New-York tribune., 1918-03-13
Baker Pledges
To Allies All
Our Strength
Secretary Says Visit to
France Is to Hasten
War Efforts

PARIS, Monday, March 11-Newton
D. Baker, the American Secretary Of
War, to-day met a number of Amer
ican, English and French newspaper
men and gave out the following state
ment concerning his visit to France:
"Our purpose in visiting France is
to confer with General Pershng, to
visit the American expeditionary force
and inspect it's lines of transportation
and its storage and supply systems, in
order that we in America can more
effectively support our own army and
the armies of our allies.
"Of course any visit to France at
this time is a pilgrimage to the very
shrine of heroism, and it will be an
inspiration actually to see the great
commanders and the armies which
have so long held the frontiers of
freedom against all attacks. In Amer
lea, as in France, we have civilian
Secretary of War, and civil power is
supreme. That is one of the char
acteristics of the free institutions
which we are fighting to maintain.
Situation in America
"Civil power must bring up the sup
plies of organized industrial resources
and support its armies. In America
now the dominant thought in all minds
is war. Industry IS organized and sup
plies arc beginning to be produced in
a satisfactory quantity. War materials
are accumulating and great army is
completing its training to join the
force already here.
There can be but one result when
the forces of civilization in great coun-
tries like those now allied are COM
blned to defend the vital principles Of
liberty. Our President has nobly
phrased the spirit in which America en-
tered the war, and his subsequent dec
larations reflect the feeling of the en-
tire country that we are committed with
all our resources to the winning of the
war"
Joffre Greets Baker
Marshal Joffre called on Secretary
Baker this morning, and the Secretary
later returned the call at the mar
shaPs headquarters.
During the Secretary's call upon Mar
solder that he had been charged by
President Wilson to express the Presi-
dents strong personal friendship for
him and to assure the marshal that he
preserved the warmest recollectons of
his visit to the United States: The
President, Mr.. Baker added, had di-
rected him to convey to the marshal
an expression Of the high esteem with
which 'the hero of the Marne" had in
spired him. The Secretary conversed
with Marshal Joffre for nearly an
hour.
The Secretary this afternoon visited
General Tasker H. Bliss, American rep.
resentative on the Supreme War Coun-
I'll, and expected to see President Poin-
care this evening.
Mr.. Bakers party leaves tomorrow
FOR French seaport town, from which
A trip of inspection will be made along
The lines of communication to the
American headquarters.
Impressed by Cordiality
Secretary Baker plunged into his
work soon after his arrival. making
calls on Premier Clemenceau
and Ambassador Sharp. General Per-
ihing accompanied him. This afternoon
he Secretary.was received by President
Poncare. Ambassador Sharp presented
him to the President. General Pershing
accompanied him on this occasion also.
There was something of submarine
alarm on the voyage over, when the
party-was about five hundred miles
off the coast of France. Secretary
Baker, General Black and the officers
Of the ship were having tea when
oud report was heard. This was at
irst believed to be the noise of the
lropping of hatch, but other reports
followed, and the entire party went
IN deck. 1t was then learned that the
ookouts on board the cruiser had
sighted spar closely resembling a
'ubmarine perscope sticking out of
he water, and the gunners decided to
ire without taking any chances as 20
he character of the object.
Secretary Baker saw the American
,unners on the cruiser shatter the spar
md expressed himself as greatly
pleased at their promptness and ac-
,uracy.