The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-14
BAKER RETURNS
FROM WAR FRONT
Secretary War Reports Amer
ican Army in Splendid
Health and Shape.
DECLINES TO TALK PEACE

DECLINES TO TALK PEACE
Witnesses St. Mihiel Drive. He
Brings Back Home Picture
' of Lafayette.
Washington, Oct. 14.-Secretary OF
War Baker, upon his return to WASH
ington after q six weeks visit to the
American army overseas, today urged
the people at home to respond to the
call of the liberty loan in the same
generous spirit that Is displayed by
every soldier In France in his willing
ness to make the great sacrifice" to
drive the Hun out OF France and Bel
gium.
Excellent Shape.
Mr.. Baker declared that the entire
American army was in excellent health
as we'll as spirits that everyone was
happy. even to the men in hospitals
crippled for life. They greet all visit
ors with a smile, he said, and their
only regret was not the loss Of q
| limb but their inability to return to
the front for another "crack" at the
enemy. With such courage as this
shown everywhere, the secretary said,
the least Americans at home could do
was to give these boys the financial
backing which they so well deserved.
Declined to Talk Peace.
The secretary declined to discuss the
peace negotiations, but preferred to
confine his remarks to what he had
seen. He witnessed the beginning of
the st. Mihiel drive and visited the
town at noon Of the day following the
Germans evacuation. He was accom-
panied by Gen. Petain and Gen. Per-
shing. One of the first things that at
tracted his attention was the display
of the tri-colors on practically every
building in the town, Notwithstanding
that the German forces had occupied
the place for three and half years.
The people also were dressed in gala
attire, and upon inquiry the secretary
was informed that during the entire
German occupation OF tho place, this
finery and the sacred dags had been
hidden away.
Mr.. Baker was struck hi the.ra,itc.-
ness of the children of the place. and
learned that they had acquired tnat
habit as the best means Of getting on
peaceably with the German army. Chill
dren of the place were forced to work
III tllo tiChCiSoS SoiAJ iho ASOA w Wv
soldiers.
Secretary Baker told of an interest
ing incident which took place in st.
Mihiel. Col. De Chambron, brother-in-
law of Representative I.ongworth. lais-
son officer between Gem Pershing and
Gen. Petain, had told Mr.. Baker that
during the bombardment his home in
the outskirts of the town had, he
feared, been demolished. Upon reach
ing the village on the outskirts it was
found to be intact, with the exception
of a small wing, which had been
bombed. An inspection of the interior
revealed that all it's contents had been
removed or destroyed. Every picture
had been removed except one, an old
engraving of Lafayette, of whom Col.
De Chambron is descendant, made in
1882. This he presented to Mr.. Baker,
The American soldier Is actually
worshipped everywhere, the secretary
said. The khaki Is everywhere to be
found. and. wherever seen. smiling
and happy soldier Is the wearer.
But, with all the fattery heaped
upon the Americans. 1t has not affected
them, Mr.. Baker said. On the con-
trary, he said, the modesty Of the
American soldier Is only secondary to
his courage.
In England the doughboys are held
In the same high esteem as in France,
but in the old city Of Winchester, Sec
retary Baker told of an incident which
nearly caused international complica-
tions. A party Of soldiers were taken
on sightseeing expedition in the ven-
cradle hall of Winchester, one of the
most historic structures in England
and built in the fourteenth century.
One of the men carried away the old
wrought iron key to the building,
which had been held in sacred respect
for centuries. When it's loss was dis
covered, the town council met and pre-
sented a request to Mai Gen. Biddle to
have the key returned. The depart
ing troops were overtaken by cable, the
key was recovered, and, when returned,
all the dignitaries of the town turned
out. With great pomp and ceremony
1t was restored to its sacred resting
place.
Real Story of War.
Mr.. Baker said that the real story of
the war would never be told--that no
words of pictures could accurately de-
scribe 1t. Two of the most striking
things to the secretary Were the
means OF communication and means OF
supply. The wire communications
were almost beyond belief. he said. and
the roadway systems were described as
sages and one telephone conversation
could be sent over one wire simulta-
neously, and the roadways presented
strange sight. During the day they
were practically deserted, but, with
the coming of darkness, men on foot,
cavalry and motor trucks seemed to
come from everywhere. and the road
ways became one seething mass of hui
manity and activity.
In the secretarys party were John d.
Ryan, director OF aircraft production:
Brig. Gen. Frederick L. Hines, director
OF embarkation; Walter Clifford. direc-
tor of the Council of National Defense:
James Hostetler. of Cleveland. Mr.. Ba-
ker's former law partner, and Capt. r. /
E. Christie, Jr.. aide to Mr.. Ryan.
Mr.. Baker. Mr. Ryan and Gen. Hines
addressed the officers. crew and pas
sengers Friday night. and Miss Irene
Franklin. the Broadway favorite. after
six months of singing to the men in
the trenches. entertained the passen-
gers