The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-04
BAKER GRILLED
CONTINUED from Page one.)

ing units for the occupational force ~
about l.o50.n0n men. and that all other
American soldiers in Frame would be
brought home as rapidly as shipping
could hr pruviS~I.
Secretary Baker said many complaints
had been based upon misunderstanding
and suspicious that the lists we're being
held m and that distress had been cauS-
cd among relatives by inaccurate reports
in soldiers private letters. lie told in
detail of the publication plan under
which telegram Is sent immed lately to
tho next OF kin before a name IL put ON
the lists transmitted by mail Ia the
newspapers for simultaneous publcatlon
Throughout the country.
Has there been any unwarrhnted de-
Law on the other side" asked Senator
Weeks Of Massachusetts.
- don't feel free 10 say that MT.
Baker answered.
"HaN General PershnS Deem asked 10
cxp"ditn tho reports"
"Rep,at"dly. repeatedly
There hay" been SO many cases ~
seems to me the system was in"fficient
Senator Weeks observed.
"Thc system ut Central HeadaunrterS
WAS TOO slow nj the outset" Mr. Baker
continued. but il has been improved.
1yo had 10 choose between speed and re-
liable information and Mt someWha
slower system but reliable. We h"Fe had
too much time spent upon reliability and
accuracy Is Il question upon which there
might bc difference Of opfnion.
Senator Hitchcock. Of Nebraska. said
that soldiers mail has been lawfully
DELAYED and thor" must hc literally
shiploadS Of il held up. Mr. Baker dis
agreed and MISC said he doubted IT
state ent BIZ Senator New. or Indiana.
that il takes all average Of II days 10
get answers tn letters TO tho department
could he true.
Senator Johnson. Of California, asked
what was holding MP the names or thr
mon included in the total number nj
ready.
II don't know why" Secretary Baker
idly aa IN" cables arc able to carry them
! think the major part OF thuse MISSING
arc Of, slightly wounded and coming by
mail.
II cahIcd General Prrshinr Sill re"s-
lion m pln 20 mo by Mr.. Stone Of the
Associated Press. Ia send III" deaths
FIRST. and let tho seriously wounded FOL
low and then tho slightly wounded. |
asked G. rncraI Prrshing If his machinery
was adapted to- cable the deaths first
He replied that sending ot woundtS! was
not delaying the lists of dead and that
no speed could hr gotten by III" process
suggested"
Senator Johnson asked how many
Americans had been IN nrtual fighting
up ~ tn" signing o. III" armISticc.
Secretary Rak"r estimated 10000 ana
General March added that II was Hhovr
,hu, number but "lcsS than 1000 900.
General March also said that # rel
alive. of Americans who hay" lost their
lives request otherwise. al bodies VI
tho American dead will H. brought home
without l"rIslafiOr by congress. How
soon The transportation Of bodies VIII
begin. General March SAID h" could not
state. e.,
obviously. General March said. Will"
active fighting was IN progress re,
ports or rasualti"s w"r" Slow. He r"ad
kilograms exchanged hnIw"n thr depart
ment and Grn-rni rrrshInE last July
and August after IN" h"nEy AinericAn
losses III III" that cHu-ThI"rry rEhtInS
which w"r" delayed in iransmissi"n. In
rcplv Ia orders from Secretary BAKER
ndvising General '"rshinE that the de-
Inv was ""rratinR feeling Or dlStr'S'
Of IN" department." General rnrshinS
r"plirh detailing difficulties or SfCur
INK md verifying casualty reports ami
assuring that all P"Ss'bl" "l"''d Was pe-
ing exercised.
senator Hitchcock assert "d that Will"
fighting wa ~ pruerrSS reports HIeh'
b.. slow. adding:
Bun /, stopped November II and
.r.ll "" don't know whnt happened.
General March replied that on NO
y"rrIb"r II h" ,.abl"d General Pershinf IL
send promptly a complete total casual
~ summary 'nf dead and missing. l'"n-
rral prrshing replied that il would hr
done. and 4 report Of seriously wounded
would come without delaying reports on
tho dead and missing.
Senator Frcllinghuysnn OF New ''HF-
rarrnilv loo. 900 casualties still vera
t,nrepnrtcd. General March said. ne Sec
rotary Baker had. that most nr th"s'
w"r" slightly wounded.
Senator E'rrcilinEhuys"n nF E"u J"r'
sev said Thai apparently IN" to,a Amer
lean Deaths w"rr G00nn and IT these
only 900 have been reported.