Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-08
ADOPT NEW PLAN
FOR HANDLING Of
CASUALTY LISTS
Only Names of the Dead and
Missing viii Be CabIed
Hereafter Others to Come
Bi-weekIy by Courier,

Washington. Sept. Under a new
policy of reporting casualties in the
American eXpeditionary forces adopt
ed by the war department, the names
of the men wounded will be sent to
the United States by courier twice a
week and only tho names of the dead
and missing will be cabled by Gem
eral Pershing when the system is fully
in effect.
In making this announcement, GcH-
cral March. chief of staff, said Cen
lg had not heretofore sent
in the names of men slightly wound
ed because generally the men are re-
turned to duty before the names
reached the United States. In reply to
an inquiry from the department Gen
eral Pershing had reported, General
March said, that there were 10000
such casualties up to August 20.
Matter Has Been Discussed.
There has been some discussion in
the United states about our casualty
lists, said General March, "and the
war department has been trying to
get in touch with the exact condi-
tion of casualties in France, because
we have heard from q number of
sources of relatives at home receiv-
ing the Information direct from their
people in France of men being
wounded when the war department
had not notified the relatives at
home. At an early stage in the re-
porting of casualty lists General
Pershing asked for authority not to
report slight casualties, because the
men would be back on the firing line
before the report after investigation,
could reach the United States. Ii was
thought then that it would simplify
matters and prevent needless worry
to relatives if that system were adopt
ed.
"Of course IL is very well under.
stood that the opinion of a man who
has been wounded may differ mater
tally from the opinion Of the doctors
as to its serverity and undoubtedly
great many men have written home
telling about wounds that the doctors
kad pronounced light, and which
Pershing had listed as not being Sc
we're, when the letters might indicate
TO the people at home that they we're
severe. So I have gotten report
from General Pershlng as to the num-
Ter Of casualties, in addition To those
which he has published so as TO be
able to give the facts to the American
people I am giving the facts TO the
people because / know they will face
any casualty list with determination
and courage, whatever it is
10000 Casualties Unrcportcd.
General Pershing reports that up
to August 90 there were 10000 cas-
ualties which he had not reported
which were listed by doctors as light
men who have gone to hospitals
and gone back to the line, and that
ecrt nf thing. but in order to meet
what 7 think to be the Just demands
of the people at home for informa-
tion about their relatives IN France,
I am going to have General Pershing
forward by courier to MS here the en-
tire hosnital records of the American
exneditionary forces giving all cas-
ualties, no matter if a man is In a
hospital only a day, with medical
Diagnosis of each case; and then 7
rroposes TO put In the hands Of the
after the arrival of the first
courier with such records, a state
ment Of the diagnosis"