheet OF paper
so far as we concerned. On that
sheet we had TO wrfxe net only an
army, bat the means of nsaantsanin&
an army~
Interesting revelations were fre~
ouently made, At one time the sscre-
tary described a midnight conference
In his office. in which the Enfield army
rife was selected on the eve of Gem
eral Pershing's sailing. At another
period he said General leonard Wood
recommended calling out the drafted
men before they were properly equip
ped. so that their training could be-
gin. At still another moment. he told
them. the Russian breakdown and the
Italian defeats had switched ths war
plan.
His hearers paid closest attention
when the secretary repudiated the
suggestion that the Argus-eyed Ger
man secret service had been able to
learn how many American lighting
men are now In France.
Why have you not let the pubic
into your confidence on this pointf~
asked Senator Chamberlain.
II hesitate to do So" replied the
secretary. II have here an article In
which Won Hindenburg contemptu-
ously says the Americans advertise
their preparations.
do you think there has bssn
minute at any time WhSl tue 1cItuAu
secret service aid not know how many
men we had in France?"
Yes. sir. II can rely upon nay
best information. the German govern
rnent is still mystified about IT."
Does the British or the French
government advertise IT'S plans7" In
CURED Senator Myers
No
THE American does not eitheE does
n t~ tAtv
NO. sir. Senator, IL / wanted to
ind out today how many men tho
French or British have at the front.
II could not do so. They will not tell.
I could know only In a general way.
May Call Baker Again.
The senate committee will ccntinus
its investigation and the secretary will
be summoned again. but not for the
present. 1t is the intention of the
committee to proceed with other
branches of the war department.
Senator Weeks made this suggestion
late this afternoon. and the secretary
agreed that it would be the best
course.
Secretary Baker appeared to antici-
pate today that there would be no cess
sation OF the inquiry into his depart.
ment In fact. he alluded several
times to the continuance OF the war
probe, and at one time he asserted:
IF you desire to 60 into other
branches will lend you my aid"
Al this time. he also said with
great Difference" to the committee.
For some reason l do not under-
stand, although I appeared before
your committee with the intentton Of
being frank and the utmost desire ~
aid you. seem to have left the In
preston upon soms unsnhak1 - III