The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-24
Baker and March Say Inquiry
Will Be Welcomed.
Tell OF Difficulty of Finding
Out About Allen Charges.
827 MEN KILLED OR DIED
requirements of Division Were
1906. Baker Tells.
House Committee Hears How
Little Dept Knows Now.

LlJtIe DepG hHONS NOh'
Washington. Jan. 24.-The war de-
paItment will welcome a congression-
al investigation either into the affairs
OF the department or the conduct OF
the war. Secretary of War Baker and
Chief Of Staff March told the mouse
rules committee today.
If this action is taken Baker prom
ised full information and that tesu-
monv Of officers who have Deeh III
France. would be made available
Baker declared, however, that an
accurate investigation such as called
for in a resolution by Representative
Campbell of Kansas into reports thaI
the 25th division had suffered apuol-
NAL casualties because of faulty nan
,iIiuor and moor care was difficult at
this time. because the officers who
had information as well as documents
we're all overseas
Gave Some Information.
Baker did give the committee some
definite informal ton on the casualtleS
and artillery support of the dlvlsloh
which is made up largely OF Kansas
Immediately following Baker and
March's testimony. the rules commit
tee adjourned without actlhS ON Inc
Campbell resolution.
Total replacements of the division
at last reuorts we're 1906. which in
Guided all sick. wounded and men re-
moved from active duty for any cause,
Baker said.
The total killed and died of disease
llp to November l were S27. March
said
C'arnbhciI's resolution recited reports
that the casualties in the Argonne bat
tie alone were seven thousand.
Rcfme the Charges.
proper artillery support were retuteo
ly the definite statement. that at no
time was the division out of range
of support its corps and the army
archery, March said.
Baker said the division may have
got beyond its division artillery but
emphasized that in this case it would
lave been less dangerous to advance
thon to stand still under German ma
chine gun fire
Did Not Know Why.
T.ro generals. C. l. Martin and Nc
Clure had been removed the day be-
fore the battle Raker said, but de-
c!ared he did not know why. They
v-era replaced by Colonel Walker and
Colonel huffman. regular army men.
Pcth Baker and March said the men
we're removed as preliminary to the
battle and that their removal had no
effect on the battle itself. since the
orders apnrisins them Of the battle
1.ntH tie day before it began. Their
1~muva! v;as up to General Pershing
March said.
SiGcstrprctI the Charges.
ON CampbeH's other charges in
c,ud ng ones that the men lacked food
a0d had not proper aerial support and
that 12o0 wounded men had to lie
on the wet ground both witnesses
said they had no definite information
as Yet. altho they indicated that they
did not beIev. the repo-tS.
March sad. however. that plans for
the battle called for concentration o.
American planes in squads of 120 for
offensive operations and that single
German machine might have slipped
hTu and attacked troops.
A single aiTplane means nothing
i'm a military way" March said.
Removing the Wounded.
Concerning removal of wounded.
iarch said hn had reports of three
officers who had returned to this coun-
try wounded one had been removed
in s.N hours. one in twelve hours and
one in twenty-fOur hours, indica ting.
he pointed out. that the difficulty of
removal increased as the battle prog
IesSed.
The figure 1.2OO correspondents
with nothing we have" March said
Baker aad March both described
the ArSonne battle the most diff
cult operation undertaken during tho
war. if not the most difficult in mill
taTy history
The losses were Incredibly small
for such an advance" March said.
Hardest Battle of All.
There were approximately 500. .OOC
men In the attack and four thousa nd
guns, the greatest military concentra
lion ever attempted we're collected for
the fight.
The poor roads and operation OF
German airplanes may have hindered
the bringing up of food and removal
of wounded. March said but pointed
out that every man who went into the
battle carried iron rations'' to be used
when food could not be brought III
from the rear
We ant the facts known and the,
VIII be known" March promised as he
left the committee room.
Democrats the committee
showed 4 disposition to quiz Camp
bell on where Governor Allen, who
made public the charges put into 8
resolution by Campbell. got his infor
nation. Campbell said Allen was IN
the y. NJ. G A service at the time o
the battle. but could tell nothing fur
Their.
No Hint of Complaint.
General March declared that no hin
of complaint had come from abroad a.
10 the handling of divisions in the Ar
sOnue action.
1T was a well planned battle." tn,
chief Of staff declared. 1T woul,
never have gotten thru if il had no
heen.'
This fight General March added
was the first real action in which tn
S5th division participated and he de