Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
LISTED WOUNDED;
SLAIN 3 MONTHS.
Captain Alan W. Lukens
Died on Field September
90, Says Cable
SINKLER LISTED HURT

Captain Wharton s. r. former
University of Pennsylvania football star
and son Of the late Dr. Wharton Sinkler,
noted surgeon and diagnostician, is de-
clared to be severely wounded" in to-
days official casualty list.
AS matter OF fact Captain Snkler
was never wounded at all, but was con-
fined to French hospital for seven
months, suffering from influenza, fol-
lowed by pneumonia and is now at his
home in Elkins Park, slowly convalesc-
ing. He has been back in this country
for some weeks and himself signed the
receipt for the official telegram stating
that he was wounded. Captain Sinliler
was amused at the War Departments
error, but said such mistakes were easily
possible in cable transmission or in de-
coding the messages on this side.
A number of other mistakes by the
War Department in announcing the
fates of Philadelphia soldiers are an
nounced today Captain Alan w.
Lukens, Of Havorford, officially reported
TO have died of wounds, date undeter-
mined, was actually killed during the
battle of Montfaucon, September 20.
Lieutenant Philip y. Rhinelander,
HepnS" OF blSnOp lkillllelduutT, pre-
Tiously reported wounded and later
missing is now listed as died" though
whether of wounds or disease is not
stated in the dispatch from Washington,
Ten other soldiers, a corporal and nine
enlisted men, who had been variously
repored as killed, wounded or missing.
are now said to have died of disease
or TO have returned to duty
Captain Sinker married Miss Louise
iii. AT
George W. EllSins, of Ogontz. Mrs.
Sinkler's brother George w. Ekins, Jr,,
married Miss Natalie Crozler Fox,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Caleb f. Fox,
of Ogontz. Captain SlnSler earned his
commission at the first officers training
camp, Fort Niagara, n. Y, and went
to France as a member of the 312th
Infantry.
Captain Luliens, who is the son of Mr..
and Mrs. Lewis n Lukens, of Haver-
ford, officially reported some months ago
as wounded and in a hospital, was
actually killed on September 20. ac-
cording to a cablegram from his brother
Lieutenant Edward G. Lukens. of the
Eightieth Division. now in France.
Repeated efforts TO obtain definite in
formation as to the fate Of Captain
Lukens from the War Department failed
entirely. For three months the depart
ment insisted tnat the captain was Sc
verely wounded and being treated in
hospital, but could never name the in
stitution where he was supposed to be.
A few days ago an official telegram
Informed the young officers parents that
their son had died of wounds, but that
the date and place of his death were
not known.
Captain Lukens was wounded during
the early stages of the attack on
Montfaucon. Two of his men who went
10 his assistance later reported he toll
them to rejoin their company as he was
able to get TO the rear himself. He was
never seen again. 1t is believed he was
struck by a shell while on the way to
field dressing station. A report from
Paris has 1t that he was buried in q,
military cemetery. but this has not beer
confirmed.
Only 61S names are on the combined
casualty lists today. including forty
trven Pennsylvanians. The tota. for
Philadelphia and vicinity is but thirty
seven. four having been killed in action,
three having died OF disease, twenty-five
having been wounded. two being re-
ported missing, are now said to have re-
Joined their units