El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-03-20
New York Times.)

49, 49,
objects Bureau has been bringln
back to the nearest kin OF the so
diers who lost their lives in Franc
any effects, valuable from either
monetary or sentimental standpoint
This Is the first time a bureau .
this sort has ever been maintained
by the American government. Dur
ing the civil war and the Spanish
American war friends or relative
OF a dead soldier trusted to chance
Very often, however, there was n,
faithful comrade at the side OF Thu
dying man. IN this war, knowing
and understanding how dear til;
picketknife, wristwatch, picture, d
war trophy would be to a faI1il,
whose son had given up his life
the government has organized fhi;
department.
In March, 1917, what was known
as the Effects Quartermaster De
partment was organized with siS
branches. These we're at PhiladeI
phia, Boston, Halifax, Newport News
Baltimore, and Hoboken. To fact.
itate the work and to insure the
proper care Of the effects by having
them all SO through one clearing
house or channel, these branches
we're consolidated into the bne Ut
Ireau now %quartered at Hoboken.
Just as soon as a man is induct-
ed into the army he fills out a
qualification card which, among 9th
Ier things, gives the name Of the
person he wishes the government TO
A~.vostnfook - e. NTH 4u o,~r - 1AAtn
or injury to him. In the majority
of cases it has been proved at the
offices of the Effects Bureau that
person is not the next Of kin but a
good friend Of the soldier. 1t seems
that a desire to spare his wife, moth
.er or near member OF the family,
makes the soldier name SOMEBODY
who, he thinks, can be trusted 10
give the news in the kindest man
ner. 1t is with this person that the
bureau communicates when the ef-
fects Of the soldier arrive.
The first step in the work comes
at the time the soldier goes into
In no case does a mar car
ry all his belongings to the hottest
part Of the fight. A good many things
like his insurance papers, his Liber-
ty Bonds, if he has any, valuables
which might easily be lost, are left
at the quarters at which he was
stationed or billeted. After the hat
tie is over and the casualties ascer-
the field of the dead is comb
ed for those possessions OF the sol
der which can be sent back to his
In every case the %articlOsl
are put, into an individual contain ar
Dr. package to insure against mis-
Very often it is days and
weeks before the organization com
nander a undertake this duty. Al
ways, however, whether iteis a mat
Ter of days ir weeks, some men in
he, company are ordered back to
search the bodies for effects. Occas-l
during a retreat, it has been
lound that the bodies had been loot
ID by the Germans. In that case
,nly those things which were left
It the company headquarters of the
lead man are delivered to his family.
Forwarding the Effects.
Just as soon as the division COM
handler has in his possession all the
Effects obtainable, they are invent
,ried, packed securely, and forward ,
ID to Base Section NO. l in France,
{ the soldier has died there, or to
Base Section No. 8. in England, II
lis death occurred in that county.
The greatest number of shipments
il effects are by cargo, but some
re sent by special messenger.
Where the valuables are of a nature
0 demand special attention, they
ire given to a soldier, who is IN
tfucted to report at the Effscts
Bureau Immediately upon his arriy-
|. Money, however, is deposited
With the base quartermaster II
or England, and from there
orwarded to the auditor of the war
apartment at Washington, VINO
olds it pending the establishment
t the claim of the next Of kin.
The establishment Of claim Of the
ext OF kin is the first step toward
orwarding the parcel for final dellv-
nv on this side. 1t is here that
erhaps the most human side Of the
iork is brought out. A~ppreciatlve
{ the fact that to every family a
who has lost somebody in the
reat war, his death Is the all-ine-
ortant and alI-engrossing event, this
ranch of the war department is per
APPS most unique in its effort to
reak the news gently. In almost
very other communication made by
he war department, letters, on ae
cunt Of the vast number ~entailed,
lust necessarily be either mimeo-
or printed. Here, however,
personal, Individual typed note is
emit to the mar or woman. 1t has
cen stated at the effects buiead
nat these letters do more to recon-
lie the families than anything else,
The bureau has no jurisdiction
YER the question Of next Of kin;
hat problem, often the basis Of
ispute, is determined under war
apartment regulations.
Up to February Z the effects bu-
sau had received packages for 6iS1
eceased soldiers, Of which 2S72
ad heen disposed of, while 1919
ere still awaiting further %investi-
alton and action. During the last
eek twenty tons Of material have
pine, all assigned to the ~storehouse
, await further disposition. 1t takes
months before the effects OF