The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-03
SECRETARY BAKER SAYS CASUALTIES NOT WITHHELD Appears Before Senate Mil tary Committee and Out
 lines Policy. DELAYS WERE
 UNAVOIDABLE Gen. March Asserted While Fighting Was in Progress Reports Would Be Slow.

Washington, Dec. 3-Secretary Baker appearing before the senate military committee today said many complaints had been based upon mis- understandings and suspicious that the lists were being held up. He told of the publication plan under which a telegram was sent to the next of kin before a name is put on the lists transmitted by mail to the newspapers for simultaneous publf- cation throughout the country.
 Has there been any unwarrant- ed delay on the other side?" asked Weeks.
 q don't feel free to say that" MT. Baker answered.
 Has General Pershing been asked to expedite the reports?'
 Repeatedly"
 There have been so many cases it seems to me the system was inef- 1 ficient," Weeks observed. 'The system was too slow at the | outset" MT. Baker said, 'but it has 1 improved. We had to choose be- tween speed and reliable informatio, and somewhat slower, but more relia- ble. There was too much time spent 1 on technicalities." -. Senator Hitchcock said that sol diers mails had been awfully delay 1 ed and that there must be literally l shiploads of it held up. MT. Baker l disagreed and said he doubted if 8 statement by Senator New of In' diana, that it takes an average of + days to get answers to letters to the department, could be true.
 Senator Johnson of California asked what was holding up the names in- cluded in the total number already announced.
 T don't know why" Secretary Baker announced were getting them as rapidly as the cables are able to carry them. I think the major part of those missing are of slightly wounded and coming back.
 q cabled General Pershing asking to send the first and let the slightly wounded follow. asked PershinG if his machinery was able to carry and he said mo-"
 Senator Johnson asked how man! dCludl ALIIcI lCdIlS 14c1o OSSh HI lAAN fighting line after the armistice. Int reply was 750,000 and a reserve force
 of 100000, or possibly 1,25O, 900 making a total of approximatel! 2,000,000.
 Obviously, General March said ,whil active fighting was in progress report of casualties were slow. He read tele grams exchanged between Genera Pershing in July as to the heavy losse in the Chateau-Thierry fighting whicl were deplayed in transmission. I reply to orders from Secretary Bake advising General Pershing that tn
 delay was creating a feeling of dis
 trust of the department General Per rs shing replied detailed difficulties 0 , communications and assuring that a
 possible speed was being made. General Pershing explained that tn , troops were widely separated wit some in new fields; that some time records were destroyed; that the fiel , wires were overburdened. Gen. Per i, shing insisted that to avoid unneces , sary distress duplication was some
 time necessary.
 General March replied that on No7 |, Il he cabled General Pershing to sen promptly complete total casualt q summary of dead and missing. Gen 6 eral Pershing replied that it would t done and a list would come withot e delay.
 Q Senator Hitchcock observed ths ' apparently 1,500 casualties were unr' :. ported. General March remarked ths V these were mostly slightly wounded.