Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-02-06

ter.
Secretary Baker replied that he hes
ltated to do that. He referred TO
statement by General Won Hindenburg
to the effect that America was adVer-
Using her intentions.
But isn't it fact that Germany
has known all about this?" perslste1
Senator Chamberlain.
NO" replied Secretary Baker. Ihe
German government is still mystihed
regarding the number of men now IN
France. They know what is doing at
the front, but Germany is still mysu-
fed regarding the number of men now
in France"
U. S. Troops Welcomed in France.
If the whole regular American army
had been sent into battle at once, Sec
rotary Baker said, like Englands, 1t
would have been destroyed.
In eloquent words, Secretary Baker
described how France welcomed the
first American soldiers, peasants kiss
ing the hens of their coats.
Without prepared manuscript and In
frank, conversational manner, the
secretary of war told the senators he
came to defend no mistakes or short
comings, but to insist most emphatic
ally that deficiencies, where disclosed,
had been promptly modified; that they
were the exception rather than the
rule, and that the very magnitude OF
Americas undertaking made errors OF
judgment and mistakes likely.
Incidentally, in defending the war
machinery against the charge of lnef-
ficiency and lack of initiative to pre-
pare for war when war was assured,
the secretary of war disclosed some
facts hitherto held confidential.
Allies Prefer to Furnish Guns.
France and Great Britain, he said,
are supplying artillery to the American
forces because they themselves wished
to do so, as they had an excess on
hand and wished to save ships for
more vital necessities.
Thirty-two divisions of Natlonal
Guard and National army troops IN
camp in the United States-more than
million men in all-are considered
ready to go overseas for service when
ever it is decided that they shall move.
Every American soldier who can use
a rife, Secretary Baker told the SEN
ators, already has been provided with
one. and the rate of manufactl Q as
sures steady supply as troops be-
come ready to use them.
There are.now in the United States
16 National army camps and 10 Ma
tional Guard camps go divisions of
troops) filled with men ready to CO.,
said Secretary Baker.
ST do not know how fast it may be
necessary to send them to France" he
said. ST know how fast we have sent
them and how fast we plan to send
them. What we tried to do was to get
the men out as rapidly as we could es-
innate on the production capacity or
the country being able to care for
them"
Followed Pershing's Advice.
Lewis machine guns, he said, al
though they have been ordered, are
not being used for the troops on land.
because General Pershing and his staff
desire them only for airplane work.
Great Britain and France, he said. are
prepared to furnish machine guns for
the land forces until the American sup
DIV arrives. and in fact, wish to do so.
Responsibility for calling out a large
number of men before equipment for
them was ready, Secretary Baker as
sumed himself, but added that the
best military advisers, including Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood, pressed for it.
Charges of mistreatment of troops
in hospitals, Secretary Baker said,
were acted on vigorously, and he point
ed out that the var department only
last week refused to permit dismissal
of two army doctors, who mistreated
soldiers, but insisted that they should
have prison sentences in addition.
Senator Chamberlain's speech, Mr..
Baker thought. had given the country
the impression that the deficiencies
complained of "were characteristic
rather than occasional" For that rea-
son he deplored its effect, but he en-
phatically declared he came before the
committee. not TO defend individuals,
nor deny delay or false starts.
But" said he, 81 think I can say in
confidence that in them we have
sought the remedy"
Securing artillery from France, Mr..
Baker said. also would save ships.
'I am telling no secret when I say
that ships are the crux of our prob
lem" he said.
Secretary Baker said all foreign rep
| resentatives and also the war council
| participants headed by e. NJ House,
declared that securing ordnance from
England and France will not take SUD
plies they need. but will help them.
awe Are in War to Hit and Hit HsrSa
In concluding his testimony Secre-
%orv Ralypr said "Whpp tho ctory