New-York tribune., 1919-01-08
Our Soldier Dead
o the Editor of The Tribune.
New York, Jan. s, 1919.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Your editorial of January .. emit
tied "The Soldier Dead" and the letter Of
Captain McPeters to which it refers are
most timely.
Soon after the United States entered the
war the American Scenic and Historic Pres
ervation Society gathered official informa-
ton concerning the excellent system of care
of British graves in France and over wear
ago rendered to government its CO.
operation in the care of American graves
upon similar plan. The acceptance of that
tender was held in allegiance by the War
Department, with the intimaton that suca
cooperation might be more advantageous
after the war The American Society 4
Landscape Architects also stands ready to
lend hand in this patriotic service
We are informed, however, that it is the
purpose of the government TO bring back ali
bodies except those for which as in the
case of Quentin Roosevelt. there is spc-
clfic request that they remain; that the War
Department does not believe there will be
more than a few such requests: that con-
sequently there will probably he no Ameri-
can cemeteries of more than few grave.
each in France; that it is considered unwise
to attempt landscape gardening in the Gene
teries when the present graves arc soon to
be disturbed; that meanwhile the graves arn
being well cared for; and that as to tho
future, there are no plans for caring for the
cemeteries, as it is not known that thore
are to be any.
1t is appropriate that the people OF the
United States express their opinions on this
subject
In the view of the American Scenic and
Historic Preservation Society it would be
better to leave all bodies in France unless
there Is specific request that they be
brought home; that every such request be
Granted that the bodies buried in scattered
places, as on the field of battle. be brought
together (when possibc) in oonsecrated
cemeteries; that each soldier who has given
his life in the great cause have an ind
vidual grave or, if his body cannot be found.
an individual marker in such cemetery. after
the British plan; and that such cemeteries
be beautified and cared for in perpetuity 1T
the expense of the United States govern
ment with the most loving attention that
grateful nation can bestow on such hal
lowed spots
By the French law of December SO. 1915.
the French nation generously decided TO
acquire and hold in perpetuity the ceme-
teries in which the Allied dead are buried
The ground for these American cemeteries
is therefore already provided for In ths
same law the French nation signified is
readiness to bear not only the cost of accu-
sition, occupation and inclosure of such
lands. but also their upkeep; but while the
United States might avail itself of Frances
gift of the land, it is to be presumed that it
would assume the inalienable duty of caring
for our own soldiers graves.
The regulations of the British Directorate
OF Graves Registration and Inquiry provide
that there is no objection to the erection
of memorial crosses to officers and men
whose bodies it has been found impossible
for whatever reason TO bury" thus affording
an excellent precedent for giving every one
of our dead heroes a memorial.
To bring back our soldier dead unre-
quested is needlessly 10 harrow the feelings
of bereaved families in more ways than
one; while we have the testimony of great
American, who himself has just passed
away, to the propriety and the comfort Of
leaving heroes buried near the field OF
honor on which they died. Sympathy knows
no distance. The ocean is no barrier TO
sentiment. In the heart our soldier dead
are as near to us resting in the sacred sol
of France as in the village or suburban
cemetery at home.
EDWARD HAGAMAN HALL.
New York, Jan. 7, 1918. Secretary.