The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-02-01
SECRETARY OF WAR BAKER
IhAKES BRILLIANT SPEECH
TO u. S. SENATORS.

Az v. -. SGEd1UhO.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-First
definite announcement was made
Monday that America would have
half million men in France early
this year.
I'VE will have three times that
many ready to send before 1919"
Secretary of War Newton d. Baker
made these statements Monday when
| he appeared before the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee to reply to
Senator Chamberlain assertion
that the War Department had fallen
down"
The Secretary made fiat denial
that the military establishment had
collapsed.
1T would be tragic thing if the
wholly unprecedented effort would
turn out to merit that charge" he
said
AS the climax of days explana
| ton of all that the military estab-
| lishment had done, freely confessing
faults and imperfections, in so vast
an undertaking, but maintaining
that out of each deficiency the rem
edy has been found, the Secretary of
War disclosed what hitherto has
been guarded as military secret,
and what the German people little
suspect.
From early morning until late af-
ternoon the Secretary, addressed the
committee and crowd, including
many members of both Houses of
+ Congress, gathered in a big hearing
| 70
He spoke eXtemperaneously, begin
ming with details of the mammoth
| task of building an army of 1901
| 600, answering such complaints of
ineficiency as were cited by Senator
Chamberlain in his recent speech and
declaring that such instances were
isolated and not general.
Some questions were asked, and
Mr.. Baker from time to time had
assistants go to the telephone for re-
ports on specific questions.
| Then, toward the close of the dag,
the Secretary delivered a dramatic
general statement of the American
war plan, telling of the coming of
the allied missions, of the day and
night conferences with men from the
scene of battle in which the plans
now being executed were adopted,
and of success beyond the most san.
suine expectations IN building the
army, and its industrial supports at
home. transporting men across the
ocean, constructing railroads in
France and preparing to strike the
enemy with every resource at the
! country'S command.
| When Mr.. Baker closed it was ap-
parent he had created a profound
impression. Chairman Chamberlain
said so before he left the stand
There was no attempt at cross-ex-
animation.
While many things disclosed i'm
pressed, the committee was amazed
frankly when told that the men Of
80 national guard and national
army divisional camps are ready to
go today at need.
When members wanted to know
why such things had not been given
publicity before Mr.. Baker spoke of
the reluctance of military men to re-
veal their war plans and quoted Ger
man remarks about Americas adj
vertisement of her preparations.
Emphasizing that he was not
there to defend himself or anybody
else the Secretary urged the COM
mittee again and again to lay bare
any shortcoming or failure of the
department, military or civilian.
This great fighting force, prob
ably little expected by the German
General Staff itself, will be compos-
ed of the men now with General
Pershing, the so divisions of troops
now in environments and camps in
the United States and ready to move,
Secretary Baker said, and by the
next increments to be drawn and
trained this spring under the selec.
tive service law.
Elemental equipment of the men
from the United States is assured
and the artillery necessary to their
support will come from the British
and French Governments, which
have an excess of ordnance that they
have, on their own initiative, offered
to supply the guns and save ships
which would be used for their trans
port.
The Secretary of War went even
further and laid bare facts regard
ing preparations for the American
army in France, which hitherto have
or whispered among a few who have
enjoyed the confidence Of Govern
ment officials.
Many of the. facts have been
known to newspaper correspondents
here in the Capital, but cooperating
with the Government under the vol
untary censorship, they have not
until this time been given to the
public by the newspapers.
Mr.. Baker described to the COM
mittee how the American army has
built great lines of railroads, one
of them 600 miles long up to its
headquarters in France; how ports
and terminals have been constructed
to handle the great quantities of
supplies and equipment which the
army will need on the fighting line.
/ Ali this has been done by Ameri-
cans, and since General Pershings
troops landed last June.
Leaning forward and addressing
~ a.