The sun., 1918-08-01
BAKER ASKS MARINE
CASUALTIES Be SENT
War Department Does Not
Know Why U. s. Comman-
der Holds Names.
ANNOUNCED AS RECEIVED
People Told to Expect Larger
Lists as Battle Toll Be-
comes Known.
Special Despatch to THr Sun.

WASHINGTON, Ju,y 3l.-Casualty lists
now being received from Gen. Pershins
do not cover the American losses on the
Marine salient. This was made clear to-
day at the War Department. The pup
lie. II was said, must be prepared to see
the present lists jump from ten to a
hundrcdfo!d when the names OF the
Americans who have fallen In one OF
the worlds greatest battles actually be-
gin to come in.
In proportion to the results achieved,
the American losses are understood to
have been what normally might have
been expected But military men en-
phasize the fact that the days OF the
death grapple, with upward OF 2oo,ooo
ccMbatant American troops engaged
necessarily imply casualties out OF pro
portion to those which might be expected
II the public regarded the latest daily
lists as a means of guidance.
Names Are Held Back.
The holding back of the lists by Gem
Pershing has not been satisfactorily eH-
planned as yet, and comment is Begin
ming TO be caused by reason Of the fact
that persons In this country are be-
ginning to get private messages regard
Ing their relatives who have been
wounded and are In hospitals. but whose
names apparently have not appeared IN
the lists.
Secretary Baker, when asked again
resard,ng the matter. said that he had
sent personal request to Gen. Per.
.hing not to hold back the names OF
those who had fallen in the battle. but
admitted that no reply had been re-
celved from the American Commander.
The lists received apparently have not
reflected the fighting Of the last rev
weeks. Secretary Baker added.
The list to-day gives only thrty-six
killed in action, with a total casualty
list, including wounded. missing. &c. OF
1914 Yesterdays total list was 1873.
with forty-seven killed In action. A
summary Of casualties for the month OF
July, during which there has been much
fghting, shows b94 killed. 5b4 wounded.
305 died Of wounds and 29S missing,
total of 1.751.
The French, who with the Americans
have been bearing the brunt OF the
fighting in July. do not make public
their casualty lists. but the British
far less generally engaged in the same
period, officially reported their July
losses to be 1921. The number killed
or died Of wounds totalled 52l officers
and S,474 men. There were 1887 oni-
GERS and $3.50 men wounded or miss
ing in the same period. The British
losses in June totalled 14l.1f
Pershins Ordered to Report.
It is possible that Gen. Perehing has
not put into operation the machinery
for sending home actual lists OF cas-
ualties in this battle. Just how the Per-
shing plan with respect to such casual
ties as have been published has been
worked out abroad Is not explained here
1t Is evident. however. that the plan has
been to send about the same average
number a day.
Gen Mach when asked II anything
could be eaid to prepare the country
for what to expect in the matter OF
casualties said:
THE War Department has adopted the
following policy, and we have ordered
Gen. Pershing to carry 1t out; There
will be no separation OF casualties into
lists going over a Rng period OF time.
but he will cable them In as they occur.
All casualties will be released to the
public at once He has been sent a
ca blegram to that effect. and as soon as
the machinery starts we will give to the
press all casualties. no matter what they
are"