The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-29


Il, ia this: MD = s:sf -aFT
1--WE should have strained every
energy to have gotten from $4,000 to
100000 men to France this year.
Far Exceeded Program.
y THAT Is the year 1917. l tell no
secret. but 1t Is perfectly well known
to everybody in this group. that We
have far exceeded what in August.
1917. was regarded az program so
ideal that the editor OF this magazine
refers TO It as a thing which We ought
to have strained every nerve In a vain
but hopeless effort 10 accomplish"
In response to n question by Chair
man Chamberlain. the secretary said
the United States did not have more
than the minimum number OF men In
France in August, 1917. lie contin-
ued.
And the editor goes on.
And by next year usis) We could
have had 100000 men TO send over or
could ship
More il France.
Now. instead OF having 1900 or
100, 900 men in France in 1917 we have
many more men than that In France
and instead of having Il half million
men. whom We could ship to France. If
we could find any way to do 1t In 1915.
lion in France early In 1918. and we
have available. il the transportation
facilities are available to MS, and the
prospect IN not unpromisIng. one and
one half million who In 1918 can be
shipped to France"
Senator Weeks asked whether the
secretary knew who wrote the editor
rial, and Mr.. Baker said he thought Il
was attributed to Mr.. Whigam. the
editor In chief.
Why No PUBLICITY?
why" asked Chairman Chamber
lain. "have you not felt 1t proper to
let the public into your confidence
with reference to these things that you
are telling now?"
Senator. confess I have hesitated
and l still hesitate" replied the secre-
tary.
Il have here a statement from Field
Marshal Won HIndenburg In which he
Is quoted as saying, In a German
newspaper in contemptuous fashion OF
by that we have advertised our prep.
arations for this war In an unworthy
manner"
''Do you think for n moment. Secre-
tary Baker" said the chairman. shat
there has been any time within the
last year that the German secret serv-
ice has not been fully advised as TO
everything we have done?'
Germans Mystified.
yes, senator. knew. X may
rely upon the confidential information
which we get from confidential
sources. the German government Ia
still mystIfied az to the number OF
men we have In France. or have had
there at any time"
The chairman said he doubted this
After some discussion as to the policy
of governments In announcing military
secrets, Mr.. Baker said It was not the
policy Of the American or other gov
ernments to do so, and edded;
Great Britain Silent. 90.
u am saying this now because you
have asked me why have held back
these facts until now. ] am saying
to you that you could not get from
Great Britain this minute dom
know whether I could get the number
OF soldiers Great Britain has In
France or at home. could get an
approximation. could get whatever
information might be deemed helpful
to the immediate military object Il
be accomplished. but could not ge
from Great Britain or France either
one, the actual number Of troops the,
have at the front
1T may he that that preeaution IL
unnecessary and yet that Is the pre-
caution which military men have OBJ
| served. and I have no further point q
| make in the matter of the number o
! troops there than to show, as I wal
| showing when read that extract, tina
our original intention was to make oul
| military effort in 1918 and August o
| 1917. a jealous advocate OF imm@iiat'
| military activity laid down ns tn
maximum obtainable program a thin
which has since been multifold ex
| ceedcd.
French Needed Support.
why did we decide to send NOR
troops to France In 1917? II Ii n
secret. When Marshal JoffV cam
| to this country from France. when tn
British mission came from France
| they told us OF situation which W
had not up TO that time fully appre