Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-05
SECRETARY BAKER
PRAISES RED CROSS
Greatly Pleased With It's Work on
His Recent Inspection on
the War Front.

London, Oct. 25.-(By MaiD-Newton
d. Baker, the American Secretary OF War,
during his trip abroad, paid flying VISIT
TO England He devoted one day OF ms
visit to tour of the American camps IN
the Winchester district, inspecting among
other things, a number OF the larger
American Red Cross activities IN TINS
district. :,
Biddle and BY Joseph Hostetler OF Cleve-
land Mr.. Bakers law partner. AT
Winchester they were met by the Lord
Nsvor and a number of American army
n51icers. including Brigadier-General W
y Martin. Colonel Samuel Jones and
Major +. j. Rodgers of the American
Red Cross.
The entire party travelled by auto
,nob;le through a series of American
camps. making frequent stops. Mr.. Baker
took advantage OF these stops to walk
around among the soldiers and talk with
them about their work and life In camp
In theRed Cross hospitals he went through
the wards and had few CHEEKY words for
every patient He was right at home with
the soldiers. For most OF them It was
their first meeting with the Secretary OF
War. Everywhere he went, he earned
the inevitable pipe and several times
filled 1t from some soldier S pouch he
pleasantest moments OF his day, were
those spent in casual chat with the men,
he said The whole country IS behind
YOU with everything 1t possesses, was
one of his frequent messages TO the
soldiers.
One group Of soldiers whom he en-
rm,ntered in camp near Winchester, had
n nIeasant surprise for him did you
know. Mister Secretary, asked ianky
New England infantryman with towel
thrown over his arm. that your cousin,
Sergeant Harry Chiswell OF Cleveland, is
in camp here?' just passed hlm as was
coming out of the Red Cross baths over
wonder.
The secretary hurried over IN the
direction of the Red Cross baths. In o
narrow passage between two barrack
buildings, he suddenly encountered Young
Chiswell
Well. how are you, Harry he called
out.
The two chatted together for about ten
minutes. and the sergeant accompanied
secretary Baker until the latter lett the
camp half-hour later.
The secretary carried away very
definite impression Of What the american
ARMY authorities have been able 10 &C
complish in preparing comfortable, sanl-
farv camps tor the approaching winter
He saw the soldiers at work and play
He dropped in on them At mess time and
Iunched with big crowd OF them IN tent
beside a little woodland stream. lie look
cd over scores of barracks and living
quarters. He inspected the kitchens. tired
IN the Kit bags and spent ten minutes
Watching a merry group 81 men playing
!. scr1,h game az baseball In the kitchen
ii one of the Red Gross hospitals he was
shown the luncheon in course OF prcpara-
lion. One of the soldier-cooks led hum
over to a great soup-tureen, big enough
to hold barrel OF TODD.
Whats in there? asked the secrc-
tary.
The soldier leaned over as i djvugIng
= great secret. Beans! he sad IA voice
which Indicated the Importance q the
revelation. Boston baked beans right
from the old country"
MIR. Bakers whole day : trip covered q
great amount Of territory, ms Inspection
and many Red Cross activities. tie saw
the Red Cross bathing houses IN operation,
with long lines OF raln-coated soldiers
waiting their turn NJ the showers lie
saw the dental huts with the Red ross
dentists busy at their mgch-appreclated
work. He visited several Red ross
recreation huts and listened 70 q Red
Cross lazz band AZ practice At the camp
hospitals, ne talked with the nurses and
ne men OF the staffs, as well as with the
natients. The Nurses Club at one 81
ihe camps Dlcased him, and he wa
sorry that he could not accept then
invitation to remain and lunch with them
One thing that Mr. Baker particularly
admired. was new brick hospital capable
of caring Tor about 800 patients which
has i,.st been completed in one Of the
rest camps This Is the best thing the
Red Cross has done in England" the
officer in charge told hun with pardonabe
pride. explaining that every brick and
stone In il had been LAID by American
soldiers, and that the completed work was
AN embodiment of the versatility and
artistic efficiency OF the American enlisted
man. Eve haven't gone outside our OWL
camp for single hlt Of the labor on this
whole building. SAID the Red CrCss
officer" and We believe that We have got
here. the handsonest and most efficient
hospitals. but We stick o II that this IS the
best. and every soldier who has beer
through this camp will back US up ON on
claim"
THAT S the kind OF talk like to hear.
said the secretary with a smile, "anC
that's the spirit that like 10 see.
Ii was in this camp that the Secre tarl
Of War found klt-lnspectlon III progress
as ne arrived. MIR Baker, in the midst ot
a group of the enlisted men, lifted up
full pack and adjusted II on his shoulders
and trudged experimentally back anc
forth two or three times with the heav,
pack on his back. pair Of hobnaileC
trench-boots swinging heavily from The
bottom Of the KIT as he walked.
Its heavy all right, he commented
but not so heavy as the Frenchmani
mack. | tried on one of them few day
ago. and II gave 70 au additional rcspee
for the FrenchIn. - Il soldier
Over in front of the Red Cross Hos
pital. Secretary Baker saw camera mar
adjusting his big machine for q picture
The secretary called out 10 hlm 70 wal
a minute You want 10 get a Red Cros
man into this picture, he said as Ia
motioned TO Major +. J. Rodgers, til
Red Cross commander in this district
10 come over and get in the photograph
Mr.. Baker al the conclusion Of his tril
said that the thing which had iInpresse'
him most in his inspection OF the Re,
Gross activities in the district was th
very substantial manner IN which til
Red Cross had been able 10 assist tn
army In bringing aid and comfort TO til
American troops These are things whic
count" he said. The Red Cross is 10 b
congratulated on the way in which it
II kl,,Frs faF TA4gr Eftxr