The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-04-10
CANVASS KIN OF DEAD SOLDIERS.
Department Undertakes to Obtain
Desires Regarding Bodies.

! The war department has began to
canvass relatives Of soldiers who
were buried in France on the subject
of return of the bodies to this coun-
try While authority was sought OF
the last congress to make an appro-
! national field Of honor in France for
the burial of al the American dead
of the recent war, the war depart
ment desires wherever possible to
meet the wishes OF relatives Of the
heroes and return to this country
the bodies of all who desire inter-
ment here.
The following memorandum of
informa ton is being sent to rela-
tives of soldier dead:
THE war department desires to
ascertain the wishes Of the families
Of officers, enlisted men and civilian
employees, regarding the permanent
disposition of the bodies of. those who
have died overseas. The representa-
tives of the deceased are being call
ed upon now for an expression of
their desires regarding the final dis
position of the bodies.
ut can not be stated now jlSt
when the work of transfer OF the
bodies to this country will begin, as
it must be deferred Antil the cOndi-
tons, including that of transporta-
ton, warrant the undertaking. Due
notice will be given through the pub
lit is not deemed practicable to
grant requests for relatives, friends
or undertakers to go to France to
superintend preparations and ship
ments of,--or to accompany bodies
back to the United States. You will
appreciate that there were over Co.
600 casualties abroad, and to per-
nit even one representative to cross
in each case would require great
deal of transportation both on the
abroad they would have to depend
upon the grave registration units for
information and assistance, which
would only interfere with those units
in following any systematic nlan of
sending bodies here. Furthermore,
these representatives would occupy
space on returning ships which
should be used by soldiers
Organizations have been formed
overseas known as grave registra-
ton units. whose duty it is to look
after burials, to care for the Gene
teries, and to preserve Identification
records.
"Details concerning the death of
our soldiers are not ordinarily re-
believed you will appreciate the fact
that as a rule it will not be possible
to furnish details. Many men were
killed during darkness, or on
smoky, dusty battlefield, and no wit
nesses are available. You can rest
assured, however; that everything
possible is being done to relieve the
anxiety of the relatives of our SOL
diers who have made the supreme
sacrifice in the great cause of lib
erty."
The war department also announc-
ed that inquiries concerning the fol-
lowing subjects should be addressed
to the official bureaus named OPP
posite the respective subjects:
Exact location of grave: Chief
grave registration service, American
expeditionary forces, France.
Personal effects: Effects bureau,
port Decentralization, Hoboken, New
Jersey.
Back pay: Auditor for war de-
nartment, treasury department,
Liberty bonds: Director of financ-
es, Washington, D. G..
Allotments: Zone finance officer,
Lemon building, Washington, u. c.
Insurance: Director, bureau of
war risk Insurance, treasury depart
1hent, Washington, D. G.