The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-28

the object we all seek | am not here
to deny shortcomings, but l think ]
can say this: That where we have
found such shortcomings or mistakes,
we have made every effort to correct
them. / must earnestly ask that when
you have pointed out to you any short
coming; whether it seem well founded
or not. that you instantly refer it to
me in order that the processes of the
department may sift the truth"
Disproportionate in Effect.
From Senator Chamberlain's speech,
Mr.. Baker said 1t had seemed to him
that although 1t was not the senator's
purpose to make it so appear, the
country got an impression from the
failures and delays that made them
''disproportionate to what was going
on" The secretary said there might
be instances of shortcomings, but
only instances"
When he appeared previously, Mr..
Baker said, it was with the intention
Of being frank" but despite this de-
sire he seemed "to have left the feel
ing that l was fencing in defense of
some of my subordinates." He denied
any such intention and said when he
concluded If there was anything else
the committee desired to investigate
he would do everything possible
within his power to assist without
fear or favor and to effect any i'm
provement.
| The secretary said that when he
heard of the two letters read by SEN
ator Chamberlain concerning bad
treatment of sick soldiers he imme-
diately asked Senator Chamberlain for
all the details. II want to follow those
through to the very end" said he,
land find out who is responsible so
that can punish the guilty"
Explains Particular Alarms.
Although more than 100000 men
are under arms in this country, Mr..
Baker said, the number Of complaints
received have been relatively 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 corrections
followed. ~
! In the case Of the body of an Off
Ger who died at an aviation training
school being shipped home in a sheet,
secretary Baker said, inquiry devel-
| oped that the camp was in charge Of
a British aviation officer, who fol-
lowed the British method of sending
bodies home unclothed, the mans
clothes being shipped in a separate
parcel. An American officer was then
put in charge.
Another complaint of neglect of a
patient at Camp Wheeler, Ga, he said,
developed that it was unjustified, and
resulting from the distressed imagi-
nation Of the widow"
To Punish Such Acts.
There still are in the hands of the
inspector general nine cases being in
vestigated Mr.. Baker told of investi-
cation which resulted in the discharge
of Lieut. Chas. w. Cole and Lieut..
John G. Dye for neglect of patients, as
published in the newspapers Saturday
and Sunday. The judge advocate gen.
eral advised adding prison sentence
to the dismissal and that is being con-
sdered.
The department sets its face against
that sort of callous disregard of SOL
diers' health" Secretary Baker said.
81 want the doctors and the country to
know that their lives and welfare are
responsibility which will not permit
to be lodged or handled in a cavalier
fashion"
While camp commanders are held
responsible for health conditions, Sec
retary Baker said, the surgeon gen
erals office has daily inspections and
he has appointed Dr. John A. Hornsby,
hospital expert as his personal in
spector. A telegram from DR.. Hornsby
regarding camp conditions Senator
Chamberlain assailed. disclosed them
greatly improved" with mortality re-
duced and ample accommodations for
all sick"
Secretary Baker read a letter from
Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart the
writer, who has a son in the service,
commencing hospital conditions she
recently inspected. Mrs. Rinehart said
she was impressed by Senator Cham
berlain's tragic letters"
Cruel to Mothers.
''But feel the mothers of the coun-
try should know" wrote Mrs. Rine-
hart, that the number Of such cases is
small. 1t is cruel to allow every mother
to judge the medical corps because
here and there men are unwilling or
unable to give the care that is their
duty. There are conditions to be rem
edied. The shortage of women nurses
is serious. But of cruelty and indiffer- |
ence / have found nothing. Ninety |
nine out of a hundred boys are receiv- |
ing better care than they could afford |
at home"
"And I wish to point out further."f
said Secretary Baker. that the very |
heads of the medical profession, the |
masters of the profession, are in con- |
slant touch with the surgeon general. |
No army could be raised in any
country" the secretary Continued, |
without danger of communicable dis
cases." AL THAT could be done was to /
provide every means OF science to meet |
that danger. That, he insisted. was
being done.
Pershing Approved Adoption.
Taking up Senator Chamberlain's
attack on the ordnance bureau, Mr..
Baker said that mems minds differed
about the types of guns to be used
and about the quantity. He then dis
closed that the decision to adopt the
SO called rechambered Enfield rife
was reached late one night in his Of
ice at a conference attended by Gen.
Pershing. who was preparing to go to
France; Gen. Scott. chief of staff:
Cen. Bliss, assistant chief; Gen. Cro-
zier, chief of ordnance, and Gen.
Kuhn, then head of the war college.
and several other staff officers. sex
Derts in rif1esf 1t was late in May or
saTly in June.
The American Springfield rife. Sec
'etary Baker said, was admittedly v