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Show SEC. BAKER RETURNS TO U. S. Filled With Pride and Confidence Confi-dence in Achievements of America and Allies. BROAD REVIEW Complete Optimism Among Entente Nations That War Will Be Won. AN ATLANTIC PORT. April 16. I Newton L. Baker, secretary of war.' returned to America today after a Journey to Europe impelled by his desire de-sire to confer with British, French and Italian military and political leailers regarding his own country's co-opern-tion In the war against Germany and by his wish also to become intimately intimate-ly acquainted with the American troops under arms in France On this unprecedented mission the secretary was out of the country about six weeks. "I return with a sense of pride and confidence at the achievements of the United States and allied troops abroad j that would Justify many trips across the water," the secretary' said as hei stepped aboard a train which will take him to Washington. This was the only statement the secretary said he cared to make until his return to Washington, where he promised a broad review of his voyage voy-age and its results. Those returned with the secretary said they did not doubt but that they reflected Mr. Baker's Bak-er's feeling when they said that there was complete optimism and confidence among the peoples of the entente nations na-tions that the war would be won. Apparent l in perfect physical trim with color In his cheeks and rar to plunge into his duties at Washington, ihi' secretary stepped ashore at 8:30 o'clock this morning from the deck of a ship which once sailed the seas as a German merchantman His trip from Kurnpe had been undisturbed by any submarines which might have lurked in ocean lanes. The weather has been ideal, the voyage a beautiful one, Mr. Baker said. Accompanying the secretary were Major-( General William J. Black, chiel of engineers, 1" 3 A Colonel 1. M Brett, ordnance department, rj. S. A., and Ralph Rays Mr Baker's private secretary. Questions asked of the secretary by newspaper men remained unanswered. Not a word," he said In reply to queries as to his opinion regarding the Irish situation, aircraft production and ; the appeal of Arthur J. Balfour, the I British foreign secretary, for the United States to hurry troops to France. "All I can say is what I have given you." the secretary added Mr. Baker first learned todav of the death of Senator Stone of Missouri "I must express my deep regret " The secretarv returned to America on one of the large steamships which j flew the German flag before t ho j 1 niiej States entered the war "Our party got in at 8:30 o'clock! ' this morninc." the secretary said "Just as soon as I can hnd a trail I with a seat in it I am going to star tor Washington '" I return with a sense of pride ant .confidence at the achievements of th I I'nited States and allied troop- abroat I that would justify many trips acros; the water." Secretar Baker said a 'he stepped aboard a train which wil ' take him to Washington. Baker to Report to President. Mr. Baker said he would be pre pared to discuss later the historical t oyage which took him to England and Frame where he conferred with tht entente war leader.-., military and I political, and General Pershing, commanding com-manding America's forces in France and assembled mditary facts which he jwill present to rre-sident Wilson. The secretary left American shor .-about .-about six months ago. arriving at a 1 i nch port on March in At Pans be conferred with Arthur J. Balfour. I'.ntish foreign secretary, and General Koch of the French army The great f-nccineering feats which Americans have accomplished to accommodate the accumulating arrival of American soldiers in Trance were Inspected by the secretary He toured the American lines of communication, at one point narrowly narrow-ly escaping injury from a Germau shell He visited the Belcian front and met King Albert of Belgium, went to London and was received by King Oeorge and visited Premier Lloyd -Oeorge and American Ambassador Page. Confers With Pershing. Returning to France, Mr Baker conferred con-ferred with General Pershing at American Amer-ican headquarters, approving the American commander's action in placing plac-ing his troops at the unqualified disposal dis-posal of General Foch. Early inls month Mr. Baker eni . to Venice, inspecting the ruins caused i by Teutonic air raids; visited Italian army headquarters and was welcomed at Rome by the American ambassador and Italian officials He conferred with Premier Orlando and the foreign war ministers. Reluming to Paris on April 1 he attended ihe ceremony held ui celebration of the anniversary of America's entering the war He was received by Premier riemenceau. The secretar - departure for America Amer-ica was shrouded in the same secrecy is that which attended his embarkation embarka-tion when he left for Europe and un-;M un-;M ins arnai here toda nothing had been published regaidine his vow I OO I the neutral states certainly would op- H pose such a plan." I Hungarian industrial, commercial Ik) end labor classes were disinclined to effect an economic reapproachment 11 " with Germany by means of a tariff I un-on or preferential tariff treaty, as I : serted the Budapest correspondent Tin? was parti based on the ground j that it was not practicable and would . result in a clash of interests, irrita- 1 Hon and lessen the sympathy now ev j i sting between the central powers. |