The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-03

delay on the other side?" asked SEN
ator Weeks of Massachusetts.
Il don't feel free to say that" Mr..
Baker answered.
Has General Persh.ng been asked
to expedite the reports2"
Repeatedly, repeatedly"
THE system at central headquar-
ters was too slow at the outset" Mr..
Baker continued, but it has been i'm
proved. We had to choose between
speed and unreliable Information and
a somewhat slower system but relia-
be"
Delay the Mail.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska.
said that soldiers mail has been aw-
fully delayed and that there must be
Literally ShiploadS of it held up. Mr.
Baker disagreed, and also, said he
doubted if a statement by Senator
New of Indiana that it takes an aver
age of twelve days to get answers to
letters to the department, could be
true.
Senator johnson. of California, asked
what was holding up the names of
the men included in the total number
already announced.
Il don't know why Secretary
Baker answered. Were getting them
carry them. l think the major part
or those missing are of slightly wound
ed, and coming by mail.
Il cabled General Pershing a sug-
gestion made to me by Mr.. Stone, of
the Associated Press, to send the
deaths first and let the seriously
wounded follow and then the slightly
wounded. I asked General Pershing
II his machinery was adapted to cable
the deaths first. He replied that
sending of wounded was not delaying
the lists of dead and that no speed
could be gotten by the process sug-
gested."
Nearly Million Fought.
Senator johnson asked how many
Americans had been in actual fighting
up to the signing of the armistice.
Secretary Baker estimated 100000.
and General March added that it was
above that number, somewhat less
than one million
General March also said unless rela-
tives of Americans who have lost their
lives request otherwise, all bodies of
the American dead will be brought
nome, without legislation by congress
How soon the transportation of bodies
will begin, General March said he
could not state.
Obviously. General March said.
while active fighting was in progress,
reports of casualties were slow. He
read kilograms exchanged between the
department and General Pershing last
July and August after the heavy
american loss in the Chateau Thierry
lighting which were delayed in trans
mission. In reply to orders from Sec
rotary Baker advising General PERISH
ing that the delay was "creating a
Keeling of distrust'' of the department.
General Pershing replied detailing diff
Ilcultles of securing and verifying cas-
ualty reports and assuring that all
possible speed was being exercised.
Troops Were Separated.
General Pershing explained that the
troops were widely separated, with
some in British and French hospitals,
That sometimes records were de-
stroyed. and that the field telegraph
lines were overburdened. General
Pershing insisted that to avoid un-
necessary distress. verified ton of re-
ports was necessary.
Senator Hitchcock contended that
WhlIe fighting was in progress reports
might be slow but added:
but 1t stopped November II and
still we don't know what has hap
pened."
General March replied that on No
vember IL. he cabled General PERISH
ing to send promptly a complete total
casualty summary of dead and miss
ing. General Pershing replied that it
would be done and a report of ser
oeiaylng reports on the dead and
missing.
Senator Hitchcock observed that an
parently about 100000 casualties still
were unreported. General March
said. as Secretary Baker had that most
OF these were slightly wounded.
Senator Fre1inghuysen of New Ter
sey. said that apparently American
deaths total $4,000 and of these only
$4,000 have been reported.