The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-02-04
BAKERS ANSWER

BAKERS ANSWER
 Secretary Bakers reply yesterday to the charges of war department inefficiency re- gently made by Senator Chamberlain is a simple statement of achievement made by the department in meeting the wars problems and explanation of all of the seeming shortcom- ings which were criticised by the chairman of the senate military committee. There is noth- | ing vainglorious or boastful the reply; just the calm statement of fact by an official who is not seeking to justify himself by loud talk, but is confident of himself and his depart ment.
 Naturally there are many things which the secretary of war could not go into de- tails with; it would be unwise to make public all the details of Americas preparations to smash the Huns. The very discussion of such matters would necessarily render them in a large measure valueless if it should be- come known to the enemy. Any publicity given them is sure to find its way into the enemy countries.
 In refusing to go into details of these things, Mr. Baker will undoubtedly have the support of all factions. Even the most bit ter critics of the war department, if governed by patriotic motives, as they allege, must ap- prove of this stand.
 But the accusation of negligence by the department of health conditions of army can comments, the most serious criticism brought by Senator Chamberlain, is shown to be en- tirely unjustifed. It was the contention of the senator that the department was too hasty in mobilizing the troops in training camps, when it knew that there was insufficient cloth ing and shelter for the men.
 As the secretary points out, the early mobilization of the large army was taken upon the recommendation of General Leonard Wood, formerly chief of the army's general staff, and one of the most prominent mill tary leaders of America, and highly regarded by the military experts of the entire world. There is no question regarding the efficiency of General Wood, nor the wisdom of his recommendation. Events have proven that there was and still is, a need for a large trained American army. That there were deaths resulting from the mobilization is re- 2rettable, but not unusual, nor has there been any criminal negligence shown to be con- trbuted to by the department. The percent age of deaths, despite the unusually severe weather and epidemics resulting therefrom, has been exceedingly small for the number of men involved. It sets a record for Am erica and equals anything ever accomplished by any country.
 Another source of criticism shown to be unjust was the fact that England and France were called upon to furnish artillery for the American expeditionary force under General Pershing. Mir. Baker clears away all room for suspicion when he explains that this was done at the request of the allies who had a surplus of guns, and utilized them in this manner in order to save valuable cargo space on the already overloaded ocean transporta- tion facilities The secretary's statement of facts proves that the confidence felt in the war department and the administration abil- ty to handle the situation is justified and the il-timed and unjust criticisms of Senator Chamberlain cannot shake this confidence