Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-17
BAKER, ANSWERING
WAR CRITICS, ASKS
FOR A SHOWDOWN
Invites All Having Knowl-
edge of Irregularity to
Submit Evidence.
CRITICISM OF NEWSPAPER
CALLS FORTH STATEMENT
More Troops Than French and
British. Had 1919 Campaign
Been Necessary.
lBy Associated P.osg

WAEIINGToN. NOV. ia BLANKET
Invitation - every citizen having
knowledge Of ANY ir-o;sularity Of
misconduct on the part 81 ans. agent
cnployc or officer or tho War Depart
mcnt" to submit such evidence 20.
investigation. was issued todav by
Secretary Baker in reply 10 recent
criticisms Of the surplus property
division appearing In New York
newspaper. The s.cre,ary's state
rcnt pledged thorough inquiry in
every accusation brouEh, To the at
tcntion OF tho department.;
Declaring that tho particular ar.
;ic!cs referred 10 charge: first that
the War Department. bought TOO
many supplies. and second. that ir-
rcEularitics. favoritism and profit
cerirg have characterized tho disposal
OF surplus stocks. tho statement en-
plia,icany denied both allegations.
Supplies were bought. it said on the
basis OF an expected duration .of the
war.
Exceed Both French and Hritish.
Had the campaign o. 1919 been
necessary" i said, "thc America n
army would have been greater in
numbers ti;su the combined French
ana british armies in France"
The rapid decentralization ui In.
army, the statement continued LEI.
q vns. accumulation Of material
which. il dumped on the market
would have resulted IN widespread
unempioymen; with dcmobli,cd sol
d'crs and war workers jobless ana
the economic conditions or the
country Frustrated"
The policies which were pursued
encouraged the resumption OF indus
Try. and America is the only country
actively engaged in the war which
has uD 10 this time attained full ON
ploymcnt conditions Ii added.
Total appropriations tor tho de-
partment from April 9. 1917 to June
80. 1870 were approximately S25.-
5oo.oo0,0oo. .. which sl6.l00. 900. 900
was expended and $500 .oo0. 900
turned back 70 the Treasury, the
statcmen; said. peducting balances
on hand and amounts realized IN
sales prior 10 June 30. it continued.
tho net cash outlay TO June 80. was
si5.i7o,0o0.0oo which credit and cash
sales not Vet turned in wouid reduce
. L. ABOUT 4l.,10u,o ,oO0.DUO
Provided with Jnstinted Hand
In other words" the statcmcn;
sa:d. Congress provided with :.n an
stin,!ns hand and the War Depart
mcMt took every step in its power to
prevent a shortage OF any necessary
Iar material. and built it's plans 70
nice; the great army in the process
Of formation. There was no short
age. In spite OF all this, however,
out Of a total OF about Sa5, 900. o0O. 300
appropriated. about $4,000. 900, 900
will be the net cost OF the war
through the War Department. and
these figures include great and ,yalu-
able properties and facilities acquired
by the department and permanently
retained for the use of the military
establishment"
Specific charges OF irregularity
and favoritism, made by Major w. O..
Watts. former executive officer of the
surplus property division. have been
carefully investigated BY the in
spector generals department. and
found to be unsupported, the state
men; declared. More recent charges
appearing in the published articles
also will be investigated, 1t added.