Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-29
RESPECT SOLDIER GRAVES
Farmers Keep Weeds Cut Over
Burial Places on the Marne
Battlefield.
VILLAGERS KNEEL IN PRAYER


Correspondence OF the Associated Press.)
ACY- BN-MULTTI1N. Department Of the
Oise, France, Aug. 6.-Since July II, in
many Of the smiling fields Of the Isle OF
France" fresh, tri-colored flags have
thrust their standards proudly above the
browning stalks of ripe wheat. On al
most every sunny hillside. In almost every
valley between the Marne and the Aisne,
in the growing barley. the alfalfa, the
clover; at the readable; in clusters under
fruit trees. the red. white and blue of
France. like more vital fleur-de-lys.
pale the peoples and daisies and corn
flowers that sprinkle growing grain.
For here. ten months gone, the battle
OF the Marne was fought, and here. to-
day. the fields are sown with graves,
each with its four posts thrust solidly In
the ground with wire stretched between
to mark the spot where some soldier lies.
No farmer plows above them, though his
field be patch-worl1ed with hundreds of
the tragic mounds, as many fields are.
More. he cuts the weeds or the agrees
Hive grain from every one, even those Of
the invaders, and every one Is marked
with its cross or its headboard
All Graves Marked.
Not the French graves alone are
marked. The burial place OF every Ger
man fallen in battle has its own fence
about It, is kept free OF concealing verdure
and is marked with its cross. The only
distinction is in the color Of the crosses.
The French are white, and the Germans
are black. And ON each Is printed a
number, the number OF the regiment to
which the dead belonged. There IL sell
dom anything else. Now and again.
where the name OF the man was known.
where his being an officer served 70
identify his body. the name Is on the
cross. and wreath from his comrades
or his family who have made pilgrimage
to the spot where he lies. Otherwise, he
IL only a soldier OF France. and all SOL
diers OF France are equal In life Is In
death.
On July IA the countryside Of this part
OF the republic. which since the days OF
the Capets has been known as the Isle
OF France" was scattered with living
people. soldiers on leave from the front,
young widows in heavy black leading lit
tie children. older people bowed with age
and sorrow, come a long way. stumbling
along the sunny roads, peering into the
fields. all searching for their own
Bring New Flags.
Most OF these searching groups carried
new flags to replace the wind-washed
and sun-bleached emblems that had
marked the graves since the battle OF the
Marine. Some OF the comrades carried
many. one for the grave OF each man of
his regiment who died on the hill top. or
who lies buried In the valley. When he
returns to his regiment. down there"
In the trenches. after his leave OF absence.
the ''poilu" tells those of the regiment
who remain that each grave he could
find of theirs has a brand new flag on
Il and that IL was thus he spent the ma
tional holiday.
Next before the entrance TO the GENE
terry of Aey-en-Multien is a tomb. not I'M
like many others in the hills and valleys
that lie between the Marine and the Aisne.
II IL perhaps sixty or seventy feet long
so long that there was not room for II
within the cemetery walls. Like the
smaller graves. II. too, II surrounded by
a wire fence. and new. flags and flowers.
constantly renewed. decorate II. At one
end Is temporary cross OF iron. upon
which Is this legend: Here repose sew
enty-two soldiers of France. fallen on the
field OF honor in September, 1914 They
recaptured Acy from the Germans; they
contributed 70 the victory OF the Mane.
which saved France"
Kneel I'm Prayer.
Here almost every day there come 70
this peaceful village. and to many like
II throughout the Isle OF France
slender figures muffled in heavy black.
graves and pray a while. The approach
ing visitor uncovers The kneeling figure
At last looks up.
Your husband. M1damar'
Perhaps" she answers wtstfully. 1T
Was his regiment and he was killed here
somewhere hereabout at least" still
kneeling. che runs her hands lightly along
the wire that separates her from the