The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-12
THINKS GERMANY WILL
COME TO SENSES SOON
Roger W. Bobson Figurese Chances of Mortality Among
Drafted Army-Thinks Germany Will Quit Before New
Army Actually Gets Into Trenches.

Roger W. Babson of New England, one
of the best known statisticians in the
country has figured out that Germany
will be whipped and will be ready to
acknowledge that fact before the national
army now being formed of the country's
young men actually gets into the trenches
of France. He has prepared the follow
ing data under the title. THE Chance of
Mortality Among Drafted men,
Clients whose sons and friends have
been called under the recent draft should
get considerable comfort from study
of the mortality statistics of the armies
in Europe OF couEse, it is very diff
cult to secure reliable figures, but we
understand that about go men per thou
sand are being killed. and about $50 men
out of each thousand are wounded, al
though most of these wounded return
again to the trenches. This percentage
of casualties is not high OF course, 1t
cannot be compared with the normal
death rate in peace times, which Is about
per thousand for the ages of the men
at the front. The great loss of previous
wars has been from disease. This has
been very largely eliminated. Some claim
that a man at the front today is less Ia
BILE to disease than if at home working
in city.
THE mortality is very much less today
than it was at the beginning of the war
The gas and other hideous forms of at
tack are being well handled at the pres
ent time. Men who are sensible and care
full can we'll protect themselves against
these things. Experience, both in the
protection of the soldier and the care OF
the wounded, is constantly reducing the
Il !, frH l. mr.
the exception of wounds obtained dur
ing charges, which, of course, are very
dangerous, most wounds are in the arm
and shoulder, which can be easily healed,
or in the skull. The skull wounds are
naturally serious. Amputation of limbs
is very much less than in previous wars.
1.-THE mortality varies considerably
with the different branches of service. A
man who is connected with the heavy
field artillery is no more likely to be
killed than If in the employ of our rail-
roads, but the fellows engaged in GER
tain other branches are in much more
danger. 1t is also said that the mortality
among certain classes of officers, such as
lieutenants, sergeants and corporals is
proportionally very much greater than
among prvates. 1t is very interesting to
see how much greater the mortality is
among volunteer corps than among
drafted men. If the Roosevelt volunteers
had gone to the front, the mortality
among such a body would doubtless have
been very high.
1--WE believe that the drafted man who
goes as an ordinary soldier, taking his
| judgment with him and leaving his en-
thusasm at home, is not only most eff
| fective, but is fairly sure to return in
better physical condition than when he
| left. OF course, during the one or more
days a month that it is his turn to
charge he is subject to great danger,
| but the rest of the time, with reasonable
precautions he is, statistically, almost as
well off as in the streets of New York.
Most of the drafted men may see France,