Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-14
BAKER ANNOUNCES
PURPOSE OF VISIT
Wants First Hand Information
on How U. s. Army Is Be-
ing Maintained.
JOFFRE CALLS ON HIM.
Secretary Has U-Bont Scare on Way
over and Finds Out How II Feels
when Huns lombard Paris.

Paris, Monday March 11.-Newtor
D. Baker, the American secretary OF
war to-day met number of American
English and French newspapermer
and gave out the following statement
concerning his visit to France:
Our purpose in visiting France |.
to confer with General Pershing, t.
visit the American expeditionar,
force and inspect its lines Of transpor
tation and its storage and suppl,
systems in order that we in America
can more effectively support our owr
army and the armies of our allies.
"Of course any visit to France al
this time is a pilgrimage to the yer,
shrine of heroism. and it will be ar
Inspiration actually to see the grea,
commanders and the armies which
have so long held the frontiers OF
freedom against all attacks. II
America, as In France, we have a
civilian secretary of war and civil
power is supreme. That is one of the
characteristics of the free institutions
which we are fighting to maintain
"Civil power must bring up the sup
plies of organized industrial resources and
support it's armies. In America now the
industry is organized and supplies are
beginning to be produced in a satisfactory
quantity. War materials are accumulat-
Ing and great army is completing its
training to join the force already here.
There can be but one result when the
forces of civilization in great countries like
those now allied are combined to defend
the vital principles of liberty. Our Presi-
dent has nobly phrased the spirit in which
America entered the war, and his subse-
quent declarations reflect the feeling of
the entire country. Weare committed with
all our resources to the winning of the
war"
Marshal Joffre called on Secretary Baker
this morning. and the secretary later re-
turned the call at the marshal's headquar-
tiers. The secretary this afternoon visit
ed General Tasker II. Bliss, American rep
resentative on the Supreme War Council
at Versailles. and expected to see Presi-
dent Poincare this evening.
Mr. Bakers party leaves tomorrow for
French seaport town. from which trip
Of inspection will be made along the lines
Of communication to the American head
quarters.
PIUNGES INTO WORK.
Secretary Baker plunged into his work
calls on Premier Clemenceau and Am
bassador Sharp. General Pershing accom-
panied him. This afternoon the secretary
was received by President Poincaire.
Ambassador Sharp presented him to the
President General Pershing accom-
panied him on this occasion also.
There was something Of submarine
alarm on the voyage over when the party
was about 500 miles off the coast Of
France. Secretary Baker, General Black
and the officers Of the ship were having
tea when loud report was heard. This
was at first believed to be the noise of
the dropping Of a hatch, but other reports
followed and the entire party went on
deck.
1t was then learned that the lookouts
on board the cruiser had sighted a
spar closely resembling a submarine
periscope sticking out of the water
and the gunners decided to fire with
out taking any chances as to the char
acter Of the object.
Secretary Baker saw the American
gunnners on the cruiser shatter the
spar and expressed himself as greatly
pleased at their promptness and &C
curacy.
Shortly before landing Secretary
Baker saw French dirigibles and a
from a French port in search Of a Ger
man submarine which had been report
ed off the coast.
During the secretary's call upon
Marshal Joffre he told the noted
French soldier that he had been
charged by President Wilson to ex-
press the Presidents strong personal
friendship for him and to assure the
marshal that he preserved the warmest
recollections of his visit to the United
States. The President, Mr.. Baker
added. had directed him to convey to
the marshal an expression of the high
esteem with which THE hero of the
Marine" had inspired him.
HAS AIR RAID EXPERIENCE.
Secretary Baker was in conference with
General Tasker II. Bliss, the American
chief-of-staff, in hotel suite when the
air alarm was sounded last night. The
secretary was not disturbed by the noise
Of the f1remen's sirens or the barrage OF
the anti-aircraft guns but the hotel man.
agement. fearing for the safety of himself
and his party. persuaded the members to
descend to place Of shelter in the wine
cellar
Mr.. Baker and General Bliss continued
their conference in the cellar where later
-
liam NJ. Black.
Secretary Baker to-day made the follow.
Ing statement concerning the raid:
1T was my first experience of the
actualities of war and a revelation of the
methods inaugurated by an enemy who
wages the same war against women and
children as against soldiers.
III his objects are to damage property
the results are trifling when compared
with his efforts. II his objects are tc
weaken the peoples morale the reply 1.
given by the superb conduct of the people
of Paris.
Moreover aerial raids on towns. which
are counterpart Of the pitless submarine
war and the attacks against American
rights. are the every explanation of the
reason why American entered the war
We are sending our soldiers to Europe
to fight until the world Is delivered from
these horrors"