Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-29
SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
TO sE FORMED FOR SOLDIERS
IN FRANCE.
NEAREST OF KIN TO BE
NOTIFIED IF ANY DIE
Cable Will Carry Word Of Deaths in
Battle or Otherwise to Relatives
Return Of Bodies to Homes Depends
on Mature Of Wounds or Disease or
Where Fatalities Occur.
TBy f G. Dougherty.1

Washington, Aug. 29.-Should any
member OF the Third Iowa infantry
soon TO leave for France, be killed IN
battle, the war department today gave
be dispatched of the casualty 10 the
nearest relative OF the soldier. A spe-
ciaI intellgence bureau has been or
ganized in the war department to keep
accurate data OF the movements OF all
troops sent to France. For each mem
her of the Iowa infantry forming
part of the Forty-second or hainoo"
division destined to be the first nation :
al guard organization to see ACTON III
France, a service record is kept IN the
department's special bureau. FROM
time to time, this record Will sho"
what engagements the soldier particl-
pates in: what injuries he receives
what distinction falls TO him in hight
ing for the Stars and Stripes Inl-
mate knowledge of the soldiers NE
is recorded; his parents, wire, orothet
or sister Is given as his next Of KIN
and it is to this individual that the ne"
department desires TO give its service
on intelligence.
In the case Of death to soldier,
brief notice giving the date, place and
cause of demise will be telegraphed
pr cabled to the next OF kin. Inc oe-
tails attending the death OF the soidler
viii be given later by the commanding
officer Of the unit to which the SOL
der was attached. Likewise all deaths
among the troops of the expedition
airy force in France will be published
in the official bulletin as soon as no
tice is received in washington. but this
will be after the next Of kin is first
notified.
Under the law the commanding OFF,
Ger of a soldier has full Jurisdiction
In the matter of disposing OF any per-
sonal effects that may have been in the
possession Of the soldier at the time
OF his death. When these effects are
not claimed by a legal representative
OF the deceased within a reasonable
time, the proceeds of the sale are de-
postted in tho United States treasury
subject to the claim later OF the legal
representative, and all such claims are
settled by the auditor for the war de-
partment
If It Is desired to make claim for
the personal effects Of the soldier, an
application should be addressed to the
comman ding officer Of the late soldiers
company This application should be
accompanied with affidavits Of the fact
that the claimant is the legal repre-
sentative entitled to receive the eff
fects.
Disposal Of Bodies in Doubt.
Whether the bodies of American SOL
diers who fall in the war against Ger
many are to be brought back to this
country for burial depends upon the
nature Of the death. In many cases
1t would be difficult to bring the bod
les back to American soil. The de-
partment, however, has before it plan
for preserving bodies for an extended
period, and out Of this plan may de-
velop some scheme for returning to
home cemeteries the bodies Of Amer
lean heroes.
The quartermaster general Of the
army this past week was instructed
by the president to organize a graves
registration service for the purpose of
preserving data about the interment Of
American soldiers. This bureau viii
be charged with the proper marking
Of graves Of American dead and the
notification Of the nearest kin as to
the disposition of the bodies.
The quartermaster generals office
also will determine the proposition Of
removal Of the bodies Of dead soldiers.
Any claims for pay due or other &C
counts are to be settled between the
legal representative of the man and
the auditor of the war department,
with offices in the treasury building.