The sun., 1918-09-09
MAY
SEE U. S. ARMY
START ADRIVE
q. s. Officials Make Quick
Crossing on Transport
Laden With Troops.
CLOSER UNITY SOUGHT
British Aviation System Will
Be Studied-War Machine
Develops Fast.
CLOSER UNITY SOUGHT
Special Despatch to The srN

SpecIdt Despusca 10 THE Sun.
WASHINGTON Sept. 8. - Secretary
Baker has arrived in France on his sec
ond visit to the battle front. Instead Of
going on a cruiser this time. Mr.. Baker
made the trip on one of the large trans
ports, carrying its usual quota Of troops
and making the trip in quick time.
Mr.. Baker left Washington on the
morning OF August 81 and boarded the
transport the same day. Word that the
transport had arrived safely reached
here late to-day.
1t had been known here that the Sec
retary was en- route on a transport but
the newspapers refrained from making
any mention OF it. Mr.. Baker wanted to
go "over there"
1t is regarded as not improbable that
Secretary Bakers visit to the front may
| coincide with the beginning of impor-
tant military operations by the new
American field army which Gen. Per.
shing has formed on the battle front
American troops have not been heavily
engaged in the recent fighting. and the
belief is prevalent that Marshal Focf
plans some striking blow with the Amer.
lean force as a unit.
Raker's Companions.
| Mr.. Baker was accompanied by As
| slstant Secretary Of Wa -nhn D. Ryan
rMajor-Gen. w. c. Gorgas. Surgeop-Gen
eral Of the Army: Brig. Gen. Frank T
Hines, chief of the embarkation ser.
vice. and Lieut.-Col. George H. Baird
. military aid. The object OF the trip |:
to get into touch with changed condi'
tons brought about by the astonishing
development OF Americas war machine
vastly expanded.
The personnel of Secretary Bakers
party gives the clue as to the nature Of
the inspection work to be done in France
Assistant Secretary Ryan Is in charge
Of aircraft production and will get into
! touch with the aviation branch of Gen
Pershing's forces. He will obtain firs
hand information as TO what Is needed
He will also have opportunity to confer
with British and French aviation eN
perts on the battle front.
Particular Importance is attached herr
to the visit of Mr.. Ryan In view Of th'
complaints emanatlng from British
sources of lack of coordination. in thu
air services of the American and allied
armies. 1t is known that the failure o
the American aviation heads to fulti
their early expectations has caused grea
disappointment abroad.
To study British system.
There has also been q feeling tina
America has been out of touch witt
some of the most recent developments II
military aeronautics. Great Britain ha
favored the one man control theory Il
the management of her air service an,
presumably Mr.. Ryan will seek to in
form himself on how the British system
works
Surgeon-General Gorgas. who ha
charge OF the health of the oversee
forces. will see at close range what /
being done abroad and ascertain whethe
there is room for improvement.
There IS close cooperation between tn
health officers of the allied and Ameri
can armies and new developments In tn
matter OF sanitation are constantly com
ing up.
Gen. Hines will devote his studies T.
the rapidly expanding embarkation ser
vice Any possible improvements In tn
matter OF loading or unloading or any
thing tending to save time in the roun,
trip of troop or cargo ships will be o
the utmost Importance to speeding u
the flow of troops and supplies.