Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-01

country TO some extent tndt tHe Wal
department has fallen down in the
conduct OF the war said the secre-
tary. in beginning his statement. Il
want to address myself to that
question.
There are several reasons why |
should ask the committee to hear me.
First. the couLtry IL entitled to know
| IL that is Il fact. The country Is en-
3 titled to know what this war is ana
what the problems are and how we
are to rleet them. Second. l have 4
deep sense Of the duty TO the officers
ana the civilians that are laporihs
with devotion. sacrifice, and Ztai anu
are spending slecpless nights 10 orlhs
this army up 10 its greatest e1nclenc'
and success" :.
Descr.b bing the spirit Of army DIN.
GERS, Secretary Baker said he mao
seen strong, grizzled men turn ava!
from my desk in tears" when they
found that they could not go TO
France. where the glory OF their
profession lay" but must remain in
Washington to press forward war
preparations. There was no case. ne
added, OF any officer who had not ac-
cepted his duty with his whole heart.
Men of high places in civil life
Throughout the country. he SAID, nau
come TO Washington to accept sara
rics Of office boys: many no salary al
all. tu place their experience at the
disposal of the nation.
'Genuemcn." said the secretary,
speaking with great carnestncss. IL
would be tragiCal thing If this mo
mcntUus effort were To deserve the
Comment that it had fallen down.
The imJ,aticnce of the whole coah-
| try to do this thing quickly, he SAID
"probably inspired much or the crlti-
sisnl. Every one uf US wants To see
our country hit like Il man NJ the
adversary.
we look back over the past AMI
see that there have been shoitcom-
.ncs, that there have been delays.
There are things that could nave
been better done. But our cH"r' u W
learn.
II have no purpose to defend in
dividuals or myself.
No Denial Of Shortcomings.
IF I discuss here individuals 10y
name il I refer to General CroZier or
General Sharp or myself, il Will be
ONLY to make it clear. II any ot us
should figure in tomorrow'S casualtlcs
| il would be az nothing beside the op-
| jcct we all seek. am not mere t9 ue
my shortcomings, but think can
say this: That wh'r re We have louhd
.uch Shortcomings or mistakes, We
have made every effort TO correct
| them.
Il most earnestly ask that wnen
YOU have pointed out To you any
shortcomings. whether It seems wen
| founded or not. that you instantly
refer IL TO me in order that the pro-
cesscs of the department may sllt lhc
truth. ,,
From Senator Chamberlain speech
MIR. Baker said 1t had seemed 10
him that although II was not the
senator's purpose 10 make II so APP
pear, the country got an impression
| from the failures and delays ina.
made them "disproportionatc 10 wha'
was going on ,,. ,,,
The secretary said there might be
instances of shortcomings but only
| instances A.
y. When he appeared previously Mr..
>rssr- So 4 .:Yas with the intention
I Ibf being frank" but despite this de-
sire he seemed to have left the fccl-
ng that | was fencing in defense "i
some of my subordinatcs. He denied
any such intention ard said when ne
| oncluded ii there was anything else
the committee desired to investigate
he would do everything possible Win
| in his power to assist "without iear
or favor" and TO effect any improve
ment.
Thc secretary said that when he
hoard of the two letters read by Sen.
ator Chamberlain concerning Dad
treatment OF sick soldiers he I'M
mcdiatcly asked Senator Chamber
lain for all the details.
Will Punish the Guilty.
81 want to follow those through to
the very end" said he. and lind ou'
who is responsible in order that can
punish the guilty.
Although more than one millloh
men are under arms III TINS country
AIR f,ukrr said. the number of com
plants received have been reiauNei!
small, probably not more than
eighteen" ;" In each instance, he SAID,
investigations have been Immediately
made. ,,,
some reports, the secretary SAID.
have not proved serious upon inquiry
while others had. in which case cor
rectiuns followed.
In the case of the body Of an Of
ficcr who died at an aviation tram
ing school being shipped nome III
sheet. Secretary Baker said, inquir!
developed that the camp was III
charge Of British aviation oiicer
who followed the British mcthod OF
sending bodies home unclothed' the
mans clothes being shipped in sep
arate parcel. An American otncer
was then put In charge.
Another complaint Of neglect OF IL
patient at Camp Wheeler Georgia ne
said. developed that it was unjusti-
fed, and resulting from the dis
,rcssing Imagination Of the widow.
There still are I'm the hands or the
inspector general five cases Delns IN
vestigated. Mr.. Baker told of invcsti-
cations which resulted In the as,
charge of Lieut.. Charles W. Cole ana
Lieut.. John G. Dye for neglect OF
patients. as published in the newspa-
nrrs Saturday and Sunday. The judge
2 lvocate general advised adding a
prison sentence to the dismissal and
that is being considered.
The department sets iis lacs
against that sort of callous disrcgard
OF soldiers health" Secretary Baker
said. II want the doctors and the
country 10 know that their lives and
welfare arc responsibility which
Will not permit to be dodgcd or han-
IL. Il in a cavalier fashion.
While camp commanders are heid
responsible for health conditions.
Secretary Paker said. the surgeon
generals office has daily inspections
and he has appointed DR.. John a.
Hornsby. a hospital expert. as ms
personal Inspector. A telegram from
DR.. Hornsby regarding camp con-
ditions Senntor Chamberlain assaii.
ed disclosed them greatly improved
with mortality reduced and ample
accommodations for all sick
Letter From Mrs. Rhinehart.
Secretary Baker read letter from
Mrs. Mary Roberts Rienhart, the
writer. who has q son in the service,
commencing hospital conditions she
recently inspected. Mrs. Rhinehart said
she was impressed by Senator Cham
bcrlain's tragic letters"
But feel the mothers OF the
country should know" wrote Mrs'
Rinehart, that the number Of such
cases is small. 1t is cruel to allow ev,
cry mother to judge the medical
corps because here and there men
are unwilling or unable to give the
care that is their duty.
he rPna-