The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-09

" ASA lnsLon, heb. S,--With tbs
death RON of the transport Tuscania
still a matter OF uncertainty, the war
department at late hour tonight
was yet unable to give the names %
the American soldiers missing or un-
accounted for.
In the meantims, PARENTS and raj.
atives OF men belonging 20 the mill
tary units that sailed on the ill~fatua
VeSssl are beseeching the government
for definite information.
Early morning hopes In Official civ
cles that the number of dead would
go below a hundred, dwfndled some
what during the day with the receipt
OF unofficial advtces from London IN
/ dicating that the loss Of life would
probably be greatly in excess Of that
figure.
There is a disposition in official
quarters 20 end fault with he Slow
ness with which the American con-
suls and army representatives AZ
various points where survivors have
been landed are sending In their re-
/ ports.
To make possible more expeditions
ideutifications in future, secrets--, of
! War Baker today directed changes In
the system of identification tags
which all soldiers ara required to
wear about their necks
! VIII Employ Numbers
| Numbers, as well as names and
thumb prints. are TO be employed.
/ Every officer and enlisted man on
hoard the Tuscania was supposed to
have n metal disk bearing his name
I secured to n cloth covered wire around
his neck. Where the men had been
assigned 10 designated units ths
number OF the unit also was on the
tar. II was stated.
Identification WIFI be com paratiwe~
! " easy. however. even n tags were
not on the bodies when recovered
Finger prints of all enlisted men are
taken at recruiting stations It was
said further that officers recently
have had their finger prints taken.
Comparison Of finger prints are
! conclusive In the event OF bodies be-
ing disinterred for that purpose.
The finger print system was adopt
1 I'd 70 avoid confusion I'm cases whers
more than one man bears the same
name To make the plan perfect.
prints of the entire hand are re-
corded.
Tho Tuscania victims WIN be ae-
corded full military honors impress
Sive funeral services will be held and
representatives of the entente ma
tons are expected to participate In
the cerern onies. war department Of
aciais understand
Secretary Raierss Order
Secretary Of War Baker TODAY is-
sued the following order, which has
been approved by General Pershtnw:
I'm order TO insure prompt and ao-
errata identification the departm snt
has adopted systan OF numbering
enlisted men OF the army, only. which
system provides for but one series Of
numbers, without alphabetical prefix.
for all enlisted rneu In, or who may
enter army regardless OF orvantna-
tion--arrn. corps. or departn ent.
Numbering begins with one and con-
tfnues consecutiveiy without firnff-
Consecutive number viii not 80
given men OF same surname
, The number assigned soldier
will become a part OF hts official
: designation, viii never be changed
/ and viii never be ASSIGNED TO another
soldier RI will be entered on identt.
fication TAGS and viii be entered plain
iv on all Individual records Of ths
: soldier ard will be used IN connection
with soldiers name IN rolls reports
} and returns In which his name APP
7 pears,
, 'As some time VIII siapss hefors
records cf soldiers on fIe In the war
w
, all casuaitv reports. until further or
7ers. should continue ~ include full
( name, grade md organization as well
, as number after numbers have been
> assigned
Piarks Of Numbers.
? BLOCKS OF numbers win be allotted
: nv the adjuts nt--eneral ,cf the army
/ 70 the commanding general of tbs
> American evolutionary forces to de-
= oartmeut comma ndcrs and to com
, handing generals Of divisional camps
oorts OF e1nbarkation and recruit de-
! rots
Assignment of number 60 enlisted
men OF army generally viii be male
4 as of February Is. 1919. and effort wit
he made to number. In United States
IN that date all enlisted men then n
service in United states EFFORT vii
! be made to number IN United States
all enlisted men entering service n
United states on and after March !
is1s.
q "To men In servios at time Of nustsi
/ on that date numbers VIII be Assigned
: by their irnmediate commanding OH,
n GERS, or by OFFICERS under whose I'm.
: mediate Jurisdiction thsy are ssrs1ns
90 nau subsNauAutiv NAtertnR onrl10l