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Show WASHINGTON, Jan. 28. Secretary Baker's statement of America's war plan carrying the assertion that an army of 500,000 would be in France early this year and a million and a half ready to snip to France during 1918, still remained the center of interest in-terest at the capitol today. The secretary's outline of the war department's plans, revealing many hitherto carefully guarded military secrets and given yesterday to the senate military committee in answer to criticisms of the war department, made a profound impression on committee com-mittee members. Chairman Chamber- lain, who has been the department's chief critic, admitted this before Secretary Sec-retary Baker left the stand. The chairman proposed that Mr. Baker be given a rest and there was no attempt at cross-examination, although, when the committee today assembled, it was understood the secretary would be recalled re-called for further examination later. The secretary was on the stand yesterday yes-terday virtually the entire day and his statement was heard by many mem-j bers of congress crowded into the big caucus room of the senate office build -' ing. Senate Committee Amazed. The committee members seemed amazed when told that men in the thirty-two national guard and national army divisions at camps wero ready to go abroad today, if needed. When Senator Chamberlain asked the secretary why the public had not been taken into confidence in such matters, Mr. Baker spoke of the reluc-tanco reluc-tanco of military men to reveal army plans and referred to a statement of Von Hindenburg to the effect that America was advertising her war plans. "But isn't it a fact that Germany has known all about this?" persisted Senator Sen-ator Chamberlain. j "No," replied Secretary Baker. "The' German govornment is still mystified regarding the number of men now In France. They know what Is going on at the front, but Germany still is in doubt as to the number of men we havo abroad." . i New DraVt to Be Ready. j The secretary',5 statement that the "United States will have 500,000 men in Franco earlj in 1918 and a million and a half ready to ship to France in 191S" caused many to express the opinion that war plans contemplated tho completion of tho training of those called in the new draft before tho year ended. The committee was told that it would be a tragical thing if tho impression im-pression which had gone out that the war department ljad broken down was allowed to remain unchallenged. Baker Praises Assistants. . He spoke of tho devotion of his assistants as-sistants in tho department, milltar? and civilian, in strong terms. Never in tho history of time, he declared, had 'an army of its sizo been raised, equipped, trained and prepared for battlo as had that of tho United States. Emphasizing that he was not thero to defend himself, or anybody, tho secretary urged tho committee again and ngain to lay bare any shortcomings short-comings of the department that it might bo corrected. Secretary Baker soon will have an opportunity to amplify his statement of America's war preparations given yesterday to the senate military committee com-mittee in which ho announced that more than a half million men will be in Franco early this year and a million and a half moro would bo ready bo- fore tho end of tho year. Recall of Secretary Baker for cross-examination cross-examination bofore tho end of the week was decided upon by tho committee. com-mittee. Aircraft Board Called. Howard E. Coffin, head of the aircraft air-craft board, and his assistants, wore called before tho committee today to tell In oxecutlvo session of tho Liberty motor and othof aviation affairs. . Although improsscd with Secretary Baker's disclosures of tho magnituda of America's war operations, the son-ato son-ato committee persists in its demands for centralization of authority through a war cabinet and a munitions' director. direc-tor. Senator Chamborlain said today, however, that tho war cabinet bill would bo re-submitted to tho committee commit-tee for another v6te before being presented pre-sented to tho aenate. Ho said this course would be taken because ho did not wish it to appear that a majority oC tho committee favoring tho war cabinet were trying to "railroad" their legislation through, although the bill IH was ordered reported at a previous i meeting from which, however, several fl senators opposing the, bill were absent , In reply to Secretary Baker's je- f quost for the identitites of persons : IH named in letters produced by Senator IH Chamberlain charging army officers with neglect of the sick and dead, Mr. Chamberlain said today he probably jH would make the names public and also , IH furnish them to Secretary Baker for IH investigation. tl |