The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-01-31
DENIES HAVING
FALLEN DOWN.
War Department IS Stouty D.
tended by Baker
iMPaTIEkCE or THE PEOPLE

lWl NItkNVL W I'LL 1Ii 49,
Considered Largely Responsible For
unJgsi ctiiieisr-WoOd Recon-
~snoeo Calling on, large Army.
Though Men Mere Nc, Fully
Eauippeo-shlpt Real Cruz o. Our
pfebiem-MilIion hen Under Arms
Here ard Thirty Two Divisions
Ready TO oo--Wsf Secretary Gre.
s,es Profound impression
Washington, Jan. - Secretary
Bakers defense Of the war department,
IA reply 10 senator CbamberlalD's
charges Of ineihoiency whs made be
fse many members Of congress
The sennte military committee
abandoned ITS plan 70 begin The hear
ing in iis own small committee room.
and had II ~ large senate ONCE
building room, where the lobby Hn9
campaign contribution Investigations
were held
Baker said his statement was not
exactly supplementary 20 bis recent
one 20 the committee bur . compre-
bensye statement Of oil army activ.
titles 10 the war, especially replying
10 the charge that The war depart
uent had fallen down
A. the outset the secretary said he
though, much criticism came from
hnpalenee Of the American people
ITO 10 this great thing greatly"
H. conceded freely that 10 50 great
81 enterprise II was impossible that
there should not be delays ana short
.onIarS The confidence Of the
tour ~. however. be- said, was nee
.ssar7 70 he tremendous effort.
The mistakes cited in ChamberIain's
speech Baker declared, gave a dis
propoFfIonate aspect without in
tent he said. the effect Of the scBa-
tors speech was 10 give the country
the impression that the dehciencie
-were Characteristic rather than oc-
easional
lie said he Was not there to defend
individuals or deny delays and fals'
starts. but think can say In con
hdence that we have sought the rem
esy," he added
Million Men Under Arms
That there nre more than million
nen under arms In this country was
stated by Baker In referring 20 tho
cases ri ALLEGED NEGLECT of The dead
IN camps cited by Chamberlain,
Nal Gen Wood, Baker snid rec 4
smmended calling ont large army.
although The men could not be nrn
,lded AZ once with rifles and clothing
After America entered the war
Baker said, Wood came to his office
and advocated the necessity Of call
ing out o large army. Baker eai'
there were not the clothes or arms
hui Wood renllcd he knew that. hu
ron'cndrd tho men needed 10 live to- !
sefher for "nreliu'narv training"
Eycrv soldier who needs a rifle hos
one, rater sal1. and of n better tvn
than II tho british Enfield rife hal |
been ndoutcd
Defending tho lack of Lewis ma
chine runs Baker reiterated tha |
Gsn. PcrShlng did not want Levi
runs for The ground forces. but only |
for aviation.
Declaring that securing artillery |
from France also would save shins |
81 am telling M secret when ! say |
TINT ships are the crux Of our prob.
lem, he said.
Baker said all foreign representa-.
ffves and also the war council partici |
pants. headed nv Col House. declare
that securing ordnance from England |
and France Will not take supplies they |
need hn' win help them
Thirty. Two Divisions Ready
There are now In the United
states sixteen national army camps
and sixteen national gunri camns.
fthirtv-two divisions Of iroons). filled
with men ready 10 20" said BAker.
II do M, Know how fast II may no
necessary TO send them 10 France"
h. said u know how fas we have
reni them and how fast we plan 10
send them Whar we tried 10 do WAS
10 get the men out as rupitllv as we
rould estimate on the production ca .
roeIiy Of the country being able TO
rare for them "
America VIII have an army Of 800
Do1 men IN France early this year.
said Baker. with 900 900 more
trained ani equipped ready to follow
as quicsly nc shlus cau he provided
10 carry them--ani he outlook for
shinS is not unpromising
Describing the SgirIf ~ army Off
rers. Baker said be had seen "strong.
rrlxzled men turn awny from his desk
h tears" when they had found tina,
hey could not 90 ~ France where
he glory ~ their profession lay. but
mus, remain In Washington 10 press
forward war preparations. There was
no case. he added OF any army on
YER who had moi accepted his duiy
Ri'h whole heart.
Men 81 high places In civil life
throughout tie country. he said. had