The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-17
Allied Authorities All Praise
American Soldiers.
Condition of Yankee Troops Is
Excellent.
SPIRIT OF ALLIED TROOPS HIGH
Ureatness and Speed of Accom-
plishment Is Apparent.
only Sad Soldier Is One Who
May Not Fight.

Washington, April 17.-Secretary
Baker back from a seven weeks trip
TO Europe today called on the Ameri-
can people for renewed support of the
war. The secretary expected to report
to President Wilson some time during
the day.
The American soldier has made
good in France" Secretary Baker as
sured newspaper men who met him
at the war department. The French
and British authorities are uniform
in their praise of the courage, endur-
ance and soldierly qualities of our
men,
The big thing for America to do is
to support the war;" the secretary con-
tinued, Ito support it financially and
with firm belief. The right arm of
America is in France. 1t is barred and
ready to strike. The rest of the body
is here in the United States and it
must support the arm. This support
should include subscriptions to liberty
confidence"
They Are All Happy.
The condition of the American
troops, the secretary said is excellent
They are all well physically and well
in every other way" their spirits are
high, their behavior admirable and
their relations with the French and
British cordial and sympathetic, he
said.
"One rarely meets an American SOL
dier in France who does not smile and
wave his hat" Mr. Baker said. The
only sad Americans there are those
who fear they may have to come back
before the job is DONE
''The information l went to get, I
got" Mr.. Baker said. His trip, he said,
would bring closer and more under
standing co-o -operatiorrbetween the war
secretary himself he feels that he is
now equipped with the means of
judging and appreciating the kind of
cooperation needed
Determined to Sec 1t Thru.
The impression one gets in France
is one of determination, confidence
and enthusiasm, said Mr.. Baker.
THE American. British, French
and Italian armies are filled with this
tremendous spirit and the civilian pop
ulation shows the same feeling" he
said. Every one is quite determined
to see the job thru and quite conf
dent of the outcome. l would say
that the general sentiment is one of
inspired determination.
80 far as the work of our own
forces is concerned it gives one the
/ impression of magnitude, thoroness
and speedy accomplishment. No hours
of work are being observed and there
are no limitations on labor. A glimpse
of the tremendous extent of the Amer
lean supply facilities, lines of COM
munication, warehouses and numerous
schools for men and officers reminds
one of a gigantic beehive filled with
energetic men.
American Newspapers Back War.
Secretary Baker said he had been
nytr n jir,sa ~
extent to which American newspapers
carry the war news European papers.
he said We're immeasurably behind
those of this country in that respect.
Mr.. Baker declined to discuss the
drive on the western front He said
the situation had been aptly covered
by Premier Lloyd George when he
stated that alternate periods of cheer
fulness and anxiety must be endured
for some time to come.
Want To Go to the Front.
Guarded in all his comments. the
secretary INDUCED mainly in generali-
ties. He refused to reveal what plans
he has in view as a result of Ills per-
sonal inspection of the great west
front.
The soldiers receive ith very
great enthusiasm the news that they
were going to the front.
The secretary said he could hear
over the telephone some of this cheer
ing when the word came. Baker said
this trip had shown him much to
cooperation between the army and
the department. The nation he added
must support and invigorate" the
men over there and must do every
thing possible to make the aid cub
stantial by buying liberty bonds and
otherwise.
The secretary was to see President
Wilson this afternoon.