Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-24
BAKER DENIES
EXCESSIVE LOSSES
Total Sustained by Kansas
and Missouri Guard Di.
vision 827 Men
MARCH SUSTAINS CHIEF
Corroborates War Secretary in
Contradicting Report of 1000
Casualties in Argonne

Washington. Jan. 24.-Losses of the
Thirty fifth Division OKansas and Mis-
souri, National Guard) in killed and
died Of wounds during it's entire service
in France up to November we're S27
men, Secretary Baker told the House
Rules Committee today in connection
with resolution by Representative
Campbell. of Kansas. calling for con-
gressional investigation of reported ex-
cessire losses in this division.
The Secretary and General March
who also testified, said the War De-
partment would welcome congress
sional investigation either into the af-
fairs of the department or the conduct
OF the war. II this action Is taken
Baker promised full information and
that testimony of officers who have been
In France would he made available
Mr Baker declared, however, that an
accurate investigation such as called for
In tho Campbell resolution was difficult
at this time because the officers who
had information, as we'll as documents,
were all overseas.
Total replacenents Of the divisions at
last reports were 10. .o65. which included
all sick wounded and men removed from
active duty for any cause, Secretary
Baker said.
Campbells resolution cited reports
that the casualties in the Argonne alone
were 1000.
March Sustains His CHIEF
Charges that the division had not
proper artillery support were answered
by General Marchs statement that at
no time was the division out OF range OF
support of its corps and army artillery.
secretary Baker said the division may
nave got beyond its division artillery
nut emphasized that In this case 1t
would nave been less dangerous to ad-
vance than to stand still under German
machne-gun fire.
Two gcncrals-Clarence l. Martin and
McClure-had been removed the day be-
fore the battle. Mr.. Baker said. but de-
clarcd he did not know why. They were
replaced by Colonel Walker and Colonel
Nuttman. regular army men, Both
Secretary Baker and General March
said the men were removed as pre-
liminary to the battle" and that their
removal had no effect on the battle
Itself, since the brigade commanders
did not receive orders apprisirg them
of the battle until the day before It
began. Their removal was up TO Cen
eral Pershing, said General March.
Other Charges Doubted
on Campbelrs other charges. includ-
ing ones that the men lacked food and
had not proper aerial support and that
1900 wounded men had to lie on the
wet ground. both witnesses said they
had no definite information as yet. al
though they indicated that they did no,
believe the reports.
Concerning removal of wounded, Gem
cral March said he had reports OF three
officers who had returned TO this cpun-
try wounded. one had been removed in
six hours, one In twelve hours and one In
twentr-four hours, Indicating he pointed
cut, that the difficulty of removal in
creased as the battle progressed
The figure 1900 corresponds with
nothing we have" General March said
Argonne Most DificuIt Battle
Baker and March both described the
Argonne battle as the most difficult op-
GRAFTON undertaken during the war, II
not the most difficult in military his
tory
The losses were Incredibly small for
such an advance" March said.
There were approximately 300. COO mon
in the attack and 1000 guns, the greatest
artillery concentration ever attempted
were collected for the fight.
The poor roads and operation Of Ger
man arplanes may have hindered tho
bringing up of food and removal o,r
wounded, March said. but pointed out
that every man who went into tie bat
tie carried Iron rations' to be used when
food could not be brought up from the
rear.
We want the facts known and they
will be known March promised. as hs
left the committee room.
Democrats on the committee showed
n disposition to quiz Campbell on yhert
Governor Aii"n. who made public the