The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-03
ARMY WILL BRING HOME
MEN WHO FALL IN WAR

bringing back to this country, for
burial, soldiers and marines who may
lose their lives while fighting ir
France. Following the war, every
man who is killed abroad will be sent
to this country and placed at the dis,
posal of his relatives and friends for
interment. Even should the conflict
continue for several years it will be
possible, at that time, under the pres
ent plan, to recognize the bodies of the
dead heroes.
Memory of the horrible condition OF
the bodies sent home for burial fol,
lowing the clash between American
blue Jackets and Mexicans in Vera
Cruz several years ago, caused Dr.
Howard S. Eckels, of Wyrcote, anC
DR.. Jay H. Mowbray, of Swarthmore
to devise a plan for caring for the
bodies of the soldiers and marines
killed in Europe.
Accordingly, a few weeks ago the
American Purple Cross Association
was formed and Incorporated under the
laws of the District of Columbia. DR.,
Eckels was named director general;
Major General j. Lewis Good, treas
urer, and DR.. Mowbray, field director
The associations active membership
is Limited to those who have made
care of bodies their life profession
and to those affiliated industries.
The trustees and other officers are
prominent men of the country, includ-
ing Governors and millionaire officials
Of large manufacturing plants.
Government Endorses Plan.
Discovering that no modern sys-
TEN had been devised by Government
officials for taking care of the soldier
dead in France, officials of the Amer
lean Purple Cross Association i'm
mediately held a conference with Sec
rotary of War Baker and presented a
plan that promises to revolutionize
and remove one of the most grewsome
features from modern warfare.
1t was first suggested that the
American Purple Cross Association
should bear the same relation to the
Quartermaster's General Department
as the Red Cross does to the Medical
Department. Major General Harry
G. Sharp, Quartermaster General of
the United States Army, greeted the
plan with enthusiasm and a series of
conferences, covering the best part of
week, were held in his Washington
offices.
DR.. Eckels and DR.. Mowbray made
the following offer to the Government:
Offer to Finance Plan.
eve will furnish such number of
embalmers for the preservation OF
the bodies of soldiers killed in battle
or dying in hospitals as you may deem
necessary for the purpose.
"We will divide these into such
units as you may direct.
1--WE will equip and train these men.
eve will furnish such number of
automobile ambulances as will be nee
essary for this service.
1--WE will pay all expenses incident
to their equipment, training, trans
portation and maintenance.
"These will be available for all san
itary work, asking only that these
may be allowed to keep their own in
dividual formation.
"If it be your wish that we be in
corporated in the army organization,
we will arrange to be enlisted as in
dividuals and assigned as you may di-
rect"
Plan Was Kept Secret.
Major General Sharp reported ia
vorably upon the recommendations,
and shortly afterward the following
letter, signed by Brigadier General H.
P. McClain, Adjutant General of the
Army, was received by the officers of
the American Purple Gloss Associa-
ton:
"The Secretary of War directs me
to inform you that the subject matter
of your several communication in re-
gard to an expert body Of mortuary
specialists for service with our mill
tary forces abroad has been given
careful consideration. 1t has been de-
cided that suitable organization for
this force shall be adopted for service
in the Quartermasters Corps. The
is deeply appreciative CT
your generous and patriotic interest
The plan of the association has
now been accepted and tomorrow DR..
Mowhray and DR.. Eckels will go to
Washington for another conference
with War Department officials, when,
it is expected, bill will be drawn up
for presentation to Congress for the
acceptance of the American Purple
Cross Association as an auxiliary of
the Quartermaster Generals Depart
ment.
Although no official announcement
has been made, it is said that the
of the organization will be
offered President Wilson; that Secre-
tary Baker and Secretary Daniels
will be named vice presidents, and
that either the Treasurer of the Unit
ed States or some other high Govern
nent official will be selected as treas
1rer, who will handle all funds. !.
To Embalm on Battlefield.
Fright now we have more than
S150,000 pledged for carrying forward
our PLAN" declared DR.. Mowbray yes
terday, "and we can easily raise $10,-
100000 as soon as Congress places
The stamp of approval upon our plan"
"The bodies will be embalmed in
The first line trenches or as close to
Them as possible. They will then be