Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-31

bow whose classmates had told their
reasons for observing Thanksgiving
and who was ompelled to admit,
when his turn came. that from his
cowlick to his flat feet the Creator
had "iust about ruined him."
There was time, when the Ameri'
cans first entered the battle zone,
when, ineligible and informative cas-
ualty lists were issued by the war de-
pa0ment. Then they were discon-
tinued altogether, and later they re-
appeared, to give only the names OF
the men. This was 50 unsatisfactory
that after long delay Secretary Bak-
er announced that the home ad-
dresses would be included. AT the
same time he gave out the cheerful
news that he had perfected plans for
reducing the delay in official an
nouncements. Newspapers and the
public were given to understand that
they would be given facts from the
front rapidly, and everything would
be lovely.
The case of Lieutenant Walter B.
Schafer serves to indicate that. what
ever Mr.. Baker intended to do to bet
ter the arrangements that existed. ne
"just about ruined them"
Lieutenant Schafer disappeared In
No Mans Land after being wounded
in action during the night Of April 81
The first news of his disappearance
reached his parents In Ottumwa in a
letter from his company commander.
received May 20. May 26, more than
| month after the event. official no
tice from the war department was
conveyed to the lieutenanfs father by
telegraph, but on May % the soldiers
name had been found by Con- gresham
| Ramseyer when he examined the I'M
published casualty lists which the war
department had received from France.
How long those lists are held before
/ they are given TO the newspapers and
public is a problem the layman can
| not solve. But in the case of Lieu.
tenant schafer the delay amounts to
thirty-seven days. His name appeared
/ in Yesterdays casualty list.
f, Major Lufberry's name was pub
lished in every American newspaper
the day after his death, which occur
red Nav 10. But his name found its
way into the casualty list only yester-
| day.
If the war department delayed none
4
would be less reason for complaint.
But to withhold the news of soldiers
injury or death from his next of kin
seems entirely unjust. Delays such
as Lieutenant Schafer's case instances
should be avoided by the war depart
ment The kinsmen of soldiers have
every right to expect and demand Of
fetal notification without delay. The
30 ,nfh n1 hnir
lowed now invites them and the public
to regard the casualty lists with sus-
picion.
When the list was discontinued sud
denly, announcement was made that
the action was taken at the request
of General Pershing Weeks were con-
(, sumed in waiting for him. presumably,
to give his consent in turn to the
abbreviated list and then TO the sort
that is published now. The facts do
not encourage one to believe that Ger
eral Pershing had great deal. If any
thing. to do with the strange mixture
of conflicting orders. 1t is evident that
he forwards the casualty lists with
reasonable promptness. 1t IS certain
!. that there is considerable delay in
! their progress through the war de
!. partment's Offices 1t is probable that
the list in which Congressman Ram
sever found the Ottumwa soldier
name on May 2S had been received at
. WASHINGTON weeks before, but the de-
! partment gave no notice to Lieutenant
J, Senator's parents until May 26.
1 1t Isl possible that red tape or cler'
| ical inefiicency is responsible for the
| unsatisfactory operation of the war de-
| partment's information bureau. Ger
, tainly military expediency does noi
{ explain nor excuse the Withholding OF
!, the names Of soldiers like Schafer
Lufberry. Hall and Chapman from the
. casualty list for days and weeks after
the facts abe I'm We're published
broadcast In T. newspapers.
Yesterday the -ar department made
4 public norton of General Pershins':
u communique from France which hat
~ boon received Monday night and with