Republican farmer., 1918-03-15
BAKER IN FRANCE
FOR CONFERENCE
WITH PERSHINC

Washington, March 11-Newton D.
Baker, the Secretary of War, has ar
rived safely at French port en- route
TO the headquarters of General Per-
Snlng, on an important tour of mill
lary inspection and conference.
Inc fact that Mr.. Baker planned to
go to France was known here for
several weeks before his departure.
MT. Baker was aware that newspaper
men were acquainted with his inten-
ton, and on the day he left Washing
ton he said goodbye to those who
were in the habit of calling on him at
the War Department. There was a
general understanding among press
representatives here that no an
nouncement of his departure would be
made, and that nothing concerning
his voyage should be published until
the War Department announced his
arrival. That announcement was au-
thorized at IL o'clock last night by the
Committee on Public Information.
Secretary Baker is accompanied by
Major Gen. William N. Black, Chief
of Engineers of the Army; Lieut. Col.
NJ. L. Brett, and Ralph Hayes, the,
private secretary of the Secretary of
War.
There had been some speculation as
to whether Secretary Baker would
remain in France for an indefinite
period and serve in an official capac-
ity as the political representative Of
the United States on the internally
~ los
The United States is now represented
on the Supreme Council only by
Major. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, the Chief
of Staff of the army, whose functions
are purely military but the statement
issued last night i'll connection with
the announcement that Secretary
Baker had arrived makes the fiat
statement that the Secretary's visit is
military and not diplomatic"
For some time" said the official
announcement, Secretary Baker has
desired to visit the headquarters of
the American Expeditionary Forces.
He saided from an American port
about Feb. 27.
Secretary Baker has not deter
mined the length of time he will re-
main in France, but his stay will be
long enough to enable him to make a
thorough inspection of the American
forces abroad and to hold important
conferences with American military
officers.
cit is expected that not only will
Secretary Baker visit the American
headquarters, but his inspection tour
will cover construction projects, in
Guiding docks, railroads. and ord
nance bases, now under way back of
the American lines.
"The Secretary's visit is military,
and not diplomatic. 1t is ESSENTIALLY
for the purposes of inspection and
| personal conference with military Of
| ficials."
In the absence of Secretary Baker
| the affairs of the War Department
are being handled by Benedict Gro
well, the Assistant Secretary of War,
who is now acting as Secretary of
War Major Gen. Peyton C. March,
who recently returned from France,
is acting as Chief of Staff.
The length of Secretary Baker S
visit in Europe is a military secret.
Everything known here of the cir
cumstances of his trip abroad indi-
Gates that he will resume the duties
of Secretary of War upon his return.
Major Gen. Leonard Wood, who
was sent to France in line with the
practice OF the War department to
have the commanders of divisions in
spect the fighting front, is still in
France. 1t was known before Sec
rotary Baker left Washington that he
Wy i
and it was evident that General Wood
| was to remain in France until Mr..
Baker had the opportunity of meeting
| him there. There now seems to be
reason to believe that General Wood
will not return to the United States
in the near fture. and it is believed
that he is slated for a high command
from General Pershing, probably with
the rank of Lieutenant General. That
rank would carry with it command o
an army corp consisting of six or
! more divisions.
Considerable feeling has been man.
! ifested over the belief that General
Wood was not to have an opportunity
| to demonstrate his ability as a COM
mander in the war. He is senior to
| General Pershing on the list of major
generals in the regular army. Cen
eral Pershing's present highest rank is
held by virtue of his post as COM
| mander of all the American eXped1-
tionary forces in the field. 1t was sup
posed that General Wood would re.
turn to the United States to resume
command of the National Army di-
| vision at Fort Riley, Kan, to which
he is still nominally attached. But it
| is now the understanding that he will
remain in France with the proba-
bility Of assignment to command a
| much larger force.
Mr.. Baker said before he left Wash
| ington that his visit to France was
not to be ceremonial. If he should
| confer with statesmen of Great Brit
ain and France while he is in Eu-
| rope it would not surprise. but the
understanding is that his tour is OF
a business character purely, and such
| honors as are shown to him by British
and French officials will be merely
| incidental.