The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-26
WILL GIVE BAK R
PUBLIC HEARING
War Secretary to Reply TO
Mr.. Chamberlain.
He ASKED TO Be HEARD
Promises Statement on What the Ar.
my Has Done and Wants Congress
men to be Present.

Washington, Jan 26.-The senate
military committee decided to give
Secretary of War Baker the hearing
he asked on Monday. or earlier, if he
elects.
The committee decided to hear the
secretary the same as other witness
es, in the committee room.
That would not permit all members
of congress to be present, but would
accommodate perhaps a hundred or
more. The committee obviously did
not favor Mr.. Bakers request for a
hearing practically before an essen
bly, of congressman, because it decid-
ed not to invite the house military
committee or other members to par
ticipate.
The secretary's statemest will be a
reply to the charges of ineff1ciency In
the war department which Senator
Chamberlain made in his speech in
the senate Mr.. Chamberlain is chair
mas of the senate military commit
tee.
Secretary Baker sent the following
letter to the senator:
"Mv Dear Senator Chamberlain:
"The questions which have arisen
require an explicit statement from
me for the information Of your COM
mittee and generally for the fnforma-
ton of congress and the country.
"I feel that in justice I owe such a
statement to the splendid officers and
men of the army who have forgotten
themselves and labored with self
sacrifice and, I think, success. in the
building of a great army.
ut is due also to the great number
of men of business and of affairs who
have accepted the invitation of the
war department to come to Washing
ton and brought their business expert
ences, their talents and their judg-
ment to the work in hand. And, /
think the people of the country are
entitled to have at large a summary
of what has been done by America In
the war.
81, therefore, respectfully request
that your committee arrange an op-
portunity for me to make such state
ment and that the time and place be
fixed as to enable all members of the
senate asd the house Of representa-
tives who are so disposed, to al
tend.
"If this request can be complied
with, shall be happy to be advised
at your earliest convenience of the
time and place"
Senator Chamberlain. submitted the
request to the committee.
Some of the secret testimony given
in the committees inquiry was made
public when the committee released
the printed records.
Representative Mccormick. Repub-
lican, Illinois, who recently visited the
allied countries, is shown to have told
the senators allied opinions developed
"some apprehension" over American
aid. Oficials of the British and
French governments, in October cahl-
ed to Colonel House, urging him to
come over for the purpose of secur-
ing better coordination"
David Lloyd George, according to
Representative McCormicks state
ment, wanted Major General Leonard
Wood as Americas chief military rep
resentative. Officers of the American
expedition in France urged supplant-
ing General Crozier, chief Of ordnance
and Quartermaster General Sharpe.
Between the time I first went to
England" Representative McCor-
mick's confidential statement said,
and when I returned from Italy,
there was a perceptible change. When
| landed. they hurrahed for America,
the wonder worker Of the world
When I got back, there was some ap'
prehension.
"They would say, We wonder II
there is lack of coordination in Wash
ington?' We wonder il you have all
the big men you might bring together
in your government They were very
polite, but YOU sensed a difference In
their attitude"
Lloyd George, Mr.. Mccormick said
expressed great anxiety" lest Ameri
ca should too greatly multiply the
calib-es of ordnance in use.
Lloyd George" he said, was
very anxious to know what had hap
pesed to Leonard Wood, where he had
been buried, and why he was not IN
Washington or Paris. He wanted him
on the allied war council as our rep
resentative. He was very inslsten
os that point"
IN From Ground Glass in Candy.
Upland, Pa Jan. 26.-Willlam Dick