The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21

the regular gas mask drill. He car ried his mask slung at the prescribed position when he went in. A sentry halted the party as it was entering the trench and demanded pass.
 sDivfsion commander and Secretary of War; replied the general.
 Didn't you know that was the sec retary?" the sentry was asked as the party passed by.
 Yes, sir; no. sir stammered the Soldier.
 ASKS MANY QUESTIONS
 Mir Baker displayed the keenest curiosity in the surroundings, asking of every unfamiliar thing. it's purpose and use, and ire qucntly breaking in with interrosa- tions $ technical matters were being explained. Several times he asked the calibre of shells which burst close Dy.
 "Ah. that's a machine gum he eX- claimed when one opened up from the American trench.
 Often the secretary stopped to speak to the men, asking homely questions such as:
 Well how is it going?" or Where are you from?"
  sir" was the usual reply.
 once the secretary asked private if much was going on.
 Its pretty quiet, sir" came the easy response.
 Mir Bakers questions showed fla with trench construction and technicalities which had been gained from study. There was no mistaking g bis unrestrained and eager interest.
 TALKS TO OHIOANS
 Troops from Ohio were among those in the trench. Several of the men were known personally to MT. Baker and he talked freely with them about their homes and families, The secre- tary kept up running comment upon tho strangeness of the circumstances under which men from all over Amer ica were fighting in distant France Once he remarked:
 q have been from farm to fac tory at home. and now I am in the front line''
 Finally, notwithstanding the pro- tests of the officer, MT. Baker made his way through the sap to the list ening post. Peeping over the parapet into No Mans Land he said:
 Now I am on the frontier of free dom"
 The secretary asked the listening pest sentry if he saw Germans often
 Not very often, sir" was the re sponse. Then he asked whether the shooting was better than that of the enemy and seemed greatly pleased at the emphatic reply, Yes, it is.''
 IN DUGOUTS
 MT Baker entered dugouts and inspect ed other features of trench warfare a. fast as possible, being given miniature of everything experienced in the American sector. His determina. tton not to overlook anything frequent ly compelled the general to exercise re straint. Upon returning to the trench Mir Baker encountered a working party lay Ing duckboards. He saw hammer ly. ing in the mud, stopped over, picked il up and handed it to soldier.
 You need not do that, sir,'' said the man.
 Well, the mud is so deep that ] thought it might get lost said MT Baker.
 WITNESSES FUNERAL
 Returning the secretary SAW a little roadside cemetery, where are buried Americans who have fallen in that vi cinity Over it floated the tri-color Nearby were a few French civilians. wh, were decorating the graves. He entered the cemetery and with grave, sad fac, read the names on the simple monuments While he was there a burial squad o marched in with the body O q comrade. The secretary halted, turned back and stood with barred, bowed hea( while the body of his compatEiot was lait at rest with simple military rites in ; foreign land
 Later MT. Baker visited a hospita and spoke with the wounded He in quired about their wounds, how the, were received and how the men were feeling and gave cheery word to each them that fine weather woule soon arrive to hasten their recovery. On, man remarked that he had received tht French war cross but could not wear i because the regulations forbade it.
 T now give you authority to do so, said MT. Baker.
 Another wounded man said proudly:
 My lieutenant won the war cross
 "A fine good officer,' said .he Sec retary
 IMPRESSIVE INCIDENT
 There was an impressive Incident during the trip from the place wher' Mr. Baker spent the night to the front battalion, including men from Ohio had been drawn up in the village il which it was billeted. The SecretarA reviewed the battalion and calling thu men about him, gave an informal friendly talk.
 This afternoon MT. Baker visited thu headquarters of French division Word of his coming had preceded him and both American and French infan try were drawn up to receive him, whil' the trumpets sounded. This place i within sound of the guns, which. il fact, he heard most of the day. Late he went into a portion of the trenches held by this division.
 MT. Baker also visited Capt. Archi Roosevelt in the hospital and con graduated him on winning the cross Q war.
 SEES MANEUVERS
 Yesterday afternoon the Secretar. witnessed q specially arranged battl maneuver at a certain big trainin' camp. There was demonstrations of al attack, the obtaining of an objective the accompanying gunfire and othe realistic features. When 1t was con cluded the Secretary wrote to the com general this message:
 With the compliments of the Secre tary of War on the completeness o tht, maneuver''
 The message was sent by a carrie pig con.
 Later. MT. Baker visited French di the American troops highly for tn bearing and aptness in training
 During the day the Secretary met tn <1 1a<t.n