South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-03
BAKER SAYS is. NEEDS A
new ARMY WITH new
SPIRIT, In HIS REPORT
Recommends Universal System of Training and Declares
There is No Danger to Democratic
Spirit in Plan.

his discretion. Mr.. Baker added that
The authority thus conferred was
never in any particular modified or
diminished.
Allies Seemingly Beaten.
There were elements i'm the prob
lem which might well have caused
grave apprehension" the report said.
The armies OF France. Great Bri-
tain and Italy had borne for three
years the furious and deadly assaults
Of the great German military ma
chine the toll levied by battle upon
the man power Of these nations had
been appalling. and II was becoming
increasingly difficult for them to
maintain their divisions at full
strength. The submarine peril men.
aced the supply OF munitions OF war
and Of foodstuffs 70 great civil pop
ulations.
Meanwhile the German armies
had crushed long planned offensives
by the allied armies with apparent
ease. and by the collapse Of Russia
were daily being strengthened by d.
visions OF trained soldiers brought
from the eastern front until the
menace OF superior numbers and ap-
parently inexhaustible supplies OF
the munitions Of war haunted the
councils Of the allied powers.
Time a Big Element.
But those who visited Gen. Per-
sEing's headquarters during the war
know that from the beginning there
was resolution and a clear-sighted
knowledge OF the size Of the task
It would have been idle to plan for
small American army. On the 9TH
er hand. it required Imagination and
daring to plan for a large one-tO
take a million American men TO
France, separate them from home by
5000 miles OF ocean, and subject
them TO the hazard Of the uncertain
and diminishing food supplies OF
Europe Aand there still remained
the further question: If these diff
culties could be overcome, could they
be overcome in time?
Gen. Pershing and his associates
gave no room TO doubt and accept
ed no counsel except OF determina-
ton. When the critical hour came
and the combined energies of the
United States and Great Britain did
surpass all previous estimates and
land 100000 men in France, the
arrangements made for their recep-
ton and for their maintenance were
found adequate; and had the war
gone on and the Subdivision program
4sr..N
and daring of these early plans would
have been adequate.
1T is a wonderful story and ex-
hibits at its best the confidence in
their institutions which Americans
may justly have"
Opposes Air Department.
Mr.. Baker opposes creation OF a
department OF the air because OF the
undevelOped state OF the industry.
neCessitating federal regulation" as
well as because of military consider
ations. 1t would be just as fatal to
separate forces from the army, he
maintained.
Since June so, 1918. the report
shows, it has been found necessary,
TO use federal troops on s separate
occasions TO preserve law and order.
The incidents listed range from IN
dustrial Workers Of the World acti-
vities in Arizona to recent move
ments in the coal fields. Mr. B4ner
concludes his report with an appre-
citation of the services of Gen. Pey-
ton c. March, chief Of staff
Il would be wanting" he said,
were I TO fail TO refer TO the broad
imagination. the unremitting energy,
the firmness of purpose with which
he has pressed forward the program
Without his strength and vision
much that was done could not have
been done. As it is, can only record
the successful conclusion OF the
war, the splendid efficiency OF Amer
ica's participation. and an enlighten-
ed treatment OF postwar problems
which has gone far to restore the /
industry and commerce OF the coun-
try and 10 close up our financial and |
business relations in a harmonious |
and satisfactory way"