Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-08
MARINE BRIGADES
LOST 2295 MEN
Second Division Figures In
clude Major Casualties of
Fifth and Sixth
MARCH REPORTS FACTS
81 Cargo Ships Become Trans
orts-1,236,824 Soldiers
Return From France

Washington, Feb. Shy A. P)-
Chief OF staff March today said that
General Pershng had given the War
Department new totals of casualties in
the First and Second Divisions. the
Marine Brigade in the latter being in
cluded.. The First Division had total
of killed died of wounds. missing and
prisoners of 524s. the Second Division
total was $3.50.
Hast week the casualties Of the Sec
ond Division were announced at 2965,
which did not include the Fifth and
sixth Marine Brlgades, which are in
the Second Division. Losses Of $3.50 for
the Second Division, announced in the
foregoing paragraph, would indicate the
marines lost 2295 men in main cas-
ua1ties.1
General March said that demoblliza-
ton in the United States now was on
the ''homestretch." Up 10 yesterday a
total OF e7,OSs officers and 1,o33,sl2 men
had been discharged. while the total or
dered for discharge had reached l4t2,-
600.
The demobilization machinery is now
atssuch a point of efficiency and opera
tiot, the chief of staff explained. that it
Is capable of handling more men than
Pershing can possibly send, with avail
able shipping. OF the troops in the
United States, only the overhead de
tadhments, which must be maintained
for future rehabilitation of returning
units, will be left
236,se4 Return From France
tp to February /, 23e,S24 men had
been returned from France The de-
partment estimates that 10000 will be
returned in February This is an IN
crease of $4,000 over the January total,
due largely TO the transformation or
cargo vessels into transports. General
March said that fifty-one cargo ships
had been ordered converted and that the
first of these were now coming into
service.
Plans for divisional parades in home
cities have been upset by the irregular
flow of troops homeward General March
said the units were returning in such
scattered form that, in a great majority
OF cases, it now seemed improbable that
Divisional organization could be held to-
gether long enough for large parades.
The department is dealing with this
question, however, as the divisions are
ordered home. The Twenty-seventh
(New York National Guard) Division
viii be paraded In New York city and
plans for parading the Forty-second
(Rhinbow) Division on. its return, in
Washington, General March thought
would be carried out. Wherever oppCr-
tupity offers for other division parades
advantage will be taken of it.
Brest to he Vast Camp
The greatest military camp in the
w0fid will be established at Brest when
plans for extension of embarkation IA
cili&ies there have been completed Gem
ferp March said Brest would be the
-hackbone of the American rehabilitation
system. 1t already has handled 81 per
cent OF the soldiers sent back TO the
United States UP TO date Its capacity
for $4,000 men is to be doubled.
Last weeks casualty report, showing
more than 10000 men of the expedition
arg force missing i'm action, has been
corrected to make the total 1888. Cen
eral Pershng reported the new total
with the information that the figures
were being reduced by from 100 to goo
names per day Is a result of the check
ing records in the central records office
in France.