New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-12-03

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said that soldiers mail has been
''awfully' delayed and that there
| must be literally shiploads Of it held
up. Mr.. Baker disagreed, and also
said he doubted if statement by
Senator New, of Indiana that 1T takes
an average of - days to get answers
to letters to the department. could
be true.
Senator johnson Questions Baker.
Senator Johnson, of California,
asked what was holding up the names
of the men included in the total num-
Der already announced.
II don't know why" Secretary
Baker answered. '"We're getting them
as rapidly as the cables are able to
carry them. ! think the major part
of those missing are of slightly
wounded and coming by mail.
Il cabled Gen. Pershing a sugges
ton made to me by Mr. Stone, Of tho
Associated Press, to send the deaths
first and let the seriously wounded
follow and then the slightly Wounded
[ asked Gen. Pershing if his machin-
cry was adapted to cable tho deaths
first. He replied that sending of
wounded was not delaying the lists OF
ten by the process suggested"
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
about that number but somewhat
less than 100000"
Will Bring Bodies Homo.
General March also said unless
relatives of Americans who have lost
their lives request otherwise all bodies
of the American dead will be brought
home, 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 be-
tween the department and General
Pershing last July and August after
the heavy American losses in the
Chateau hierry fighting which were
delayed in transmission. In reply to
orders from Secretary Baker advising
General Pershing that the delay was
"creating a feeling of distrust" of the
department, General Pershing replied
detailing difficulties of securing and
verifying casualty reports and assur-
ing that all possible speed was being
exercised.
General Pershing explained that the
troops were widely separated, with
some in British and French hospitals.
that sometimes records were de-
stroyed and the ffe1 telegraph wires
were over burdened. General PERISH
ing insisted that to avoid unneces-
sary distress, verifcation Of reports
was necessary.
Senator Hitchcock conceded that
while fighting was in progress reports
night be slow but added:
But it stopped November II and
still we don't know what has hap
pened."
10000 Names Unreported.
General March replied that on No
vember II he cabled General PERISH
ing to send promptly a complete to-
tai casualty summary of dead and
missing. Gen. Pershing replied that
it would be done and report of ser-
ously wounded would come without
delaying reports on the dead and
missing.
Senator Hitchcock oberved that
APPARENTLY about 100000 casualties
still were unreported. General March
said as Secretary Baker had, that
most of these were slightly wounded.
Senator Frelinghuysen of New
Jersey, said that apparently the total
American deaths were $4,000 and OF
these only $4,000 have been reported.
He urged that the committee act to
expedite the final returns