Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-16
WAR SECRETARY BACK
HOPEFUL FOR ALLIES

lContinued from First Page.1
Secretary said he cared to mako nm
III ms return to Washington, where
| ne promised broad review of his
voyage and its results. Those who
teturned with the Secretary said
Ihey did not doubt but that thew re
, hected Mr.. Bakers feeling when IN ev
SAID there was complete optimism
ana confidence among the .peopIe of
would be won. ' 'Do wal
Trip Home Is UneventfuI
Apparently in perfect nhvsioal
trlm' with color in his cheeks and
eager TO plunge into his duties at
washington, the Secretary stepped
ashore at $50 o'clock this mornlng
from the deck of ship which once
salled the seas as q German mer-
chantman. His trip from Europe
hau Deen undisturbed by any sIlb-
marines which might have lurked
IN ocean lanes. The weather had
oeeh ioeaI, the voyage a beautiful
one Mr.. Baker said.
Accompanying the Secretary were
MAJOR General w. M. Black. chief
OF engineers, United States Army;
colonel M. l.. Brett, ordnance de-
Partment, United States Army, and
ralph Hayes, Mr.. Bakers private
secretary.
Questions asked of the Secretary
ny neWspapermen remained unans-
MeTed: Not a word" he said, in
reply TO queries as to his opinion re-
saFdlng the Irish situation, aircraft
production and the appeal of Arthur,
j. Balfour, the British foreign sec
retary, for the United States to hurry
troops to France.
Mr.. Baker first learned to-day of
the death of Senator Stone, of Mis-
souri,. Il must express my deep res
gret." he said.
Will Tell President of Army
Mr.. Baker said he would be pre-
pared to discuss later the historical
voyage which took him to England
ana France where he conferred with |
the entente war leaders, military and |
political, and General Pershing. com
manding Americas forces in France |
and assembled military facts which |
he will present to President VIII |
son.
The Secretary left American shores
about six weeks ago, arriving at a !
french port on March 10. At Paris
ne conferred with Arthur j. Bal
four, British foreign secretary, and
General Foch of the French army.
The great engineering feats which
Americans have accomplished to ac-l
commodate the accumulating arrival
OF American soldiers in France were
inspected by the Secretary. He tour
ed the American lines of communica-
tion, at one point narrowly escapingl
from German shell. He visited the
Belgian front and met King Albert
of Belgium, went to London and was
received by King George and visited
Premier Lloyd George and American
Ambassador Page.
Returning to France Mr.. Baker
conferred with General Pershing at
American headquarters, approvingl
the American commanders action at
placing his troops at the unqualified |
disposal of General Foch. II
Early this month Mr.. Baker went
to Venice, inspecting the ruins caused
by Teutonic air raids; visited italian
army headquarters and was well
coined by the American ambassad dor
and Italian officials. He conferred
with Premier Orlando and the for
eign war ministers, returning to Paris
on April 4, he attended the cere-
mony held in celebration of the an
ntversary of America entering the
war. He was received by Premier
Clemenceau.
The Secretary's departure for
America was shrouded in the same n
secrecy as that which attended his
EN- barkation when he left for Eurone
and until his arrival here to-day
nothing had been published regard Il
ing his voyage.