Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
Operations Of the United
States Burial Corps.
DESERVE HIGH PRAISE
RETURN TO WASHINGTON AFTER
NEARLY SIX YEARS ABSENCE
Bodies Of the Dead Brought From
Cuba, the Philippines and the
East-All but One Identified.

The United States burial corps, with the
exception of a small squad stationed in the
Philippines, returned to Washington a few
days ago.
The members were paid and complimented
by Gen. G. F. Humphrey. Col. ]. B. Bollin-
ser and other officers Of the tIuartermas-
ter generals Office and are now on heir
way to join their families and friends at
home after an absence of nearly six years.
Not a newspaper paragraph announced the
courageous little corps arrival or gave
publicity to it's disarmament. So quietly
and modestly was the work of the burial
corps performed that few, If any, outside
Of the families and friends Of the men
and the army and navy circles knew that
the corps existed.
The burial corps dates from May 8. 1893,
when Congress provided $500, 900 for identi-
flying and transporting the remains Of SOL
diers and sailors of the United States who
limits OF the United States. The original
appropriation has been increased from time
to Time No other government ever went
to the expense incurred by the United
Having returned the remains of every
one lost In Cuba in 1899, the burial corps
was sent to the Philippines under the su-
pervision of D. H. Rhodes
Work In the Philippines.
When the members Of the corps
arrived in the Philippine Islands
they provided themselves with maps
and sketches showing locations Of
cemeteries, burial plots and graves from
which disinterments were to be made, and
entered upon the task of exhuming and
preparing for shipment 5000 remains, dis
tributed over an area of more than 125.O00
MIL fy,c oy,d
from which they were taken had to be
thoroughly disinfected and the bodies in
cased in metallic caskets, then hermetical-
ly sealed and inclosed in outer boxes pack
ed with sawdust saturated with disinfect-
ants, labeled with name, rank, company,
regiment or character Of service and cause
of death, and then transported to Manila
for shipment by army transport to San
Francisco or New York. The greatest care
was exercised in preserving the identity OF
the remains, only one having been shipped
as unknown" and under special instruc-
tons from the quartermaster general the
reverence and respect due the honored
dead were fully observed at all times and
under all circumstances.
Officers and members Of the hospital
corps are provided with small bottles.
When a soldier dies or Is killed in action
slip of paper, inscribed with his name,
rank, regiment, company, date and cause
of death, signed by surgeon or company
commander, Is placed in the bottle, sealed
counts for the marvellous completeness OF
the work Of identifying the remains.
Special Expeditions.
To reach the more remote places where
remains were buried special expeditions in
many instances had to be provided. Many
Of the bodies had to be carried overland
great distance to reach vessel. which in
many instances had to Stand by one to
five miles from shore and was accessible
only by small boats.
The burial corps had most Of its work
completed In July, 1901. Places on the
Cayagan river between Subig bay and
Loag, being on the last part or the itin-
erary, they were unable to reach Defore
the rainy season set in, as we'll as the prov
inces of Zambales, Union. Hocos Sur and
1locOs Norte, on the western coast or Luz
zon, where the prevalence of southwest
monsoons rendered it impracticable for
vessel to anchor long enough to receive the
remains whose burial places were accessi-
BILE only from the coast In the next fall
the work was continued until the last re-
mains were recovered, when the corps
started for the United States, leaving a de-
taohment of four men, permanently estaD-
lished In the Philippine Islands, to visit the
entire group annually, or oftener when
practicable, SO as to snip remains WIN
least possible delay.
The Department Criticised.
AS might be expected, the quartermaster's
department suffered some criticism from
relatives and friends Of officers and SOL
diers on account of the delay in the ship
ment of remains, due to their failure to UNI
derstand the existing conditions at that
time. The officers of the quartermaster's
department, however, cognizant Of the
sacred duty devolving upon them, have
shown all possible consideration for the be-
reayed families and extended every avail
able facility for securing the return OF re-
mains with the utmost dispatch. In many
cases Gen. Humphrey and Col. Bollinger,
under whose direction the burial corps
worked, were the recipients of letters of
gratitude for the manner in which the
duties were performed.
In the National Cemeteries.
The consideration of the government
doesn't stop with transporting the remains
home, but large and beautiful national Gem
eteries are provided for the interment Of
officers and enlisted men of the army, navy
and marine corps. In these national ceme-
teries are buried many of the most promi-
nent and honored officers, as well as thou
sands OF soldiers of the late wars; the
graves are suitably marked with white mar
bic headstones, and will be properly cared
for as long as the government exists. They
are also annually decorated on Memorial
day by various Grand Army and other vet
eran associations. Many of the relatives of
deceased soldiers on learning of the care
with which the national cemeteries are
maintained at Arlington, Va, and other
places admit that no more appropriate and
no more honored resting place could be
provided and give up their original desire
to inter the remains at the soldiers former
home.
fer to have private burial the govern
ment pays the cost of transporting the re-
mains to the nearest express office.