The Alaska citizen., 1917-09-10


 promptly as possible mas been pre- pared by the adjutant generals Of flee. Collecting this ,!efa VII .e- QuIrr for an army of 4 .Iilliol men about 200 officers, enlisted men, and field clerks, who will be organized and stationed down through genera! divisional, and regimental headquar- ters and with each organization unit of the forces in France. The ser vice will also extend into the Held and base hospitals, to ports of em. barkation and to the camps in this country where the troops are mobi- lized and trained. Special training is to be given to fit individuals for this work
 No system we can devise and ope- rate. unless We used direct cable from France, will get information to friends and relatives of soldiers in France as quickly as a soldier can himself dispatch il by ordinary mail, ' said Adjt Gen. Mccain in explaining the plan The plan we are work ing out is an extension of the statis tical work of this office. It should be understood that it is statistical work performed by a statistical orga- nization, and that some time is in evitably consumed in getting infor. nation through the channels of the organization. We shall include in the plan the designation of individuals in hospitals to write post cards and letters for soldiers who can not do so themselves This will enable ev- cry soldier to get word to friends and relatives back home as quickly as possible without cabling" While the adjutant generals de partment has always maintained com plete lists of all officers and en- listed men in the service, it has never been necessary because of the small size of the army, to have a special statistical division in the ad- jutant generals office charged with the work of keeping in close touch with all the men so that informa- tion as to the health, safety, and welfare of individuals might be com municated without delay to their rel atives. A special section, known as the statistical division, has now been created and assigned to this work made necessary by the great in crease in the size of the army Officers for this work will be SC lected, as are other officers for the national army, from men from the various officers training camps com missioned in the national army and assigned to the adjutant general s office.
 The statistical division will ope- rate through main office in Wash ington and through the organization abroad with sections assigned to each unit of the army down to each com pany This will mean that every company of soldiers will be ac- companied by one or more men who are regularly stationed with it and part of whose job it will be to know the men of the company. This man will report to the regimental statS- tical division which will be specially charged with the preparation and for warding Of casualty lists and data as to wounded and seriously ill. In formation Will likewise be reported as to all civilians accredited with the army The central division in Washington will keep in touch with all the camps in the United States. both of the national guard and the national army, and with the regular establishment of the army, in order that it may answer inquiries about any man attached to any unit of the army of the United States.
 This statistical division is also charged with the work of handling inquiries as to prisoners of War both prisoners of war held by the United States and Americans who may be held as prisoners in Ger. many.
 The organization of the statistical section with eaon army division will be completed by having a regimental section with each regiment. This will be in charge of the regular adjutant, assisted by the chaplain and detail of enlisted men. From this regimental section, indirect touch with the men, one man will be sent to tho statistical section with the