The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-01
COMMITTEE HEARS
FROM MR. BAKER
Secretary Shows Pronounced Desire
y. to Cooperate With Investigators
Will Be Called again L


HIN win Be Called again
B& Washington, Ian. 2S.-First definite
announcement was made today that
ERICA would have half million
in France early this year.
e will have three times that many
4 ny to send before 1919.
ecretary CT War Newton D. Baker
&se these statements today when he
bpeared before the senate military
DAffairs committee to reply to Senator
4 Chamberlain's assertion that the war
u department had fallen down.
& The secretary made flat denial that
military establishment had col
sed.
At would be a tragic thing if the
holly unprecedented effort would
turn out to merit that charge he
said.
Mr.. Baker admitted there had been
delays in preparation.
az do not want 70 add any color OF
prophecy as to when they will he re-
moved" he declared. "But every effort
will be made to remedy them"
He reviewed in detail the enormous
@achievements of war preparation here
and abroad and said at the end OF this
S-forg and interesting presentation:
When it is all told the story of the
war preparations will be shown as tre-
mendous response to a tremendous
responsibility The American people
will feel glad to hear it.
@Our task is to hit and hit hard
There will be no star playing but
team playing. More has been accom-
plished than the wisest ever dreamed
There will be criticism. But so far
as the war department is concerned
there will be continuing effort and a
hospitality toward every suggestion
that can come from the outside"
Talked Five Hours.
For nearly FIVE hours the secretary
talked to room crowded to its doors.
He said it was the longest speech ne
had ever made in his life. The senate
committee abandoned its own room for
larger one in the senate office build
ing. An hour before the appointed
time throng stood in the lobbies, but
only about $50 persons heard the sec
retary. These were composed chiefly
of the committee, congressman, news
paper reporters and women spectators
who carried their knitting with them
n For the most part the secretary was
rot interrupted. He came armed with
j aimass of papers but referred to them
seldom, speaking in his customary
clear, incisive language, without effect
and in a logical progression. His re-
markable vocabulary was used to best
advantage in many striking phrases
and smiles such as:
France was a white sheet Of paper
so far as we were concerned. On
that sheet we had to write not only an
i army but the means of maintaining an
/ army"
Interesting revelations were fire.
suently made At one time the sec
retary described midnight conference
in his office at which the Enfield army
rifle was selected on the eve OF Gen.
II Pershing's sailing. At another period,
4ene said Gen. Leonard Wood recon-
\ rnended calling out the drafted men
II before they were properly equipped,
II 80 that their training could begin. At
4 still another moment he told how the
d Russian breakdown and the Italian de-
Il feats had switched the war plan.
u His hearers paid cloest attention
when the secretary repudiated tns
&sugestion that the argus-eye Cen
u man secret service had been able to
eyrrn how many American fighting
# men there are in France.
"Why ha!a you no. let the pubic
8 into your confidence an this pnint?'
asked Senator Chamberlaia.
# "I hesitate to do So replied tie
& &secretary. 81 have here an article IN
which Won Hindenberg contemptuous-
y say the Americans advertise their
# preparations.
"Do YOU think there has been a
minute at any tine when the Germans
3k ecret service did not know how many
B nen we had in France.
eyes, sir. If 1 can reply upon my
est information, the German govern
L ent is still mystided about 1t.
Does the British or the French
III overnment advertise It's plans" in