Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-08

I
wanted to develop just what could be
done in getting men, munitions and
other products abroad but without
disclosing confidential matter.
"cAMOUFLAGE," WEEKS SAYS.
The Massachusetts senator said,
however, he thought there was a
good deal of camouflage about keep
ing information from the enemy
which is published in annual reports
and otherwise"
II want to make a suggestion if |
may. Secretary Baker interposed.
"The misfortune for me, if l may call
it such, in my first statement to the
committee lay in the fact that I at
tempted to give opinions of the broad
general situation as I saw it, when
the information lay in details that
ought to have been gotten from the
experts in direct charge or in statis-
tics giving specific facts. I was at
tempting general survey. 1t was a
misfortune for me to do that. I think
it better to give the committee spe-
cific statements and the committee Is
entitled to that"
| BAKER ASKS DELAY.
Secretary Baker proposed to have
detailed statements of information
prepared at the department and sub
mitted to the committee and then, II
the committee desired to cross exam
inc him later regarding the state
ments he would be glad to return.
Senator Hitchcock asked if the
secretary would object to giving the
committee the basis for his opinion
, that he expected million men would
be in France before fall.
Not in the least" said Mr.. Baker.
II could have the committee 60 into
the adjoining room and give it to you
in three seconds"
Senator Hitchcock thought the in
formation should be given the same
publicity as his first statement.
HITCHCOCK CITES FIGURES.
"The secretary conveyed to the
country" Senator Hitchcock said, "in-
formation that I think was very un-
favorable. Did you consider shipping
an important factor?''
Very Notwithstanding Mr..
wholly on the supply of American
shipping"
Senator Hitchcock asked how many
tons Of American shipping could be
depended on and Secretary Baker
said he could not give the information.
The Nebraska senator said he secured
from the shipping board statement
of available American tonnage on No
vember 80 that there were 582 ships
of 3,721,006 dead weight tons includ-
ing tankers and former German and
Austrian ships, all over 1900 tons.
CAN'T ANSWER QUERIES.
'That was the grand total at the
disposal of the United States" said
Senator Hitchcock, adding that ex.
GLIDING passenger ships, tankers and
other non-cargo carrying ships only
about 100000 tons was available for
supply and transportation OF troops.
Senator Hitchcock asked Secretary
Baker if that statement conformed to
his information and the secretary
said he could not remember.
'If that statement is correct. how
many troops can we supply in Eu.
rope?" persisted Senator Hitchcock.
~ can't answer that" said Score.
tary Baker. 1T would depend on the
basis of calculation"
QUESTION OF SUPPLY.
Senator Hitchcock said he under.
stood that the basis was five tons per
man. Senator Weeks said he thought
it was fifty pounds per man per day.
Senator Kirby interrupted, protest
ing against efforts to drag out of the
secretary indirectly by probing ques.
tions, information which would be of
value to the enemy.
Senator Hitchcock said he did not
wish to be misunderstood but only de-
sired to find the basis of Mr.. Bakers !
assurance to the country" that a
million men could be transported to
France during 1918.
"You said you expected to have one !
million men in France in 1918. Now. |
how would you supply them?" he con.
tinued.
READS FIRST STATEMENT.
Mr.. Baker read from his original |
statement that he had said million |
and a half troops would be available |
for shipping in 1918 and that the pros.
pect Of forwarding them "was not un.
promising"
"Why do you think it is not unprom.
ising?' insisted Senator Hitchcock.
Secretary Baker replied that esti-
mates made as to available tonnage |
indicated the possibility
When he had made the statement,
Secretary Baker, added, there was in
his mind the conclusions Of the ship
ping board as to what tonnage 1t
could produce in 1918. There were
other factors as to shipping he added
such as vessels in non-essential trades
or on domestic routes which might be
released by sailing ships or neutral
tonnage.
GUARDS ARMY SECRETS.
81 am asking you for the basis of
your assurance to the country that the
prospect was not unpromising, that
we would have million men in
France in 1885, persisted Senator
81 am anxious to tell you what is
in my mind" answered Secretary
Baker, asking again that he be per
mitted to explain his statement as far
as possible without disclosing mill.
tary information.
Before General Bliss went to Europe