Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-01

At the outset the secretary said he
thought much criticism came from
impatience of the American people
ito do this great thing greatly"
He conceded freely that in SO great
an enterprise it was impossible that
there should not be delays and short
comings'' The confidence of the
country. however. he said, was neces-
sary to the tremendous efforts.
The mistakes cited in Senator Cham
berlain's speech, Secretary Baker de-
clared. gave a disproportionata as
pect. Without intent, he said, the
effect of the senator's speech was to
give the county the impression that
the deficiencies were characteristic
rather than occasional"
He said he was not there to defend
individuals or deny delays and false
starts.
But l think l can say in conf
dence that in them we have sought
the remedy he said.
That there are more than 100000
men under arms in this country was
stated by Secretary Baker in abiding
to ,the cases of alleged neglect of the
dead in camp cited by Senator Cham
berlain.
Maj Gen. Wood, Mr.. Baker said,
recommended calling out a large
army, although the men could not be
provided at once with rifles and cloth
ing.
For some reason or another the
impression has gone out into the
country to some extent that the war
Fol in 10
conduct of the war" said Secretary
Baker. 81 want to address myself to
that question.
There are several reasons why 1
should ask the committee to hear me.
First, the country is entitled to know
lif that is a fact. The country is entl-
cried, to know what this war is and
r what ti4e problems are and how we
are to meet them. Second, I have. a
deep sense of duty to the officers and
civilians that are laboring with devo-
. ton, sacrifice and zeal and are spend
ing sleepless nights to bring this army
up to it's greatest efficiency and sue
cess"
Every soldier who needs rifle has
one, Secretary Baker said, and OF a
better type than if the British Enfield
rifle had been adopted.
Defending the lack of Lewis ma
chine guns, Secretary Baker reiterated
that Cen Pershing does not want
Lewis guns for the ground force but
only for aviation.
Declaring that by securing artillery
from France Mr.. Baker said it also
would ave ships.
II am telling no secret when 1 say
that ships are the crux of our prob
lem," he said.
Secretary Baker said all foreign
representatives and the war council
participants, headed by Col. House
declared that obtaining ordnance from
England and France will not take
supplies they need, but will helI
them.
The impotence of the whole coun-
try 'to do this thing greatly" the
secretary continued, probably in
spired much of the criticism. Every
one of us wants to see our country hit
like a man at the adversary.
1--WE look back over the past anc
see there have been shortcomings
that there have been delays. There
are things that could have been bet
ter done But our effort is to learn
81 have no purpose to defend indi
viduals or myself. If 1 discuss here
individuals by name, if 1 refer to Gen
Crozier or Gen. Sharpe or myself, i
will be only to make it clear. If an!
OF us should figure in tomorrow
casualties it would be as nothing be
side the object we all seek. 1 am no
here to deny shortcomings, but
think l can say this: Where We hav
found such shortcomings or mistake
we have made every effort to correc
them. 1 most earnestly ask tina
when you have pointed out to yo1
any shortening. whether it seen
we'll founded or not, that you in
stantly refer it to me in order tina
the processes of the department ma
sift the truth
From Senator, Chamberlain
speech Mr.. Baker said it had SCENE
to him that. although it was not tn
Senator's purpose to make it so ap
pear, the country got an impressio
from the failures and delays tina
made them "disproportionate to VIVA
was going on"
The secretary said that when h
heard of the two letters read b
Senator Chamberlain concerning ba
treatment of sick soldiers he imme
diately asked Mr.. Chamberlain fc
all the details.
1T want to follow these through
the very end" said he, land find OIL
who is responsible, in order that
can punish the guilty
Although more than one millic
men are under arms in this countr
Mr. Baker said, the number of con
plants received has been relative
small probably not more than is.
each instance, he said, investigation
have been Immediately made. Son
reports, he said, have not prove
serious on inquiry, while others ha
in which cases corrections followed.
II the case of the body of an o
ficer who died in an aviation traini1
school being shipped home in a shet
Secretary Baker said, inquiry deve
oped that the camp was in charge
a British aviation officer who follow
the British method. An American c
ficer was then put in charge.
Another complaint, of neglect of
patient at Camp Wheeler, he sal
developed that It was unjustifed al
0nsulted from ''the distressed imagin