New-York tribune., 1919-05-06
"A. f. I. the Best Equipped
Army in the World,'' He
Saws on Arrival Here on
the George Washington
Men Returning Rapidly
Millionth Soldier Will Have
Left for His Home This
Week. Secretary Declares

Newton D. Baker, Secretary OF War,
.so went abroad on a mission which
,nc,uded an inspection of the Sd Army,
..h;ch is in occupation on the Rhine,
,st,rned from France last night on the
residents ship, the George Washing
ton Three days ago radio was re-
.s;ved from the transport saying she
could he aheam the Ambrose Channel
1ightship at 4 p. M. yesterday. She
,.o+ her promise by thirty-fve min
utes.
Mr.. Baker was one of the first pas
.orrers to leave the vessel. His trip
Of inspection had pleased him greatly.
us sal dhe found the A. f. F. the best
eouipped army in the world.
MilIionth Soldier to Leave
.J suppose you have observed that
ne are getting the troops home rapid
", said the Secretary. at might be
of interest for me TO say that the
,ooo0oOth soldier of the A. E. F. will
hsve left France on his way homeward
within week. We have actually ar
r.nged to send 100000 men westward
an transports during the month of
June
Nr. Baker was Informed that General
March had recently said that 100000
men would be sent home monthly until
al the men scheduled for return had
arrived. Fe smiled and said: "I am
clad to hear it. That is splendid. Our
Grief concern just now is the task of
getting the men home as rapidly as
nossible. Last month we sent home
o50.0Oo men. Our army is in splendid
condition. 1t is without doubt the
finest army the world has ever known.
Their equipment is ideal"
He said that he had visited only one
embarkation camp. and that one was
Brest.
Criticism Uncalled For
Il am inclined to think that Bres.
did not deserve some of the criticism
tha1 was heaned upon il. The condi-
tons at Brest now are ideal. If one
is in doubt about it, let him ask any
doughboy or officer who has recently
como from there
Mr. Baker said he was anxious tc
get TO Washington as quickly as pos
oic, but that he would wait over ir
-ais city to review the parade of the
17-h Division to-day He arranged last
light 10 hasten 10 the capital as soon as
tne parade Is over
When the George Washington was
about ninety miles east of Sandy
Hook yesterday forenoon the elec
tricians on the ship "called up
Washington on the long distance sea
phone and. through wireless connec
tors AT New Brunswick, \. j., man
aged to get Franklin D. Roosevelt, th'
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, on tn
wire. Later General March was in
formed that Mr. Baker wished to tall
with him. and he, too, was let in on tn
talking. 1t was said aboard the Georg
Washington that Nh. Baker informe
them that he could hear quite dis
timely and that the connection wa
better than he sometimes has had owe
the land wires from his office.
General Haan Feted
On Saturday MI Baker addresse
the troops and praised their valor an
fortitude in battle and yesterday h
rad an informal conference with wa
workers who travel back and forth 0
the George Washington. After his tai
with them the Secretary said that al
lsngements would be made to provid
larger and better quarters for them
TIE Washington brought over tn
biggest soldier passenger complemeI
r-- Il .f.-4., r.c
ofcers and men who returned in con
mand Of Major General William
haan, Of the 32d Division
Ham Praises Soldiers
General William G. Ham, commando
of the 22d Division, who returned j
command % the 6.582 officers and me
On the Washington, paid high tribut
10 the organization as u fighting IN
q he A. E. T. He said:
The 32d Division justified every o
psetation and more from it's first ba
;ie or The Ourcq in July until the clos
O the Meuse-Argonne drive in Noven
be- II actually fought in the harde'
o battles for thirty-five days an
nishts and smashed through the encm
aues for twenty-five miles and nevt
eaFe wa an inch. It successfully d'
ceNtsQ tWenty-three GerTnAn DIVISION
IN proud Of what the division hs
accomplished and grateful for what
nss done for me. It accompllshe
fAose than I had a hight to expect.
The young men of my division al
coming home strong, clean, sniling ar
happy and ready to reenter into con
petition in civilian pursuits. They as
.ps no charity. They know there
%xaiting them square deal in ia
.e'd IN Gods country. the beauty ar
s'ory Of which they have learned
a9preciase.n
Germans Crinying lot"
l'''cral HAN said he found the pc
e't ' Germany 70 be in better circur
@1C1s lnaA he had been led TO b
he children are fat and numc
ae gad, "and the villages ha'
saplzh 'ond % last until The ncw crol
~ ~ h4rTested. We found the GerrnS
s'Hc'ais clumsy and hostile clums
Sea1se We found them out-hostil
Dseause ne punished quite fen
afia We found the Germans Il erin
s< 4of. After peace il signed dor
s1sYs oar men viii want anythIf
:" 10 NTH them know / won't.'
FIRST Spanish Liner
10 Bring u. s. Troops