Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1918 — BAKER CHOICES ARE OPPOSED [ARTICLE]

BAKER CHOICES ARE OPPOSED

OVERSEA OFFICERS WANT NEW MEN PLACED AT WHEEL. ——— v Washington, Jan. 25.—Some interesting disclosures regarding American army affairs at home and abroad were made today through publication of confidential testimony given recently before the senate military committee in exß» cutive session. Statements of nearly all the witnesses heard behind, closed doors, except Major General Crozier, chief of ordnance, were given in the usual printed report of committee proceedings. Allies FearfuL One that created something of a stir among members of congress and in official circles generally was that pf Rep. McCormick, of Illinois, who back from a visit to the allied battle fronts told the committee allied o&cials were apprehensive regarding co-ordination of American war management; that Premier Lloyd-George earnestly suggested Major General Leonard Wood’s appointment as the military representative abroad and that high officials in general in Pershing’s command urged that Major General Crozier, chief of ordnance, and Quartermaster General Sharpe be superseded.

In the confidential testimony of General Sharpe he defended the decision to send General Pershing’s expedition to France sooner than had been planned, and the calling into service of more men than had been provided for. Knew of Shortage Peril. He said he knew and formally notified Secretary Baker that clothing Shortages would result, but that even with the sacrifice of some lives, as many men as possible should be summoned for The effect on the Germans. Some of the statements in secret session of Major Generals Greble, O’Ryan and Wright, after their return from the French front also were made public. General Greble said that in October the allied artillery was unquestionably superior in effect to the Germane and that General Pershing’s men were well clothed and equipped. All of the testimony of General Crozier was ordered kept confidential. Mr. McCormick, In his statement, said that for the Americans and allied armies to break through on the western front, they must have 25,000 more big guns and that it. is impossible for the allies to make them. The French, he said, cannot make the.guns. “Every man who is in France,’ he declared, “is needed to be making guns for France, or to be on the line. We have to ship the steel to them.

Can't Have too Many. “I can only say and I quote the man who won the battles—that it is impossible to have too many guns. We ought to set 25,000 as the mark and 20,000 as the minimum. We ought to get the best information possible and not merely through the normal military channels, because as Lloyd-George and Kerr (Premier Lloyd-George’s secretary) said, the generals have always tended to underestimate the number of guns necessary.” Representative McCormick in reply to a question said that he did not think that this great production could be attained under the present system and suggested creation otf a minister of munitions. The witness said Lloyd-George had insisted that tin making big guns the United States would not add a third calibre. “You know we hanre done it’ asked Senator Wadsworth. Home News Disappointing. “I did not know it,” Mr. McCormick replied, “but I can very easily believe it from what I have heard since I have been home. The most disappointing news I have heard was not on the Italian front or in France, but since I have come back. I could not say specifically, except here and there what is wrong, but members of the-senate and house, on both sides, give ine the impression that we lack the co-ordination and fthergy which is especially marked in London —the tremendous administrative machine which they have over there. They said ‘why do you not summon so and so, anj so and so to Washington to sit in

council?’” , In reference to Generals Crozier and Sharpe, Mr. McCormick said: “I would rather not mention any names, but the most ilhportant American officers said: ‘lf Sharpe and Crozier do not go we do not know what may happen.’ ” “I have had that from three major generals,” Senator Woodworth interjected. “Yes,’ continued Mr. McCrmick. “the men on whom our burden rests said that to me.” • “Have they any way of reaching the administration?” asked Senator Hitchcock. “I do not know,” replied Mr. McCormick. “When General Biddle was recently appointed, American officers were all broken up about it As an engineer he was well thought of; they all liked him, but when he was to be made probable successor