Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-29
SECRETARY OF WAR
DECLARES CRITICS
MAGNIFYING ERRORS
CContinued from Page IL

| FlTSls the country II eulAlitu " hilt"
| if that is a fact The country is en-
titled to know wlrat this war is and
/ what the problems are and how we are
! to meet them. Second I have a deep
sense of the duty to the officers and the
civilians that are laboring with devo-
ton. sacrifice and zeal and are spend
| ing sleepless nights to bring this army
| up to its greatest efficiency and sue
cess"
| Describing the spirit of army Off
GERS. Secretary Baker said he had seen
strong. grizzled men turn away from
| my desk in tears" when they had found
/ that they could not go to France,
where the glory of their profession
lay" but must remain in Washington
to press forward war preparations.
There was no case, he added. of any
officer who had not accepted his duty
with his whole heart.
Men of high places in civil life
throughout the country, he said. a
come to Washington to accept salaries
Of Office boys; many no salary at all,
to place their experience at the dis
posal Of the nation.
Gentlemen" said the secretary.
speaking with great earnestness. ut
would be a tragical thing if this mo-
mentous effort were to deserve the COM
ment that IL had fallen down"
The impatience of the whole country
to do this thing greatly" he a d,
probably inspired much of the criticism.
Every one of US wants to see our coun-
try hit like a man at the adversary.
Shortcomings Not Denied
I'VE look back over the past and
see that there have been SHORTCOMINGS
that there have been delays. There are
things that could have been better done
But our effort is to learn
have nnrnOSa r defend indi-
v:duals or myself. If I discuss here in.
dividualS by name, if !. refer to Genera
Crozier. or General Sharpe or myself
ii will be only to make il clear. If any
of us should figure in tomorrow's casu.
alties il would be as nothing beside the
object we all seek. l am not here to deny
shortcomings, but ! think l can say
this: That where we have found sucl
shortcomings or mistakes, we have
made every effort to correct them.
4 most earnestly ask that when you
have pointed out to you any shortcom
ings, whether ii seems we'll founded
or not, that you instantly refer it tC
me in order that the processes of the
department may sift the truth"
From Senator Chamberlain,s speech
Mr.. Baker said it had seemed to him
that although it was not the senator:
purpose to make it so appear, the coun.
try got an impression from the failures
and delays that made them "dispropor-
tionate to what was going on"
The secretary said there might be
instances of shortcomings, but only in.
stances"
To Punish Guilty
When he appeared previously Mr.
Baker said it was with the intention of
being frank" but despite this desire he
seemed to have left the feeling that L
4.
subordinates." He denied any such in
tention and said when he concluded if
there was anything else the committee
desired to Investigate he would do ev-
erything possible within his power to
assist without fear or favor" and to
effect any Improvement.
The secretary said that when he heard
of the two letters read by Senator Cham
berlain concerning bad treatment of sick
soldiers he Immediately asked Senator
Chamberlain for all the details
Il want to follow those through to
the very end" said he, and find out
who is responsible in order that 1 can
punish the guilty"
Although more than one million men
are under arms in this country, Mr..
Baker said, the number of complaints
received have been relatively small; prob
ably not more than eighteen. In each
instance, he said, Investigations have
been Immediately made.
Some reports, the secretary said, have
not proved serious upon Inquiry while
others had, in which case Corrections
followed
In the case of the body of an officer
who died at an AVIATION training school
being shipped home in a sheet, Secretary
Baker said, inquiry developed that the
camp was in charge of a British aviation
officer who followed the British method
of sending bodies home unclothed, the
mans clothes being shipped in a separ-
ate parcel. An American officer was
then put in charge.
Camp Wheeler Case
Another complaint of neglect of
patient at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. he
said developed that it was unjustitied,
and resulting from the distressed
imagination of the widow"
There still are in the hands of the in
spector general nine cases being in
vestigated. Mr.. Baker told of investiga-
tons which resulted in tbs discharge of
Lieutenant Charles w. Cole and Lieu
tenant John g. Dye for neglect of pa
tients, as published in the newspapers
Saturday and Sunday. The judge advo-
cate general advised adding a prison
sentence to the dismissal and that is
being considered
"The department sets it's face again st
that sort of callous disregard of SOL
dierS' health Secretary Baker said. I
want the doctors and the country 20
know that their lives and welfare are
| responsibility which l will not permit
to be lodged or handled in a cavalier
/ fashion"
While camp commanders are held re-
/ sponsible for health conditions, Secre-
| tary Baker said, the surgeon generals
/ Office has daily inspections and he has
/ appointed DR.. John a. Hornsby, a hos
pital expert, as his personal inspector.
A telegram from DR.. Hornsby regarding
! camp conditions Senator Chamberlain
assailed, disclosed them greatly i'm
proved" with mortality reduced and
| ample accommodations for all sick"
! Secretary Baker read a letter from
/ Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart, the writ
| er. who has a son in the service, COM