The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-10
LARGE CASUALTY LISTS.
PERSRING SENDS NAMES OF
DEAD SOLDIERS.
Seven Hundred and Six Names. in Ca
bles From France During Day.

Washington, Aug. 5.-Names of
American soldiers who have fallen in !
the great Franco-American drive /
which turned the German offensive on
the Marne into an utter defeat have
begun to come in from overseas: They
swelled to 706, the total casualties
made public today by the war depart
ment in two separate lists.
/. Although nearly three times as
great as the largest number heretofore
announced in a single day, the total
today represents only a part of the
losses which have been accumulatins
since the great battle began July Is.
and it is not to be assumed That 1t
represents the losses for any one Day.
No estimate of the American cas-
uaIties in this continuous fighting has
I been received from General PefsiIlng
and it was said authoritatively today
that none is expected.
Of the names made publictoday.
459 were Of those who were Killed in
action and 80 who died from wounds
The second list contained onlysnanaes
| of the dead-256 killed in actien and
43 who died of wounds-but the first
list showed 48 wounded severely.sl0 100
wounded degree undeterminea ard
| three missing in action. In the tirst
| list there. also were nine who died OF
disease, one of an airplane accident
and six from accident and other
causes.
Acting Secretary Crowell told news
paper correspondents today that Gen
eral Pershing would supply corapfefe
| and verified casualty lists as rapidly
as they can be transmitted and that
! they would be given to the press 3tra
.Could speak for themselves aas 30
numbers.
1--WE are beginning said sMr.
Crowell, ito receive from General
4 Pershing the toll Of victory in the
Marne-Aisne offensive. SO
"There is no indication of the total
number Of casualties and the lists
made public today give the names OF
7O6 officers and men, Other lists are
coming in by cable, are being decided
and the next of kin are being notified
in advance of the publication of the
names in the press, pursuant to the
established custom of the war depart
ment -.
The fact that 7o6 casualties are
made public in single day does not
indicate that number is the daily aV-
erage and there should be no specu-
| lation on that basis.
81 say this to emphasize the point
that there should be no speculation as
to total casualties. pending receipt OF
.advices on this subject from General
Pershing. Publications Which%swou
exaggrerate or minimize thess tota
number of casualties would create un-
necessary anxiety among the relatives
and friends of American soldiers and
should, of course, be very carefully
| avoided.
s.aThe losses reported and ito eenle
will bring sadness to many homeABut
personal grief will be tempered by the
Righteousness of the cause in which
these b,rsve men have given them
selves and by the pride which all free
peoples take in the magnificent re-
suits of their heroism."
| While casualties in offensive opera
tions necessarily are heavy. officers
here do not believe there has been any
unusual number among the American
forces. Proof Of the falsity of the
German reports of great American
losses, which have been circulated to
impress the German population at
home is given by the fact that the
American divisions which began the
fighting still were taking part in ii
last Saturday, official reports show.
It was pointed out that had The
casualties among the American forces
been unusually large, some of the dl-
visions necessarily would have had to
be withdrawn, the fact that none OF
them has been and that they have
been fighting virtually continuously
for 81 days is taken by officers here
to show their losses have been much
smaller than those they have inflicted
! on the enemy, who has been forced
to withdraw many of his divisions.