Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-07

Topeka, Feb. 5.-The most startling
statement that has yet been made b!
Gov. Henry j. Allen concerning tn,
losses of the Thirty-fifth division wa!
made Monday night in reply to the
statement of casualties issued by Gen
Peyton C. March and published Sun
day. The governor also asks the
war department a number of ques-
tions. He fatty states that the wal
departments casualty statement is ar
attempt to divert attention from the
real situation"
Governor Allen shows how the wal
departments casualty list gives a
false impression as to the number OF
casualties.
Known In Washington
AS a final wallop the governor as
serts that the facts that he sets out
are known in Washington, and asks
the war department why it withholds
the information from the public.
Governor Allen said:
'The statement is in line with the
pettyfogging plan Of the war depart
men in dealing with casualties from
the beginning. Instead of being
frank the department is evasive and
vague. 1t knew when it passed the
statement that 56,592 is, AN official
tabulation of the casualties that un-
informed people would conclude that
this was a full statement of the cas-
ualties. It also knew, of course, that
the 56,592 dead and missing consti-
tuted comparatively a small percent
age of all the casualties. The war de-
partment would have us forget the
thousands manned and crippled,
few of whom are now coming home
but many of whom are suffering in
the hospitals in France. The dis
tracted relatives are trying in vain
to reach them with messages and to
get some information from them. Why
does the war department keep from
US the long and ghastly roll Of these
Officers of high rank
have stated frankly that most Of the
casualties should have been reported
within ten days after the battle, from
any part of the field and hospital
areas. Why, after four months are
we still having them doled out re-
Iuctantly to a poignant public which
Is clamoring for the facts? Why, IN
October, when it knew that the casual
lies were greatly over 100000, did it
announce from Washington that there
we're around 100000?
Allen Has A Report
ut has attempted to divert atten-
ion from the real situation by call
ng attention to the fact that the
lead and missing in the Thirty-fifth
ire only 1,733,' and that this divi-
lion suffered less than some Of the
,ther divisions. Why was it not
rank in saying that this division lost
practically all of these 1,T33 in one
Engagement, while other divisions
With which It compared the Thirty
fifth division were in several heavy
engagements? Why did the depart
neit neglect to mention that in addi-
ion to these 1,733 more than 5000
wounded and manned were in the cas-
Ialty list of the Thirty-fifth division.
Secretary Baker, when this subject
vas first brought to his attention, in
Iicated that the war department had
10 report on these casualties. l have
he report of the division officer in
barge of the triage of the Thirty
Ifth division. 1t was delivered to the
ivision surgeon of that division early
n October. It revealed the fact that
,301 wounded men passed thru his
riage, nearly 5000 Of whom were
rom the Thirty-ffth division. This
fficer also adds that the transporta-
ion was so limited that without wait
ng for ambulances, trucks belonging
o other divisions and to the French