The sun., 1919-01-25
seth DIVISION LOST
S27 IN FATALITIES
Secretary Baker Replies to
Stories of Huge Casualties
in Kansas Organization.
1O,605
REPLACEMENTS
Battle Plans for ArgOnne
Fighting Worked Out Months
Ahead by Staff.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Z4.--lOsees OF tne
Thirty-flfth Division kansas and Mis-.
souri, National Guard) in killed and died
OF wounds during It's entire service In
France up to November 7 were s27 men
Secretary Baker told the House rules
committee to-day In connection with a
resolution by Representative Campbell
(Kan.) calling for Congressional investi-
cation OF reported excessive losses In
this division.
The resolution. Representative Camp
bell said. was inspired by reports cur
rent in Kansas and upon statements
made by GOV. Allen OF that State on his
return from service with the Y. NJ. C. A,
attached 20 the Thirty-hfth Division. II
asked for tho investigation of reports that
the division in a seven days fight In
Argonne Forest lacked adequate artillery
support, ammunition. food, airplane pro-
lection and adequate care of wounded.
l,200 OF whom were said to have been
left on wet ground without shelter for
thirty.six hours.
Backed by 1000 Guns.
Gen. March, who accompanied Secre-
tary Baker. said 100000 American
troops participated in the Arsonne fight.
They had behind them 1000 guns, he
said, and an official statement from the
Chief OF Staff OF the artillery stated the
infantry never got beyond artillery sup
port
Mr.. Baker said the men who could
tell Of all that happened In the fighting
In the Argonne were still in France, and
It would be impossible to hold a just
inquiry without their evidence.
The total requirements OF the Thirty
fifth for all causes, Secretary Baker said
were lo.s05 men. He thought It indl-
Gated an 'overestimate" In the report
cited by Representative Campbell that
1000 men OF the 5000 infantry OF the
division had been killed or wounded In
the Argonne battle.
Representative Campbell brought out
the fact that both infantry brigade COM
manders OF the Thirty-f1ft Division
Gems. Charles / Martin. a National Guard
officer. and Mcclure. a regular, had been
removed on the eve OF the battle.
Secretary Baker said the Argonne bat
tie was the most difficult operation ever
undertaken by American troops" and
Gen. March declared that no hint OF
complaint had come from abroad as to
the handling OF divisions In that action
TT was n we'll planned battle" the
Chief OF stan declared. TT would never
have got through II 1t had not been"
Planned Months Ahead.
Representative Campbell asked Gen
March repeatedly II the removal OF Gems
Martin and Mcclure Just before the figh,
had not tended TO derange battle plans
Gen. March thought not. The day OF
personal leadership is gone" he said
The machinery that runs the fight is
the stan. ] do not think the removal OF
any individual would impede it,
Secretary Baker. who was in France
a the time told the committee that NOT
more than half a dozen people in France
knew OF the plans for this battle mors
than two weeks before II began. The
whole action had been planned month";
ahead by Gen. Pershing and his staff.
A question as to Gov. Aliens probable
sources OF information on which his
statements were based led Representa-.
tive Campbell to say he did not know
how close TO the front the Governor. as
a Y. ". c. a. worker. might be per-
mitted TO go.
Il saw Y. NJ. c. \, men In the from,
line trenches interjected Secretary
Baker.