Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1918 — AMERICAN CASUALTIES [ARTICLE]

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

In speaking of ths casualties suffered by the United States in its participation in th° great world war, a prominent newspaper says: American casualties, according to reports received up to November 11, totaled 69,620. Of these 12,460 were killed in action. The others include the wounded, prisoners, missing and so on. This is not the complete story of the blood Americans have shed on the altar of freedom. It is not the complete story even if there is no more lighting. For the last few months the casualties have increased at such a rate that u, was impossible to send all the names by cable, and a new method was adopted. Neither are the names sent by telegraph to the newspapers. Lists are mailed. This is much slower than the old way, but there are so many names that they can not be handled otherwise. Considerable time probably will elapse before the parents or other near relatves of casualties are officially notified, but the relatives still continue to receive official word before the names are printed in the newspapers. Not long ago an Indiana aviator died in Italy, and more than a month elapsed before his parents were notified. So the parents and other relatives of soldiers abroad must steel themselves for the bad tidings that may come. Thousands of names will be added to the casualty lists. These will be coming every day, probably for a month or six weeks. By that time the army officials will have caught up with the‘losses, and probably from then on: the losses will be cabled. Losses in the future will be comparatively small because during the truce there will be no fighting, and deaths from disease or accident will be practically all that can go to make up lists. Hearing the news of the death of a relative after armistice has been signed will be sadder than if the word had coime bfefore the tension broke. To those who have loved ones over there comes a feeling of vast relief that hostilities have ceased, but the worry will not end until the word finally comes that these boys are safe.