SECRETARY BAKER'S DEFENCE

One day we hear that the Army system is wretched, the next day we are reassured that the War Department has done as well as could be expected, that the blunders made have been exceptions and not the rule. Yesterday the inquiry came to a climax when Secretary Baker took up the defence of the War Department's work.

Apparently, in spite of all the opposition has said, there has been a definite plan of action in our carrying out of the war. Mr. Baker admits having blundered in many little ways, but on the whole he insists that we have done as well as could be expected. The great argument against our methods of prosecuting the war has come from lack of ordnance and equipment. We are doing all our fighting in France with European guns, for our artillery at the outbreak of the war was of no value for such a struggle as the present one. The French 155 and 75 millimetre guns especially are being turned out in large quantities to supply the American Expeditionary Force. This using of foreign equipment has been taken by many to be a poor policy and a sign of weakness, but Mr. Baker claims that the more equipment France can spare us the better for all concerned. According to the Secretary we are not hindering France by using her artillery, for she is turning out more than she needs. Moreover, the making of ordnance in France, saves us space in shipping and this is a very important aspect in our plan of action. Mr. Baker says shipping is the crux of the problem, and artillery from France means room for more equipment and men in our none too many transports. The Secretary declares the Lewis gun is being used only for airplanes, and it seems somewhat doubtful just exactly what rapid-firers our troops will carry into battle. The Browning guns are nowhere near ready, and it looks as though some outfits will be equipped with Chauchat guns, some with Lewis, some with Maxim, and others with Benet-Mercier.

So, after all, there is room for hope that the War Department will show itself ready to meet the huge problems which it will have to confront. Things are not so bad as they seemed, but the more destructive criticism there is the harder it is for the Administration. It is a good thing to criticize, if criticism does any good, but the crepe-hanging now being done in Washington will not help win the war. Before we can hope to advance in France everything must once more be quiet along the Potomac.