Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-29

war broke out in August, 1914. and W
| went into il in April. 1917. So that 10
two and a half years it had been 20
ing on. 1t was not as if any lmmediat
plan could be made for the wars pros
! ecution.
1T was not for US to decide the thea
tire of war That theatre was in France
1t was not for US 20 decide the line
communication. 1t was 5000 miles ava.
with one end infested with subma
rines 1t was not for us to dec"
whether maneuvers in the open shoui'
be attempted. Men already were IN TN
trenches ia a death erapple.
Our problem was and is 10 get oNe
and get at the enemy. 1t was not 4"
us to map out. at the War College. a.
ideal plan Of campaign, a theoretlca
plan. Our problem was 10 get into GO
operation with Great Britain aii'
France and our, other friends in N
most immediate and efficient way.
THAT problem couldn't be descrloe'
here. 1t can't be described IN Woros.
is SO extraordinary and so vast mat
must be seen and studied on the grouti'
before it can be comprehended at ali
. Mr.. Baker told of the coming q 'ht
British and French missions with Balfoui
and Joffre. These men were seen IN us
halls of Congress. but few people sd"
the staffs OF trained experts they pfoush
with them and who distributed themselves
through the war department.
They were the most brilliant men u
J
has sent US that sort of experts
Even as these experts talked, secretary
Baker said, the story they told grew old
Weapons they had helped to develop nag
become obsolete before they could be got
ten to the front.
, This is moving picture he sad
1T was necessary that we nave eyes
There to see and report, and we sent Gen
Pershng and the major part OF inc
trained personnel OF the army-that pitHu
handful of trained men.
General Pershing now reports daily II
cablegrams that run into hundreds and
even thousands of words. he added.
I'VE are using the eyes there to keel
US to what they want us to do.
The startling progress of the war Ill the
DEVELOPMENT of munitions will be shown
he said, by the fact that weapons devised
by American experts during the last few
months have been discarded.
Then. taking up copy OF the Metropoi-
itan Magazine for last August, Mr. Baker
read a protest in its editorial columns
against the supposed policy Of the gov
eminent to make its contribution to war
financial and Industrial:
ITO hold off until the Allies win the
war for us"
A question brought out that Col. Roose-
Welt was then associate editor of the mag
azine which urged that every nerce be
strained to get ly1000 TO 10000 men to
France in 1917.
Exceeded Maximum in 1917
II am disclosing no secret" Secretary
Baker said, pausing, when ] say that
we exceeded that maximum in 1911.
Eve will have 100000 men in France
early in 1915" he added, land we will
have a million and half ready to ship
to France during 191S'
Chairman Chamberlain asked the sec
rotary why he could not take the public
into his confidence in the matter.
Secretary Baker replied that he hestat-
ed to do that. lie referred to a statement
hy Gen. Won Hindenburg to the effect
that America was advertising her inten-
tons.
But isn't 1t a fact that Germany has
known all about this?' persisted Senator
Chamberlain.
German Government Mystified
"'No,' replied Secretary Baker THE
German government is still mystiled re-
sarding the number of men now In
France. They know what is doing at the
front. but Germany is still mystifed re-
gardng the number of men now in
France"
His statement. Mr. Baker added. was
made on the basis of the most reliable
confidential reports received by the Mal
department.
Secretary Baker went on to explain tina,
such things all warning countries try to
keep entirely confidential.
why, do not believe | could even
get the number Of men Great Britain ha
lin France or al home now. or could even
get that information from France" he
said. THAT may be unnecessary. but ii
is 4 precaution that is followed by all
military men"
1t the whole regular American army
had been sent into battle at once. Score
tary Baker said, like England's, it would
have been destroyed
: In eloquent words Secretary Baker de-
scribcd how France welcomed the frs.
American soldiers, peasants kissing. lie
said. the hens Of their coats.
''Of course they welcomed the British.
but then their need was not SO grea,.
nor We're the ties to England so close.
he said. so an instant response came
from France, and our soldiers have con
tinued 10 go over in an unbroken stream.
AT this hour we have a fighting army
~ france, seasoned and trained to the
warfare. Joffre said it might take some
time for US - get a trained army over,
but that we We're a great industrial conn
Regiments Of Railroad Men
Although not contemplated at the OUT
Set, we have organized regiments of ra,,-
road men who are rebuilding railroads
behind the British and French lines as
they advance. or such quality were thes,
men that at Cambria, when Gen. Byng
was endangered our men threw down
their picks and shovels CRASHED rifles
and distinguished themselves
very early "a the war Ballour ana
Joifre said: Send us nurses and doe