Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-26
HAZARDS OF WAR
ARE OVERDRAWN
Statistics Show but Few
Sammees Not Likely
to Return
USE POWDER, SAVE MEN

ing through this terrible war?
This Is the question which must be
in tho mind Of every mother and father
who has given boy to the service OF his
country Many cannot free their memo
ries of the terrible sacrifices OF the early
days Of the war. when whole regiments
were wiped out over and over again.
They must remember, however that
those early days have little bearing ou
the present chances of our hghting men
who 60 to France. The superiority of
tho heavy artillery Of the Allies no
longer permits of such tremendous sac
rinrcs Spend the powder aud save
,he men is the present Allied principle
of warfare. and II is the principle that
will win this war and give America
back her sons.
The statistics of casualties suffered in
former wars have little significance In
Weighing the possible losses I'm men
among our expeditionary forces in
France We are dealing with entirely
new conditions and those conditions are
changing almost daily. With increased
frightfulness in modern warfare has
come Increased knowledge tn combat it.
and the improved methods IN the care of
the wounded play an unprecedented part.
The soldiers chances Of coming through
this war olive are better than in any
important war which was ever waeed.
This statement is based on the most re
cent vital statistics available. showing
the experiences of both the British aud
French since the Potsdam gang threw
the gauntlet in the face of democracy.
an November 10. l9,f secretary or
War Baker in letter TO Senator Will
( lard Salisbury. Of Delaware, stated that
. H., .Nt H..
British expeditionary forces in deaths
/ in action and deaths from wounds were
abou, per cent of the total Of all the
men sent to France since the beginning
Of the war" The first British forces
landed in France on August ., 1914, so
that this statement covers "A period OF
almost two years and ten months This
statement would "lerrly indicate an
average of about p, per cent per an
mum. lie further sta es that the ratio
Of losses of this character today. ho-
cause Of the improved tactics and the
swiftly mounting Allied superiority in
artillery" is less than the figures given,
These figures do not include deaths
incident to disease. but with the present
methods OF applying medical knowledge,
with trained eEtomologists in the armies
and the wonderful work Of the Red Cross
creased over the normal death rate.
Let MS consider the experience Of the
French.
In July, 1917, VI. Andre Tardeu. High
, Commissioner of the French Republic
! in Wa ashington, u. g.. wrote to Secretary
| Baker stating that the casualties II
proportion to the total mObili2cd strength
of the French army decreased from 5il
|. per cent in the battles Of Charleroi and
the Marne in 1914 to 2.3O per cent and
l.6s per cent in the first and second
six months of 1915. and to l,a7 per cent
! and 1.2s per cent in the first and second
six months of the year 1916
These percentages represent the cas-
ualtics. that is killed missing aud
taken prisoners" in proportion TO the
total mobilizcd strength of the French
armies
These decreasing percentages undouht
edly reflect partly the increase in the
mobiized forces. partly the effect of tho
improved coordination Of the artillery
with the infantry, and partly 10 tie tire
mendous increase in the relative strength
of the French artillery,
Commissioner Tardeu further states
that the French output in munitions was
arranged in August, 1914. for 10000
shots of "75's" day whereas it was
now arranged for 100000 shots of "75's'
and 100. 900 shots Of heavy guns day
That during tie last offensive Of which
he had particulars. the expenditure was
1000, ,OOO shots OF all calihers.
These figures furnish tho suggestion
Of what will he the gun support of our
boys in France.
Basing the estimate Oh the best aNail
able statistics from all sources, includ
ing the figures of the actuarial depart
b % tpg hot