El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-06
(Continued from page ID


rarious lines where they had beer
r1placed BY neutral shipping.
Much OF the tonnage originals
available for men and supplies haC
been diverted to the harbor an
arsenal probe Is abroad. he said ans
the purchase Of artillery abroad hac
served 70 relieve shipping somewha.
although the necessity OF transport
Ing raw materials for the guns had
figured in the final result
Examination OF secretary Baker
was interrupted while senators dis
cussed going into executive session e
permit the secretary to furnish con-
1idential Information. The discussion
was preciptated by senator Reed who
thought the committee was entitled %
exact information Of the number Of
men now in France and on other sub
iccts.
Favor An Open Session.
Chairman Chamberlain, as we'll as
senators Hitchcock and Mcclellan IA
vored an open session and 10 let the
secretary indicate what questions he
would rather answer IN private As
secretary Bakers statement on which
he is being cross examined was made
at an open hearing. senator Hitchcock
said he thought the commi tee would
make a mistake In not examining him
al = similar hearing.
i think the committee and the pub
lie are entitled to know where he
proposes to get THE tonnage TO sup
ply the men abroad" continued the
Nebraska senator. II think the secre-
tary ought to be able TO put those
figures before US 10 back up his state
ment that he expects TO have LOCO, 900
men over there this year"
Wants Executive Session.
L think the whole question OF ships
cUght to be discussed In an executive
session" said secretary Baker in re-
Fly TO chairman Chamberlain. who
asked his views. The tonnage matter,
he added, involved international ar
ranEements and he suggested that ne
be permitted to prepare a statement
TO show the present status
T don't think it is necessary for the
secretary 10 come here 70 disclose
facts in orCer TO justify statements
he has made" interrupted senator
Kirby. Democrat 7 am opposed to IL
/ think the committee in executive
session ought TO determine just how
far il is going in this Investigation"
Baker Willing to Give Information.
Secretary BAKER agreed that the
committee should have every avail
able fact including confidential infor-
nation Senator weeks said he want
&c to develop just what could be done
in getting men, munitions and ether
products abroad but without dlselos-
ing confidential matter.
The Massachusetts, senator said
however, he thought there was
good deal Of camouflage abort keep
ing Information from the enemy when
is published IN annual reports ana
otherwise
Ought to Have Given Exact Facts.
7 want to make a suggestion. If I
may" secretary Baker interposed-
The misfortune for me, II 1 may can
it such. in my first statement to the
committee. lay in the fact that l at
femuted to give opinions Of the broad
general situation as 1 saw Il. when
the information lay in details thai
ought TO have been got from the eN-
r,erts in direct charge O. IN etallslics
giving specific facts was attempt-
ing 10 make a general survey II was
A misfortune for ne 70 do that 1
think IL better TO give the committee
specific statements and the committee
5 entitled to that"
wants TO Give Detailed Statement.
Secretary Baker proposed TO have
detailed statements Of Information
prepared at the department and SUD-
1nft-eG TO the committee and then II
fhs committee desired TO cross eX-
anime him later regarding the state
menrs he would be glad to return
Senator Hitchcock asked II the sec
retsry would object to giving the COM
rfttee the basis for his opinion thar
he expected 100000 men would be IN
so. .i1iS in ne least" said Mr.. Baker.
I could have the committee 90 into
the adjoining room and give It 70 you
in three seconds
Senator Hitchcock thought the in
formation should be given the same
publicity as his first statement
The secretary conveyed 70 the
country" said senator Hitchcock in
formation that / think was very IN
fortunate. Did you consider shipping
an important factor2
ssVerv DorranI-cOntroling MI
Baker replied. I was not relying
wholly on the supply OF American
shipping"
BAKER very HaEy About Shipping.
senator Hitchcock asked how many
tons of American shipping could De
depended on and secretary BAKER sald
he could not give the information me
Nebraska senator said he secured from
the shipping board ? statement OF
available American tonnage on Nov.
60. that there were $50 ships Of 5.fzl-'
SOC dead weight tons including tank
e-s and former German and Austrian
ships. al over 1900 tons
THAT was the grand total al the
disposal Of the United States" said
senator Hitchcock, adding that exclud-
ing passenger ships. tankers and other
noncarzo carrying ships. only about
200 600 tons vas available rCr sup
rIv and transportation Of troops
Senator Hitchcock asked secretary
Baker II that statement confoi med to
his information and the secretary said
he could not remember.
IF that statement IS correct. how
nanv troops can we supply in Eu-
ropel" persisted senator Hitchcock
Il can't answer that" said Baker.
1t would depend on the basis Of cal
culatiOn-
Basis Five Tons Ped Man.
Senator Hitchcock said he under
stood that basis was five tons per
man. Senator Weeks said he thought
IL was so pounds per man per day.
Senator Beckham interrupted, pro-
testing against efforts 20 drag out
OF the secretary, indirectly by probing
questions, information which would
lie Of value 70 the enemy"
Senator Hitchcock said he did not
wish to be misunderstood but only de-
sired to find the basis of Mr.. Bakers
assurance 70 the country" that 1.O0O.-
600 men could be transported to
France during 1918.
You said you expected 10 have
100000 men IN France IN 1915 Now,
how would you supply them?" he con-
1T. Baker read from his original
statement that he had said a million
and a half troops would be available
for shipment IN 1918 and that the
prospect OF forwarding them was not
why do you think it is not IN