The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-07
j. s. LOSSES IN
RECENT ACTION
YET UNCERTAIN
Names Picked at Random
From Total Casualties Sent
Over Daily.

WASHINGTON, Aug. THE war
department is III receipt OF many In
quiries from Indiana and other states
as to the probable number OF casual
ties in the American army in France
since the advance of the allies began.
To all these messages the adjutant
generals Office is oliged to reply, 1t
was said today that Gen. Pership has
not yet said anything definite in his
reports aout the number of casualties.
The fact that the commanding general
has not made special reference to the
loss of men leads the department Off
Gals to believe that the casualties
have not been larger than might be
expected under all the circumstances.
There is 10 disposition on the part
of the war department to lead the peo-
pie of the country to look for small
casualties lists. The present advance
has now been under way two weeks
and every day has been marked by
hard fighting in which American d1v1-
sions have participated. Gen Pershing
in his report has frequently referred
to the stubborn resistance OF the en-
envy at certain points and 1t Is newt
able, the authorities here say, that the
American losses have been great.
Nothing else could be expected in
such a drive as has been under way.
The casualty lists are entirely in the
hands of Gen. Pershing. The casual
ties are, OF course, reported to his
headquarters daily or as soon as the
lists can be compiled by the units in
volved. No lists is forwarded by cable
to the war department until 1t has
| been carefully verified. The policy, as
| the country now understands, has
, been and is to handle the lists so as
I not to reveal to the enemy the ag-
gregate lists at any one time in any
particular part Of the field.
Names Picked at Random.
Under the plan that is now being
| followed and will continue to be fol
lowed, it was said here today, Gen
/ Pershing sends so many names daily
| picked at random from the total casu
alties reported at his headquarters
These names are seldom, if ever, al
from any one regiment or even from
any one division.
The adjutant generals Office assures
that the casualties of the last clever
days will come right along now
though, as already said. it has no ad
vices from Gen. Pershing on the sub
ject. Even though the casualtie!
have been numerous the daily list:
may not be greatly expanded, for I'm
der the policy which Gen. Pershing l:
following he can spread the casualties
of the last two weeks out over :
month of time, or longer, if he deem
it wise to do that. The expectation
here is that he will follow the plan O
holding the daily casualty lists dow
as low as possible and this will meal
that some of the casualties of the las
week or ten days may not be reporte'
for several weeks.
Has Been No Slaughter.
The war department authorities d
feel assured of one thing and it is tina
there has been no slaughter of Amer
; can troops. The fact that Gen. Perst
ing in his reports has made no refer
ence to heavy casualties is proof pos
tive that the casualties have not bee
larger than the commanding office
, would expect in such a drive. TIL
, members of the general staff corp