The Mena weekly star., 1919-02-06
10000 AMERICANS .UNACCOUNTED FOR
War Department Has No Knowledge of the Fate of These Men--43,- SS2 Deaths Reported The Ma
 rines Lost 1851.

Jne AmeflCan IOrceS III rrduce, Nndue public yesterday by General March, chief of staff, show that approximate ly 10000 men remain wholly unac- counted for nearly three months after the ending of hostilities. The deaths missing and known prisoners are tab ulated up to January 19 for each of the 30 combat divisions of General Pershing's army. The total is 56,592, of whom 17,434, are classified as missing or captured. An appended statement shows that only 29 Ameri- can military prisoners were believed to be still in Germany on January 8, and that 4,000 prisoners had been checked up as returned and 11S died in captivity.
 Some portion of the great body of missing men may be located as the return of the army thins out the American force in France. Indica- tions are, however, that the majority of the 10000 finally will be added to the roll of honor shown in the tables of those killed or died of wounds, now recorded as 39,150 men.
 Marines Lost 1851.
 To that figure also must be added 1,551 men of the marine brigade, fig ures for which, not carried in the tables, were obtained from official sources. This brings the aggregate of deaths from battle up to 40,709 on returns estimated officially to be 95 per cent complete. As figures on missing and prisoners of the marines are lacking, the number of unac- counted for which finally will be add ed to the roll of dead cannot be ac- curately estimated.
 The army tables, however, give a total of 14,649 men missing in action, and 2,785 known prisoners, making up the 17,434 missing or captured. The appended statement shows that the army rolls record 4,910 American military prisoners accounted for. Ad- mittedly, there are many possibilities of error, but the statement says it is anticipated that the indicated unac- accounted for list of 12,516 will be brought down to less than 10000"
 The tables do not furnish any data as to the wounded or deaths other than those resulting directly from battle. A new estimate of the com plete figures on American casualties is, therefore, not possible. It is sig nificant, however, that up to last night the War Department had pub lished the names of 43,8S2 men killed or died of wounds as against 39,158 shown in the 95 per cent tables. The difference is made up by additional returns, since the tables were closed January 10.
 Pershing's Estimate Exceeded.
 On November 27, General Pershing estimated that his total killed and died of wounds would be 40,455. Pre- sumably publication of the lists of the known deaths and exclusive of the unaccounted for is nearly completed, having exceeded the estimate by more than 5000, due in part to additional deaths from wounds and to the listing as dead of men formerly reported missing.
 The names of 149,418 wounded had been published up to last night, com pared with November estimated total of 189,955. Of those missing in &C., tion, 11,676 have been published against the estimated 14,260 total ard compared with the 17,434 missing. Wounded Not Included.
 The War Departments explanation of the tables follows:
 "The following tables are a tabu- lation of casualty tables received thru January 10. They gave totals of the casualties which put a soldier permanently out of action. They do not include wounded figures, as the lists of those slightly wounded are still incomplete. The totals given are about 95 per cent complete for each division. A few new reports of cas- ualties are still coming in, but most of the changes since January 10, when the tabulation was begun, are decreases in the missing in action fg- ure and corresponding increases in the other totals. This change is due to the release of prisoners and re- ports of deaths by eye-witnesses. The total figure for missing has now been reduced to close to 10000. Field signal battalions, ambulance cempa- nies and trains are not included in the tabulation of the divisions.
 Regulars Lost Most Men. While General March did not an- nounce the order of losses for the en- tire list, it may be stated that the first and second regular divisions, the first to get into action and the long est to serve at the front and the 26th i (New England National Guard) and 42nd (Rainbow) Divisions, will stand close to the top of the list.
 In killed in action the first regular division leads the list with 2,3O3. Other divisions with more than 1000 men killed in action stand in the fol- lowing order:
 Third. 1901: 42nd. 1.702: 32nd. 1,694; 2sth. 1,544; fourth, 1,500; 26th, 1888; second, 1883; 27th,1 1902; 77th, 1.127; 30th, 1,084
 The only division to lose more than 1000 men died of wounds was the First with 1,050 Only three divisions had more than 1000 missing in ac- ton. the First with 1,7s9. the 28th with 1,174 and the 79th with f,t42.