Evening journal., 1919-01-25
BiKERASK inquiry
ON CONDUCT OF WAR
Secretary Suggests Delay
Until Combat Troops
Return Home
.PERSHING TO BE
THE STAR WITNESS

WASHINGTON, Jan. So--Secretary
Baker yesterday met the challenge OF
the threatened sweeping investigations
by Congress into the general conduct Of
the war by announcing TO the House
Rules Committee the War Department
invites The fullest inquiry into its ac-
tiyitles.
The Secretary OF War, who has made
two trips to France. and is contemplat-
ing a third, suggested 10 the committee
that a more satisfactory investigation
could be conducted after the return Of
the troops from France, when full re-
ports OF the expedltionary force will be
at hand 10 TESTIFY with respect 10 con-
ditlons at the front.
Mr. Baker called attention TO the fact
that after the Civil War a very exten-
sive investigation was conducted By
Congress. The Spanish-American War
developed many inquiries, the most no
torious Of which perhaps was the en-
balmed beef scandal.
So II will be seen from all this that
congressional investigation Of American
wars are not a novelty. But The United
States never having been in such a bis
war before, the forthcoming investiga-
tions by the Republican Congress will
be the widest 10 scope and the most ex-
tensive in character OF any that have
gone before.
Secretary Bakers suggestion that a
better investigation can be made after
"the boys come home" does not mean
that the Inquiries will be postponed
until rehabilitation Is completed.
Within three or six months, at the lat
est. sufficient combat troops will have
been returned to this country and suf-
fcient records OF the American expedi-
tionary force will have been transferred
to Washington TO give the investigators
plenty Of material 10 80 on with.
Most Of the complaints uttered b.
Senator's and Representatives in the issi
few months, however, have been d.
rected at affairs and conditions in the
United states. The outstanding features
OF the present investigations will have
10 do with the aircraft scandal" the
ordnance shortage, the shipbuilding
failure and the general lack OF aggres-
siveness on the part Of the Admins
tration in getting on with the war.
Radiating from these main inquiries,
however, will be scores OF subsidiary
investigations into every phase Of the
war at home and abroad.
Il is plainly evident now that Gen
eral Pershlng himself viii be perhaps
the star witness OF the entire inquiry.
The manner in which NE conducts him
self at the inquiry, the impression he
makes upon the country in what he has
tottell, will do much TO make or mar
any political future he may have IN
mind.
General Pershins has been one OF the
sharpest critics the War Department
has had during the time we have hac
an army in the fleld and Il Is believed
copies OF his kilograms, and reports tc
the Secretary Of War and 10 the chiel
Of stan will make some OF the most
interesting reading OF the coming In
vestigations. General Pershing Is known
to have chsfed at the delay in getting
troops over 10 France. and this bears
directly upon one Of the main charges
Of the Republicans against the Demo-
cratic a dministratlon-the allegation
that the war might have been shorten
ed by twelve months II we had gone al
out problems in the first year we we:e
at war as we did during the ensuing
months
In some ways the War Department
expects General Pershing 10 defend Il
So many wild and false yarns have
come back from the battlefront, General
Persh!ng will not have a dif cult time
In exploding most Of them win a very
few words. More exaggerated stories
may be expected as additional troops
come home, and men in Congress feel
their Investigations will be helpful in
clearing these up.
In short, Il may be stated the con-
gressional Investigations as now plan
ned will result in a nearly complete his
tory OF Americas participation in the
war-a history which will stand in
public document form in the archives OF
Congress. The Republicans say they
purpose being scrupulously fair, so
that the charge OF playing politics"
may be minlmized as much as possible.