Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-05
TO DECIDE MILITARY
POLICY AFTER PEACE

Continued From First Page.)
which has ended with the signing of
the armistice, Mr.. Baker gives This
hint at the policy the government is
Steps havc been taken to reduce or
dcrs and cancel contracts for. such
In this connection. however. care Is be-
ing taken to assure ourselves that we
are. not ,deprivins France of material
which she so urgently needs to replace
mat worn out during her terrific self
deniais OF the past four years. We
cannot refuse to render all the assist.
ance possible In the reconstruction OF
that heroic nation"
FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Under the heading OF Fighting
gives q summary OF what was accom-
plished In providing ordnance for the
army; When the armistice was signed
30.Ssl complete units had been con-
tracted for. On November /. 10.634
had been delivered, divided as follows:
Trench. 5000; light (heldD guns, S,S5o:
Trench, ll.7oo; light. 1918; medium.
''Sss' nc hea riyos Az: railway Ill 49,.
z,i5no21 OF the modified Enfield had
been accepted prior TO November l..
birownsns machine gun PREDICTION is
3a,5A6; The following cablegram is
quoted 10 show the performance Of the
browning guns In action:
Experience of Seven.y-ninth Diyi-
sion in offensive operations September
20 TO october Fl, Browning machine
guns. Thirteen machine gun companies
engaged; weather continuous rain ana
lnud. There was not ono instance
where the guns failed to operate due
to muddy and wet belts. On the
whole IL may be said that the per-
Torrance of the Browning machine gun
and automatic rifle in active operation
as to
rom machine gun units and from d.
vision commanders"
,r Mr.: i Baker nsen,g gives much space to the
ton ngures published from time to
1 3in,s !, IL the past He shows tha. s,1ss
eS,nss .lo and nlo iGl aandieyPags ma
and 1900 planes had been shipped 10
France before the armistice was signed.
ice types had been provided for the
american squadrons by the French
government. On September 80 Cen
cral Pershng had thirty-two air squad
Tons al the front. the first OF them to
be equipped with American planes hav-
ing reached the battle areas in July.
says. have been higher than In the
a shoWed rs Battle 5e fstatie s
fa 5s hha aa os Ser Ses IN 'G s
service while in training in the United
states.
'GN EhaIs HEALTH Oh
ARMY SURPRISINGLY GOOD
The general health of the army has
been surprisingly good. the report
.how,. the death rate for all forces,
AZ nome ana abroad, up to August ~
900 per year, or little more than IKE
civilian rate for inen of the sane
age sfoups. 1t II compares with a rate
War Between the staes and &c dur
Ing the Spanish American War Pneu-
iii4 mia caused % per cent Of the deaths.
mere were $4,000 cases of influ-
Shla among the troops in the United
staes during the late summer and fall,
ana OF the .sc,5o0 deaths between Sep.
.sniper ~ ana November 8. 10000 are
I =, blScussing the embarkation service,
/ Mr.. Baker says that in nineteen months
mt total OF 2,ol5.Ss4 men and 5.153.OoO
great bulk OF these movements having
been handled after January / of this
year. When hostilities ceased the SER
vice was engaging 100000 dead
! weight tons of American shipping ana
| $4,000 more tons had been allocated
TO its use, with 100000 tons additional
| per month being delivered
| In closing his report, Mr.. Baker
| speaks this word for the men who
fought the war at home:
desire again to express regret
Tor It's (the reports) insufIiciencies
am conscious of how far 1t falls shor,
! IN the matter of just recognition or
me accomplishments Of my associates
OF exhibiting In adequate measure the
heroic achievements of our soldiers
abroad or OF our soldiers and civilians
| NJ nome. who have worked together
| TO make this demonstration of Amer
ica,s purpose and efficiency successful
perhaps special word ought to be
saia IN RECOGNITION or those who from
civil life have come at the country's
call TO places of eXacting toll and
nave been denied the opportunity TO
/ venture. but have nevertheless. worked
/ on, sometimes in uniform and some
times without even that badge Of dis
| usual degree the call to se,f-sacrifice,
but they have been none the less SOL
F.! diers and have contributed in no small
| way to whatever success has attended
| our arms"