Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-14
BAKER IS BACK
from HIS TRIP
TO war front
Loan Must Go Over Top Re-
CARELESS of Peace Propos.
ais Secretary's Message
y to People.


Atlantic port and reached Washing
ton tonight. John D. Ryan, directo
OF aircraft production, who wen
abroad~with the secretary. also re
turned. Surgeon General Gorgas
another member OF the, party, re
NAMED in France.
The secretary brought only thu
message that the Liberty loan mus
go over the top" whatever the re
suit of peace proposals. His owr
explanation OF his trip shows tina
it was taken to pave the way fol
war On greater scale.
Army Doing It's Work Well.
"The army has done and is doing
all that proud and grateful country
could ask" Mr.. Baker said tonight
and the time has come for US to put
in. every ounce of our strength tc
assure its complete victory. The
people at home have a solmen re,
sponsibiIity for their share in the
final result.
THE Liberty loan must go over
he top! Its success is both our mes
sage of gratitude to the boys who
are Drawing the wars worst perils in
defense of our liberties, and mes
sage to Germany that our people al
home are as reSolute as our soldiers
are brave.
whatever the result of the peace
proposals, the War department must
proceed at full speed with men and
supplies and the people must sup
port the army until the boys are
back with the fruits of victory safe
and assured. If every American
could have seen our boys in khaki
as they storlned the German trench
es. assailed with shrapnel, high ex-
\ plosives and machine guns, he would
b, eager to subscribe his all to the
. Liberty loan.
Objects of Trip Explained.
"My trip abroad was principally
for the purpose of arranging further
cooperation in the matter of ship
ping for troops and supplies, 1t was
entirely successful and complete
understanding was reached which as
sures the American army adequate
cargo tonnage for its support. The
matter was taken UP with the inter-
allied maratne transport council and
the cooperation of the British,
French and Italian governments was
heartily given.
Many questions involving coop
Grafton on the part of the several
governments we're taken up and
satisiac orily settled. The attitude
Of. both the governments and peo-
pies OF the European allies toward
America is cordial and every ques-
ton is approached from the point f
view of uniting our strength in the
common cause and with the under
standings which have been reached
with regard to shipping, aircraft,
ordnance and other parts of the
allied program, the contribution
which the United States can make
is rendered definite and the means Ct
accomplishment are arranged.
"The American soldier has won
his way in Europe and has helped
to cement for all time the good will
and good feeling which unites our
countries. In England, France and
Italy the knightliness of America
and her soldiers in this war has
won the admiration of the people
and in turn the valor and sacrifice of
the European allies and their great
armies have been all inspiration to
Americans"
Saw St Michel.
OF the military situation he said:
The battle of St. Mihiel started
the present triumphant advance of
-, allied armies. From fortified
overlooking the battlefield, l
ky General Pershing's army ad-
lnee into the salient while more
han 1000 big guns silenced the Ger
man artillery and pointed the wedge
which finally cut off the salient and
rescued from German occupation
French soil which for four years had
been in their possession 3
The next day | went into ST.
Mihiel and saw the people at the end
of their captivity, singing the ma
tional songs of France and having
a festival of thanksgiving for their
deliverance. The blow was sudden
and the victory complete.
i For q few days there was lull.
Then by a concerted movement, the
French and Americans opened
new attack from the Mouse to the
west. covering the Argenne forest,
and later the battle was taken up on
the entire front, stretching to the
channel.
Go Into Battle Cheering.
Il witnessed the start from one
OF the fronts of Verdun and again
saw divisions of American troops
pressing forward with irresistible
dash through defenses which had for
three years seemed impregnable.
The stream Of German prisoners and
the captured war material told of
the surprise and rout of the enemy.
The cheers of our soldiers as they
pressed on into the battle, and the
brave happiness of our wounded in
the hospitals back of the line, told
the same story. The American army
had shown It is irresistible and its
spirit is uncomfortable.
The allied armies are now in the
full tide of victorious advance.
American divisions are fighting with
the British, with the French, and in
their own sectors, and everywhe.s
the enemy is IN retreat and disor-
der"
Accompanying Mr.. Baker on his
return trip were Assistant Secretary
John d. Ryan, now at the head of