Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-10
.2,927 AMERICANS
DIE IN WAR ZONE
Number Includes Those Killed
and Those Dying of Wounds
and Illness.
4,046 MEN ARE WOUNDED
First Weekly Casualty List Also
Shows 342 Among
the Missing.
TBy Associ1:cd Iressl

fBy Associated l'rcssl
| WASHINGTON. June o.-Casuaities
among the American cxpcditionary
| forces thus far reported by General
Pershing. including to-day's list total
! 1915, the War Department announced
to-day. in making public the first of
! the regular weekly summaries of
| casualties. Deaths in action and from
wounds. diseases. accidents and all
| other causes number 2,927. while 4O46
| men have been wounded and 342 are
missing in action. including men held
prisoners in Germany.
The departments reca apitulatiou fol-
| lows:
| Killed in action including 29I at
sea). 1893; died of wounds. 3lo: died
Of disease, 1,192: died OF accidents and
other causes, 392: wounded in action.
i.o46; missing in action Gncluding
prisoners), 342: total. 1915.
While no official explanation was
given for the decision OF the depart
ment to advise the country weekly ~
the exact total Of casualties since the
landing of the first American forces in
France last June. it is understood that
1t resulted largely from widespread
reports that casualties had been very
heavy and that total figures were be-
ing withheld from tho public.
II has been explained at the depart
ment that the daily lists sent by Cen
eral Pershing are issued with as little
delay as possible. The casualties arc
so scattered in the lists that they viii
not give information of value to the
enemy. but this does not mean that
any auDrecia ble mn l,ar hold "a, c,r
After heavy actions, such as that 1T
Cantigny. it requires several days 10
check up the casualties and cable them
to the department
AMERICANS HOLD SECTORS
AT SEVERAL VITAL POINTS
American troops have been in the
trenches several months and now hold
sectors at several points along the
western front In addition. many
American units are brigadcd with the
French and British. and have been in
heavy fighting since the German drive
began in March. General Pershing's
men first went into the front line last
November for training and soon after
ward they took over trench sector
permanently. Other units went into the
trenches for final training with the
French later. and finally took over sec
tors. SO that the total frontage now
held by the Americans ranks second
TO that of the British and French
armies.
Marine corps casualties are issued
separately from those of the army. and
no reports have yet come on the killed
and wounded among the marines. WHO
have been engaged in heavy fighting
near Chateau Th;erry. Up to that
fighting the marine corps casualties
had been very low. as they were only
recently moved up to the front line.
having previously been engaged in
police work along the American lines
Of communication. Considering the
number OF Americans actually in tho
front lines. and the length of time
they have been Carrying on" officers
do not legard the total of casualties
as large. The number OF men actually
killed in action SO far as reported to
the department is 74o. while of the
moro than 4.oo0 wounded only siu
have died from their wounds The list
Of missing, including prisoners. also
is comparatively small
The "al mta listed as having been
lost at sea went down with the tor
redoed British troopship Tuscania and
the torpcdoed American transport An
TILES. The latter was sunk while re-
turning 10 r.mcrica. but the Tuscania
was sent down while carrying nearly
1000 men to England.
More American soldiers have died
abroad from disease than have fallen
in battle. while those who have died
from accidents and other causes ont
numbered those who have succumbed
20 wounds Many of the deaths from
accidents were among men training for
the air service