Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-10-18
E DIT O R L
WAR LOSS PERCENTAGES.

1.-The truth is that the death toll exacted by modern war
fare is UNNECESSARILY smaller than ever before in history, and
has decreased steadily since the fighting began
The foregoing paragraph is taken from the North Amer
lean Review, and is reproduced because the prevailing belief
seems to be that the sacrifice of life in the present war has
been far greater, even in proportion to the numbers engaged,
than ever before.
In the charge of the celebrated Light Brigade, continues
this periodical lib were killed and 134 wounded out of 673, or
367 per cent.
In our Civil War the Ninth Illinois lost at Shiloh 63.3 per
cent, the First Minnesota at Gettysburg 80 per cent, and the
Sixty ninth New York 1000 out of 1000 in 20 minutes. Even
the Prussians sacrificed of the Third Westphalian regiment
at Mars la Tour, in 1877, 1,4S4 out of 5000, or 494 per cent.
Losses of a similar ratio have been experienced III the
present war, it is true, but the general average, particularly
within the past year and a half, has been comparatively
light, Notwithstanding the terrible instruments of destruction
that have participated In the battles.
The North American Review quotes Sir Charles Ross with
regard to the casualties in the recent battle of Messines, in
which 100000 men took part. Nine per cent of those partici-l
pating were either killed or disabled, and Of the casualties g.
per cent) the fatalities were only / in Z.
Another recent battle is reported by the same authority
as follows: Engaged, first line, 100000; second line, 250,O0O;
casualties, walking, 5000; %stretcher, $500; killed and wholly
disabled, 1,4OO. Remember that these casualties are reported
out Of a total Of half a million men engaged.
Taking the casualties Of the entire French army, com
pared with its modified strength, we find the following result,
as shown by the Review:
Battle of Charerois and of the Marine, per cent ...... Sal
First SIX months OF 239I
Second six months of 1915 l68
FIRST six months of 1916 l47
Second six months Of 1916 q. 1.2S]
OF course, these figures do not represent the casualties
in battles, but are based upon the entire modified strength of
the French armies, but we should reflect that In some of the
recent great battles the total casualties, in killed and wounded,
have been less than nine per cent, or less than nine out OF each
hundred men, and that Of these nine the ration of killed has
been less than one to seven.
The North American Reviews article concludes as fol
lows:
ITO say, assWe used to say of crossing the Atlantic, that
fighting III France as now conducted is safer than crossing
Broadway, would seem absurd and yet the concrete fact is
That if the percentage of American fatalities, IN an army Of
100000, Sin 1918, should not exceed that Of the French last year,
more Americans will perish from Intentional and accidental
use OF firearms I'M the United States than in Europe. Nor is
there apparent reason to doubt that this will be the CASE
The heavy sacrifices of the bewildered French and the un-
trained British in the first year of the war and Of the German
boys cyniealll@ used for scannon fodder throughout, conform
ably Az system, signify nothing. American fighting is to be
done on the precise and scientific lines wisely decreed by thel
president in preference to the happy-go=ucky methods of the
Rough Riders; our men have no superiors In intelligence or
III initiative, and will be trained to a nicely before being sent
INTO action; and ifsthere live more capable officers than the)
ofessionaIsold graduated from West Point the fact
issyet#to be Demonstrated.
III M would not think Of minimizing the dangers which
confront the young Americans who 50 To fight their country's
hAttles; war is5War and the Huns are Huns; but We do insist
Auponsthe records, that the too common assumption, that they
ne going otecrtain death orSto certain anything except
Tor then1selvesEand glory for their countrysis AS unWarranted
ain facts asi III surely is haI1nful il poronulgation and altogether
Afoo6sh
ssaA WASITLdOK on 4DVERIIs1NGs
SzAAssTrh NIIoeuNel County Fair says the last Issue 81 tho Clear
Courier, Ssscosed last FTidaysN1The attendance this pearl
MAS nM IN gTeat as Oh previous years. hit the exhibitsgWe
16 usnala ake best ever shown inS thesstate.
HHAsaAs ahors time agoa The Saturday News criticised the man