Evening journal., 1918-08-19
U. S. ADOPTS new
CASUALTY SYSTEM
Lists Are Mailed to News
papers to Relieve Burden
on Wires
RELATIVES GET
NEWS PROMPTLY

WASHINGTON, Aug. i9-With publi-
cation today OF the daily list of casual
ties among Americas forces overseas
the United Press and other press as
coiations, in cooperating with the War
and Postofiloe Departments, put into
effect a new arrangement by whlch
these complete lists are delivered daily
by mail TO the papers OF virtually
every city in the United States.
Since the American army in France
has grown TO a force Of nearly 1900
600 men, taking an ever greater and
more aggressive part In the task OF
driving back the Germans, transmission
of the full honor roll OF dead, wound
ed and missing daily by telegraph 10
all the newspapers has become almost
an impossibility. For weeks the press
associations have been Obliged TO cur
tail the volume OF their news reports
in order 10 deliver promptly these lists
all important 10 the friends and neigh
bors OF the boys at the front
To meet this situation the Postonloe
Department. exercising control OF the
telegraph systems, has undertaken the
responsibility Of telegraphing the lists
across the continent and Of providing
printed copies 10 the press associations
simultaneously in Washington, Chicago
and San Francisco. From these points
the associations mall to the newspapers
each days list. bearing a date OF pub
lication several days later than the day
Il is telegraphed. so that all papers
may publish the same list on the same
day. Provision has been made for hav-
ing half OF the names appear first In
the morning papers and half first In
the afternoon papers, but all papers
receive the complete lists for publ
cation at the stated times.
This plan. OF course, means publi-
cation Of the names a few days later
than II they were telegraphed to the
PAPERS. But with direct telegraphing
becoming out Of the question, it furn-
ishes a means Of nationwide distri-
button which VIII place the lists be-
fore the public long before most OF the
papers could receive them by mail
from Washington.
In announcing the inauguration OF
the arrangement. the committee on
public information explained tonight
that Il will not affect the War Depart
ment's policy Of notifying Immediately
by telegraph the families Of men men
TONED In the list. The committees
statement said:
There Will be no delay IN the pri-
yate notification Of the next OF kin OF
officers and men reported In the daily
casualty Lists because OF the changed
system Of public announcement Of
casualties. As soon as II Is possible
70 compare the names. which are re-
ported by the adjutsnt generals office,
with the card indexed catalogue al the
statistical division the usual private
telegraphlc notification Will be made 10
relatives.
In order that the plan Of simufan-
eous publication In the newspapers
may be carried out fairly and the rela-
tives OF soldiers whose names appear
on the list may be saved annoyance,
the War Department has the pledge OF
the press associations that no use
whatever shall be made Of any list be
fore the day fixed for publication. The
papers specifically are required TO re-
fraln from seeking information OF. pic
tures in advance Of the publication
date from relatives or friends Of men
named.