Bisbee daily review., 1918-01-12
SECT'Y BAKER. QUESTIONED. UPON DELAYS
 IN SUPPLIES.
Head of War Department Chilled for Three Hours by
 Senators. Many Statements Questioned by Investigators
CRv Review Leased Wire

MAShlNGI IUN- Jan l1--DeIlclen- eies in army equipment were the sub ject Of sharp cross examination of Secretary Baker today before the sen ate military committee
 For three hours the war department head was under rapid fire questioning. both from Democrats and Republicans who frequently by word or gesture ex- pressed diszpprOval of conditions dis closed
 Sometimes they flatly disagreed with the secretary's assertions and pointed to testimony previously heard to contradict him
 Apparently little rUffied by the viz orCus CuizZinS. Nr. Baker admitting and further detailing certain short ages. reiterated his formal statement Of yesterday that supplies are sub stantially adequate for initial rush needs
 CCnmitteemen insisted that his statement was misleading 70 the eOun- try- even though unintenIiOnaL ana save tfe public a wrong impression Of conditions Senator Weeks decl2r- ed il he'd -1uIIed the country to sleep Secretary Baker explained that what he meant when he spoke of adequate SuppIses was that all troops who 90 abrced to actual fighting are and will he amnlvt equipped Tn response 10 c-estions he said General Pershing is short Of motor trucks
 Shorrases in this country below sstimated needs of February lst- he summarized as follows;
 Some Shortages
 Saddles 50 per cent. saddle blan- ke.s % per cent. canteens, % per oent. with large deficiencies of pfst- ols and cartridge belts. as well as small arms ammunition
 Statements CT the secretary that cnsusitv oroiuction of the new Brown inc machine guns would beSin next month were sharply challenSed oS Senator Hitchcock. who said the sec rarar~-s fizures were four times graste- than General Crczier's. and tA9t inc discrepsncy vas -astoundins- Secretary Baker promised furteer ex- planstion-
 Chzr1e TsroineSs-
 The shortage of machine guns m ,-airin. esutonments. MT Baker said was no. surprising under the oonol- tions MT Hitchcock asserted and aEr Baker denied that contracts Tor Lewis machine guns were made tarui- ly- ,,.-. ths secresrv's statements regarding sdecuscv rife supplies at oOnton- ments. asserted that lack of machine ru1s and trucks are delaying training work
 Failure to prepare for var was brought up by Senator MadsNorth and Secretary Baker insisted that needs for preparedness in 1916 were es obvious to congress as to the execu- five branch. Events since, he con ceded would have made larger miiit- arv appropriations advisable
 MT Baker left the stand early to attend a cabinet meeting He will he hack tomorrow for further cross examination
 shoddy for Jzekies.
 A letter modifying his testimony that shoddy had not been used in navy garments was received during the day by Chairman Chamberlain from Paymaster General McGOwan or the navy When before the commit ice the rear admiral said 10 shOddy had been used Through further in- veSfiration after he testified he wrote tory. he found that a comparatively small order had been given for over coats. containing s per cent of shOd- dv specified for army garments by the supplies committee of the council of national defense