The Lamar register., 1918-11-27


when firing ceased, amounted to $780,
III comes as shock to the country,
which had been misled by the official
estimate published November l3 that
the casualties would not exceed 100,-
900. Tabulation of casualty lists in
GLIDING November IL showed a total
of II, 5000. Official estimates then
placed the unreported casualties at
not to exceed 10000. Reports had
not then been received from the final
fighting of the First and Second arm
les. Returns from French and British
hospitals had been backward and it
was conjectured that some of the
missing would be found among the
allied troops.
1t is easy to explain the growth in
the list of wounded to l79G25, as. il
includes those with such trivial wounds
that they were not kept track of cx-
cept on the company and the regi-
mental books. But it is hard to ac-
count for the 50, ,169 dead, distributed
as follows: Killed and died of wounds
36,154; died of disease, 14,S11; deaths
unclassified, 2,204. This left over 20,-
900 deaths unreported Saturday. 1t
is incomprehensible how the deaths
should have been so greatly underes-
timated two days after the fighting
ceased. 1t is indefensible that the re-
ports of deaths should be over 10000
behind now. If the tardiness in re-
porting casualties had been due TO
the missing, il could be understood,
for the missing often include prisoners
and undiscovered or unidentified dead
as well as soldiers who have become
separated from their commands. But
the missing total only 1,160. Only
2,163 prisoners are reported, a re-
markably low record. Deaths from
disease are low, when the size of the
overseas expedition is considered.
Apparently the greatest weakness
of our army organization has been in
the gathering and reporting of casual
ties. At one time only the names were
given, Notwithstanding the duplication
of names in such a force. This eaus-
ed unnecessary anxiety 10 the friends
and relatives of men bearing the same
names as soldiers reported killed or
wounded. This system was finally
abandoned, although reports were re-
served for time for military reasons.
Gross carelessness was manifested in
getting names confused. Many par
ents in ST. Louis were notified that
their sons were killed, through mex
plicable confusion of names, and we
have observed reports of like errors
at other places. There has been great
delay in the publication of lists.
through mailing the lists to all the
newspapers in the country long enough
ahead Of the release dates to insure
their delivery in the remotcst sections,
and there has been a less excusable
delay in notifying the nearest relatives
by telegraph, delay which the Globe
Democrat has editorally condemned,
citing fragrant cases. As there is a
daily record in every company in the
army and in every hospital, it is hard
to comprehend such inefriciency as the
official casualty reports indicate.
The fact that there are still 10000
unreported deaths will cause gravest
anxiety in hundreds of thousands Of
homes. This should be relieved by
the prompt publication of the entire
list, even if the various newspapers
are able to print only the names from
their own localities. The suspense
should not be cruelty prolonged
st. Louis Globe Gemoerat.