The Washington times., 1919-09-23
YANR 65NETERIES
NFRAlCE REDUCED.
Number Cut From 2,4OO 70
700 as Result of Re-
grouping Policy.

The War Department is rapidly re-
dueinE the udnberl Of American ceme-
teries in France, the original total Of
about ., 400 having been reduced al
ready TO about 200. According to an
announcement made today, the num-
Der soon vii. be cut down to perhaps
fewer than half Of that appearing on
the map Of the Graves Registration
Service.
The Graves Registration Service has
placed most of the cemeteries, both
permanent and temporary, in excel
lent condition. the department says,
and Is now engaged in. the effort 70
perfect the appearance Of those re-
{ TudfhiuF. Considerable time vii be
required however, for the completion
Of this work. and some Of SO viii be
delayed until Congress provides an ap-
preparation for the care and uplzBep
q the soldier graves.
selecting stone EIarEera.
Without waiting for this apPropria-
ton, the Quartermaster General ts
giving consideration TO the matter Of
placing stone markers on the graves
of all the American dead in France
and the advice Of the National Fine
Arts Commission has been sought re-
Earding fitting designs and materials
doF this purpose.
The chief OF the Graves Registrs-
tion Service, who Is temporarily in
the United States for consultation at
the War Department, brought with
him a carload OF mortusry papers and
records and has established an office
iu the division Of the Quartermaster
General Of the army, where these
records can be worked out to COM
pietion for the use OF the families
of the dead Every effort Is being
made 70 insure accuracy and TO per
feet such records as require further
inyestigation.
EEpIalha Awreement.
50 many inquiries have come to the
War Department for information as
10 the agreement between this Gov
: eminent and that OF France in rela- /
ton to mortuaFy- matters that the
War Department today made the fol- 4
loving statement:
"Our contract with the French
state provides:
I-That cemetery space FOR our I
dead shall be allotted within French !
Z territory without cost 10 the Ameri- I
can Government or people wherever /
such space may be required. No I
allied army or nation may procure I
cemetery space ia France by rental, /
purchase, or other method Of indi- 4
. pendent action.
2-That bodies viii be transferred /
from temporary resting places in 4
French municipal cemeteries when.
ever definite selection OF American Il
cemeteries shall have been made byJ
an international commission and ap- 4
proved BY the minister Of war for as-il
siKumeut 20 American use.
-Thst concentration OF bodies in
c1utiguous territory shall be made, I
wherever practicable, now that active 1
hnstilities are ended. and that no iso- i
lated graves shall remain. in France. !
t'4-That such concentration shall 4
be made az points which are mutually 4
approved BY French and American
authorities, and that the work shall /
be conducted IN accordance with
French sanitary and rnortuary reEuls-
items. whose enforcement Is commit
ted 20 the Etat Civil
'5-While the removed OF Allied
dead from France 70 their homes has
not become the subject OF inteFna-
tional agreement, such removal has
been disapproved by French authori-
ties for certain period OF time by
provisional regulation which is based
on sanitary and economic grounds,
and is proposed as a projeect-of law
now pending in French Chambers.
IAe regulations delay removal for
reasons TO which the American Gov
eminent must give due consideration.
but no suggestion Of permanent
prohibition has been made"