The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-01-28
WOOD ADVISED BIG ARMY.

a Mr.. Baker said his statement waE
I not eEGctly supplementary 10 his re.
cent one to the committee but q
! comprehensive statement on all
army activities in the war, especial
~ replying 20 the charge that the
war department had fallen down"
At the outset the secretary said he
| thought much criticism came from
| Iimpatience Of the American people,
/ ito do this great thing greatly"
He conceded freely that i'm so great
, enterprises 1t was impossible that
there should not be delays and
shortcomings" The confidence OF
the country, however, he said, was
necessary to the tremendous effort
The mistakes cited in Senator
Chamberlain's speech, Secretary
Baker declared, gave a dispropor-
tionate aspect. Without intent, he
said, the effect Of the senator's
speech was TO give the country the
were characteristic rather than oc-
casional."
He said he was not there to defend
individuals or deny delays and false
starts.
But think 1 an say in confidence
that in them We have sought the
remedy"
Million Men In Arms.
That there are more than a million
men under arms in this country was
stated by Secretary Baker in refer
ring to the cases Of alleged neglect
Of the dead in camps cited by Eena-
tor Chamberlain.
For one reason or another the
impression has gone out into the
country to some extent that the war
department has fallen down in the
conduct Of the war;" said Secretary
Baker. i want to address myself to
that question.
There are several reasons why
should ask the committee to hear
me. First, the country is entitled TO
know il that is a fact. The country
is entitled TO know what this war is
and what the problems are and how
we are to meet them. Second,
have a deep sense Of duty to the Of
ficers and the civilians that are Ia
boring with devotion, sacrifice and
zeal and are spending sleepless
nights to bring this army up to it's
greatest efficiency and success"
Describing the spirit Of army Of
ficers, Secretary Baker said he had
seen strong, grizzled men turn away
from his desk in tears" when they
had found that they could not so to
France, where the glory OF their
profession lay" but must remain Ga
Washington 70 press forward war
preparations. There was no case, be
added, Of any officer who had not
accepted his duty with his whole
heart.
Salaries OF Office Boys.
Men Of high places In civil life
throughout the country, he said, had
come to Washington to accept sal
aries Of Office boys, many no salaries
at all, to place their experience at
the disposal OF the nation.
Gentlemen. said the seretary.
speaking with great earnestness. 1T
would Le a tragical thing IL this
effort were to deserve
the comment that 1t had fallen
down"
The impatience Of the whole coun-
try to "do this thing greatly" he
said, probably inspired much OF the
criticiss. Every one Of US wants %
see our country hit like a man at the
I'VE look back over the past and
see that there have been shOrteom-
ings; that there have been delays.
There are things that could have
been better done. But our effort a
TO learn.
4 have no purpose to defend iu-
here individuals BY name. If refer
to General Crozier or General Sharpe
or myself, IL win be only 20 make it