The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-11-24
BIfER CALLS NATION TO
AID GRAFT PROBE
Nearly Hall OF Gigantic Furd
Appropriated for Wilde
Returned


Washington. Nov. 16.-Sscretary
Baker of the War Department today
issned statement with reference to
accusations made against the War
Department in a series of articles
in the New York Herald, in which
ne declared that out of a total of
about $4,000. 100000 appropriated
Tor that department from the out
break of the war with Germany UNI
IN June 80 1920, about $4,000
eoo. 900 will be the net cost of the
var to the United States on the ar
ny side of the ledger.
This latter figure, the Secretary
asserted. includes great and valua-
HE properties and facilities acquir-
I'd by the department and perman-
-ntly used for the military estab-
lisAment."
Estimates BY Men In Field
Mr. Baker declared also that the
purchases worked in close co-opera-
lion with General Pershing and his
tan and the General STAFF of the
War Department and that their es-
Inmates and purchases were based
On the experience and opinion Of
hose in the field and best equipped
~ judge the probable needs of the
my.
Pointing ont that the United
:ates had 100000 men in our
rmy when the armistice was sign
A, Mr.. Baker says we had more
soldiers in France than had Great
Britain at that time, that within a
lew months after the armistice we
gould have had more American SOL
diers than there were French SOL
Tiers. and had the campaign of l9-
. been necessary, the American
rmy would have been greater in
numbers than the combined British
md French armies in France. The
purchase of supplies, Mr.. Baker de-
clared, looked to an American army
Il 5000, 900 men.
Text Of Bakers Statement
Mr.. Bakers prepared statement
vas given out Is follows:
"a newspa - in New York has
or some days been publishing a
series OF articles making accusa-
ions of wrong-doing against the
surplus Property Division of the
war Department. II is, of course,
impossible for the War Department
% engage in newspaper contreveTs-
is with regard to every suspicion
nr accusation. responsible or ir-
responsible. which may be circulat-
I'd about the vast transactions in
yotved in the cleanup of the war.
Every such accusation, however,
rAn aud will be thoroughly investi-
lated, and the department invites
hose who have any knowledge OF
regularity or wrOng-doing to place
heir information at its disposal so
that complete and searching in
euiries can be made.
THE particular series OF articles
low appearing make charges of
-vo kinds. First, that the War De-
Iartment bought too many supplies,
aud, second. that irregularities,
.ay0itism. and profteering have
hcterized it's action in disposing
= SURPRISES.
Expected 1919 Campaign
with regard to the quantities
purchased by the War Department.
I must be remembered that as late
: October, 1918, the War Depart
.lent and the high command in
france expected the war to con-
iUue through the campaign of 19-
10; we were therefore engaged in
he army so as to have an overpow-
tring force on the Western Front
in the spring of 1919. November
4. 1918. We had 100000 in our
rmy. ut home and overseas.
In France we had more Ameri-
IAN soldiers than there were British
,oidiers; In few months we should
save had more American soldiers
.han there were French soldiers in