Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22
AMERICAN COLONY
WANTS PUBLICITY
Community in L on d o n
Asks Names of Heroes on
French Front
BRITISH EQUALLY EAGER
Believe Revelation of Actual
Number Engaged Would
Startle Germany
BRITISH EQUALLY EAGER
By CHARLES H. CRASTY
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger


Copyright. 1913. bv Ne,c York Times Co.
London, July 22.--rn the American
of1cial community grouped around the
embassy In Grosvenor Gardens the bat
tie In France is watched from hour to
hour. Telegraph communication being
more less interrupted gives rise to con-
siderable rumor moneering. One de-
lightful runor knocking about this
morning was that six German divisions
has been cut of by the Franco-Amer-
leans and would be either captured or
killed.
In talk over the war maps and news
bulletins. heard longing expressed for
the Americans casualty lists. When
Secretary Baker first adopted the pol
Icy Of announcing the number Of troops
In Europe sentiment in military circlfs
was extremely dubious. Now that this
policy has apparently done much good
and no harm many military men are
favorable to prompt publication of casu-
alties in our army. There Is a general
desire also to know what troops fig
ured In the various actions in France.
In England a popular demand for sim
liar information has partly overridden
the military disinclination to mention
greater in America. Intelligence sec
tions simply bemuse themselves when
! they hold the Germans ignorant of such
commonplace matters as the composition
of opposing troops. More circumstantial
details might prove convincing TO civil
ian Germany.
| Demand for More New.
| American opinion here is in favor OF
telling our people what divisions. brig
AIDES. regiments. battalions, and indi-
viduals have distinguished themselves
in the historic battles of the Marne
II Washington took action in this mat.
| ter military authority probably would
be less opposed than is usually believed
for there is already difference OF opin'
ion auong experts. and only the sense OF
the intelligence organizations with theil
narrow viewpoint stands in the way oi
a policy of publicity.
There have been literally numerous
lGettysburgs with Americans engaged
and the veil ought to be lifted so tina
the spectacle can be disclosed in all IT.
romantic and stirring details Peopl'
who are three and four thousand mile
away sustaining war for high ideals
are entitled to the comfort and uplif
of these deeds of heroism on European
battleflelds.
Estimates of the German losses sine,
March 81 run high as a million. If thi
figure is correct the entire German ac
cretion from all tho eastern fronts il
already exhausted. I have the bes
authority for stating that that wal
roundly the number of troops German,
was able to bring to the west after th
Russian collapse. These figures max
clear the position Of tho enemy as :
result of the unsuccessful offensives.
While renforce!nents from Americ;
have dealt telling blows in actual fight
ing, the effect Of bringing to the Eu
rooean armies fresh spirit counts TO
almost as much as numbers.
Reports OF Nivelle's Return
There have been reports from time t,
time Of Nivelle's return from Africa
and it would not be surprising II tn
Generalissimo put him in some position
where his fine offensive qualification
under proper supervision and restraint
could be utilized.
American military circles here still
credit the Germans with plans not We
disclosed, of which the Rheims thrus
was merely the opening chapter. Man
think that Ludendorff hoped to temp
Foch into some ill-advised adventure
The big battle is more and more a tria
of wits between the two high commands
Foch is offensive by tempera ment, jus
as Petain is defensive. and Ludendori
might be playing the game right Ct
form to try to draw the French genera
Into some stroke greater than his force
Warrant.