Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-04
RETAIN 1,250,00O
TROOPS OVERSEAS
American Army of Occupation
Will Be Kept at Consid-
cradle Strength.
CASUAL TIES NOT REPORTED
War Department Chiefs Think
100000 Made Up Largely
of Slightly Wounded.
CASUALTIES NOT REPORTED
iBy Associated Prc.s !


WASHINGTON December 3-Secre
tary Baker. appearing before the SEN
ate Military Committee to-day 10 cx-
plain the delay in completing the pub
| lication OF American casualties over
seas. said he thought most of the un-
reported names were those of men
slightly wounded and would come by
mail
Senators were unable to understand
why only something over 100. 900 names
have been published. when II has been
ofhcially announced that the casualties
number cG@.G33. The Secretary said
every effort consistent with accuracy
was made TO prevent delay. and that
General Pershing had been urged re-
Deatedly to expedite his lists. sending
the names of the dead first.
The department from the Begin
ming" Mr.. Baker said. has never held
up, withheld or delayed giving out
casualty lists. Our policy has been to
give a complete statement IS soon as
General March. chief of staff. and
Assistant Secretary KeppeI were with
the secretary. Mr.. Keppel said the
ualty reports in France had been slow
at first. and IL 1t had to be done over
again ii probably would be done diff
!
WILL RETAIN I,:5O,OH0
AMERICANS OVERSEAS s
General March. discussing dcmobiliz-
alton, said General Pershing was Sc
of about l.250.000 men. and that all
the other American soldiers in France
would be brought home as rapidly as
shipping could be provided.
Secretary Baker said many com
plants had been based upon misunder-
standing and suspicious that the lists
had been c:.used among relatives by
Inaccurate reports in soldiers private
letters. lie told in detail Of the publi
sent Immediately to the next OF kin
before name is put on the lists trans
mitted by mail to the newspapers for
simultaneous publication throughout
the country.
Has there been any unwarranted de-
lay on the other SIDE" asked Senator
Il don't feel free TO say that" Mr..
Baker answered
Has General persh!ng been asked to
expedite the reports?' Tt'1-
"Repeatedly, repeatedly"
There have been so many cases il
seems to me the system was inefficient
| Senator Weeks observed.
The system at central headquarters
was too slow al the outset" Mr.. Baker
continued. but IL has been improved
! We had TO choose between speed and
unreliable Information and a somewhat
| slower system, but reliable. Whether
| we We nau 100 n ucn tlIne spent OH re-
! liability and accuracy is a question
on which there might be difference
/ of opinion
! Senator johnson. OF California. asked
| what was holding up the names of the
men included the tota! number already
announced.
Il don't know why" Secretary Baker
| answered We're getting them as
| rapidly rs the cables are able TO carry
| them. | think the major part of those
missing are OF slightly wounded, and
/ are coming by mail
/ Senator Johnson asked how many
! Americans had been III actual lighting
1 up TO the signing of the armisticc. Sec
! retary Baker estimated 10000, and
I General March added that il was above
/ that number. but somewhat less than
/ 100000"
General March also said unless re!a
/ 'ives OF Americans who have lost their
I 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.