Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-19
BAKER RETURNS
FROM WAR ZONE
Proud Of Pershing's Army
and Confident of
Victory.

America today after journey to Ell.
rope impelled by his desire to confer
with British, French and Italia mill.
tary and political leaders regarding
his own country's cooperation in the
war against Germany and by his own
wish also to become Intimately &c
quainted with the American troops
under arms in France. On this unpre-
cedented mission the secretary was
out of the country about six weeks.
| Il return with sense Of pride and
confidence at the achievements Of the
United States and allied troops
abroad that would justify many trips
across the water" the secretary said
as he stepped aboard a train for
Washington.
This was the only statement the
secretary said he cared to make now.
Those who returned with the secre-
tary said they did not doubt but that
they reflected Mr.. Bakers feeling
when they said that there was COM
plete optimism and confidence among
the peoples Of the entente nations
that the war would be won.
ON FORMER GERMAN SHIP
The weather had been ideal and the
voyage a beautiful one, Mr.. Baker
said.
Accompanying the secretary were
Major General W. M. Black. chief Of
engineers, U. s, A.; Col. M. L. Brett,
ordnance department, U. 8. A., and
Ralph Hayes, Mr.. Bakers private sec
rotary.
The party returned to America on
one of the large steamships which
few the German flag before the
United States entered the war.
Mr. Baker said he would be pre-
pared to discuss later the historical
voyage which took hip to England
and France where he conferred With
the entente war leaders, military and
political, and General Pershing, and
assembled military facts which he
will present to President Wilson.
At Paris the secretary conferred
with Arthur ]. Balfour, foreign sec
Rotary, and General Foch of the
French army. The great engineer
ing feats which Americans have &C.
complished to accommodate tho &C
cumulating arrival Of American SOL
diers in France were inspected by the
secretary.
APPROVED PERshlNc's OFFER
He toured the American lines Of
communication and at one point mar
rowly escaped injury from German
she'll. He visited the Belgian front
and met King Albert of Belgium, went
to London and WAS received by King
George and visited Premier Lloyd
George and American. Ambassador
Page.
Returning to France, Mr.. Baker
conferred with General Pershing at
American headquarters, approving the
American commanders action In
placing his troops at the unqualified
disposal Of General Foch.
SECRECY WELLS VOYAGES
Early this month Mr. Baker went
to vencie, inspected the ruins caused
by Teutonic air raids; visited Italian
army headquarters and was welcomed
at Rome by the American ambas-
sador and italian oficials. He con.
ferred with Premier Orlando and the
foreign and the war ministers. Re-
turning to Paris on April 4 he atten-
ded the ceremony held in celebration
of the anniversary Of Americas en-
tering the war and was received, by
Premier Clemenceau.
The secretary's departure for
America was shrouded in the same
secrecy as that which attended his
embarRatien when he left for Europe
and until his arrival here today
nothing had been published regard
ing his voyage.