Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-01
Association for This Purpose
Has Been Organized in
Philadelphia

bodies of the dead heroes.
Memory of the horrible condition of
the bodies sent home for burial follow
| ing the clash between American blue
jackets and Mexicans in Vera Cruz sew
eral years ago, caused DR.. Howard S.
Eckels of Wyncote, and DIR. Jay H.
Mowbray of Swarthmore, to devise a
plan for caring for the bodies of the
soldiers and marines killed in Europe.
Accordingly, few weeks ago the
American Purple Cross association was
formed and incorporated under the laws
of the District of Columbia. DIR. Eckels
was named director general; Major Gen
eral j. Lewis Good, treasurer,a and DR..
Mowbray field director. The association
active membership is d" limited to those
who have made care of bodies their life
profession, and to those affiliated in
dustries. The trustees and other Off
cials are prominent men of the coun-
try, incluoing governors and million
aire officials of large manufacturing
plants.
Government Tndorses Plan
Discovering that no modern system
had been devised by government Off
cials for taking care Of the soldier
dead in France, officials Of the Ameri-
can Purple Cross association immedi-
ately held a conference with Secretary
of War Baker and presented a plan
that promised TO revolutionize and re-
move one of the most grewsome fea-
lures from modern warfare.
1t was first suggested that the Am
erican Purple Cross association should
bear the same relation to the quarter
master general s department as the Red
Cross does to the medical department.
Major General Henry G. Sharp, quar-
termaster general of the United States
army, greeted the plan with enthusi-
asm and series of conferences, cover
ing the best part of a week, were held
in his Washington offices.
DR.. Eckels and DR.. Mowbray made
the following offer to the government:
Offer to Finance Plan
"We 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.
"Wle will divide these into such
units as you may direct.
We will equip and train these men.
eeWe will furnish such number of
automobile ambulanees as will be nee
essary for this service.
we viii pay all expenses incident
to their equipment, training, transporta-
tion and maintnance.
"These will be available for all SAN
itary work asking only that these may
be allowed to keep their own individu-
'al formation.
off 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 favs
orably upon the recommendations, and
shortly afterward The following letter,
signed by Brigadier General II. r. Me
CLAIM, adjutant general of the army,
was received by the Officers of the
American Purple Cross associations:
'"The secretary Of war directs me to
inform you that the subject matter of
your several communications in regard
to an expert body of mortuary special
lists for service with our military fore
es abroad has been given careful con
sideration. 1T has been decided that a
suitable organization for this force
shall be adopted for service in the quar-
termasters corps. The department is
deeply appreeiative of your generous
and patriotic interest.
The plan of the association has now
been accepted and tomorrow DR.. Now
bray and DR.. Eckels will go to Wash
ington for another conference with war
department officials, when, it is ex-
peeted, bill will be drawn up for pres
entation to congress for the acceptance
of the American Purple Cross assocla
tion as an auxiliary of the quartermas-
fer general IS department
Although no official announcement
has becn made, it is said that the pres
idencv of the organization will be Of
fered President Wilson; that Secretary
Baker and Secretary Daniels will be
named vice presidents, and that either
the treasurer of the United States or
some other high government offleiaiii
win he selected as treasurer, who VIII
handle all funds.
---- TO Empaim on Battlefield
HRight now we have more than
s150 600 pledged for carrying forward
our plan. - declared DR.. Mowbray yes
terdav. "and we can easily raise Sl0'-
600 900 as soon as congress places the
stamp of approval upon our plan"
nsThe bodies viii be embalmed IN the
first line trenches OF as close to them
as possible. They viii then be taken
from the battle line and inferred until
after the war. BY our up to date process
they will be recognizable for years and
will be in splendid state Of preserya-
tion when brought to this country.
The American Purple Cross move
ment has received nation wide inderse-
mept. Both branches of the Pennsyiya-
MIA legislature have unanimously pass
ed resolutions calling upon the war de-
partment to accept the offer, at least
as far as it may apply 20 troops enlist.
ed in or furnished by the state OF
Pennsylvania.
Personal assurances, letters and teie-
grams have been received from the gov
ernors of a dozen states, iHdorsing this
work. The governor OF Missouri has per
sonaliv written 10 the secretary OF war
urgine the vital Importance OF tins
work. has offered to resign his govern
orship and 90 to France, if il be the
iudqmentsof the president that he eonid
be Of greater service there than in his