Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-23
Secretary of War Suppres 8 es
General Pershing's Re.
port on Casualties.
TELLS COMMITTEE
OF WAR CONDITIONS
as to Size of Army
and Draft Measures to Be Made
later-Unconfirmed Reports Indicate
American Casualties in Saturdays
Battle Were in Excess Of 200, and
That German Losses Were Larger.

Washington April, es.-secretary
committee confidential report on his
trip to the battle field.
You can say" he announced. as he
entered the committee room. that I
am here just for an informal talk on
conditions as I found them in France.
am not going to bring up the ques
tion or the size OF the army ami thhe
extension OF draft age. You can go as
far as you like in the unified control
of the allied army and in the san
guine belief in victory in this war
Members Of the committee were
present in force, as it was the first
meeting OF the secretary with any
congressional committee since his re-
turn.
Despite his intention not to bring up
the size of the army question. Chair
man Dent and his colleagues were
curious to know the secretary's opin
ion.> The army bill has been held up
for months to await the secretary's
return.
Representative Shalenberger. Of
Nebraska, has prepared bill to ex-
tend the draft age from 81 to 40, but
has deferred pressing it until the
secretary's views could be obtained.
At the conclusion of the session
Secretary Baker said he did not enter
into discussion of the increase Of the
size Of the army or extension Of the
draft age. He. said he would submit
recommendations later.
Regarding an increase in the size
!of the army. Secretary Baker told the
committee he did not believe in any
increase beyond the ability of the gov
eminent to transport it and supply 1t
in France.
Mr.. Baker told the committee that In
all his trips abroad he had not found
"a single responsible officer in Great
Britain, France or tally who was tn the
least pessimistic about the outcome OF
the war.
Information is Withheld.
General Pershing's first report on
the German assault upon the Ameri-
can and French forces in the Toul
sector Saturday is understood to IA
dicate that the Americans sustained
more than 200 casualties, and to esti-
mate the German losses at between
300 and 400.
It was learned that the report had
BEEN received, but war department Of
ficials refused to make it public or to
comment upon persistent reports
about the department concerning it's
contents.
Secretary Baker Is understood to be
= ofoj haforo "a L. n
an announcement.
Regarded as Exaggeration.
German claims Of the capture Of IS
prisoners and to inflicting "extraordi-
nary high" losses on the American
troops at Seicheprey were regarded as
exaggerations. But no official denial
was authorized.
Altho Secretary Baker has ordered
that only General Pcrshing shall give
official information as to American
military activities in France, he has
not authorized Pershing to issue a
daily communicate.
Secretary Baker was urged tn take
some steps that would give the Ameri.
can people official reports of the activ-
ity Of their forces. The absence OF
such reports, he was told, gives oppor-
tunity to German propagandists to
spread alarming and malicious stories
Of American losses and open TIE way
to great anxiety here ut home.
The French official statement Of the
fighting at Seicheprey said that
american troops fighting in this reg
ion had repulsed a determined Ger
man attack. But the French report
also said that French troops regained
nearly all the terrain which had been
lost to the Germans" This would make
itappear that the French had regained
some ground lost by Americans.
Views of an Expert.
a military expert said:
II do not see in the attack much
more than a feeling out process or n
raid on rather large scale. The fierce
artillery bombardment which preceded
the infantry action, however. marks
the operation as an important one. 1t
the enemy had any doubt as to how
Americans would stand up in the face
Of an anpihilating oombardnsnr, they
got rid Of 1t in that lction.
THE German claim 10 nave cap
tured 1873 Americans probably is sub
stantially correct While definite con-
| firmation Of it has not been received
here Berlin's claim is a reasonable one
when the size and character Of the ac-
/ ton are taken into account.
1.-The press report from General Per-
shing's headquarters placing the Ger
man casualties at 500. or about 40 par
co,t ;s most cheering eSpeCially in