The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-02

into ny the United olateS EoNeiHihcHh
Is now thing of the past, nut In
thousands upon thousands OF Ameri-
can homes, ranging in type from pa
latial mansions to humble mountain
huts, one question is continually In
the minds of those who have suffer
cd mbst--+the advisability of return
ing the rannnins of the fallen Ameri-
can dead to the land Of their birth.
This question has been an acute one
ever since the announcement by the
War Department shortly after the
United States entered the war, that
the policy of the Department would
be to bring back to the United states
the bodies Of American soldiers
which were buried abroad, provided
the nearest relative requested their
return. In many OF our Virginia To-
cclities. committees are being formed
to urge the War Department to carry
sout their part OF the promise. such a
committee only n few days ago being
formed in Richmond.
Among those who elected to leave
the remains of their dead abroad were
two OF our most distinguished citizens
both service men, the one an ex-sol-
der and ex-president. the other a
sailor; the late Colonel Theodore
merling. United States Navy, each OF
whom wrote in effect that he could
conceive of no greater honor for his
dead son than forrest where he fell.
fighting the foe Of civilization. upon
4 battlefield of France.
Since the armistfce many commu-
nications have been received by the
War Department upon this subject
many taking the point Of view ex-
pressed by Colonel Roosevelt, while
many others have taken the point OF
view that the bodies Of their dead
should be returned to the United
States But aside from the sentimen-
tai reasons that would call for the re-
turn of the bodies of. our heroes to
this country many families no doubt
may not be fully aware of the pres
ent situation now faced by our gov
eminent in this respect, or OF the con-
ditions which will attend the return
of the bodies. conditions which, were
they better known would have de-
Gliding influence on the question In
the minds OF relatives as to whether
or not it would be best for the bodies
TO remain permanently In France.
The Grave Registration Service of
the United States army is now and for
dfsinterring. identifying and collect
ing into cemeteries, preparatory to re-
turn to the United States, the bodies
which, through the necessities of war
were temporarily inferred where they
fen This work has been of consid
CRADLE magnitude. involving the re.
rnoval of bodies from many isolated
places on tire batt1eheldss has now
reached an advanced stage. The next
step will be the actual return Of these
bodies.
But before this can be accomplished
the consent Of the French govern
nnent must be obtained. Many peo-
pie In discussing the question have
criticized the people of France for
obiecting TO the removal OF the bod
fes at this time and seemingly cannot
understand the motive Of the French
PEOPLE. But ,et us look into the mat
ter from the French point OF view
There are approximately 4.5oo,oeo
odies inferred in the soil of France as
a result of the war. The attitude OF
the French government Is against the
removal Of any OF these. A proposed
law is now unde- consideration by the
French Parliament, which, off passed
would prohibit the removal OF these
scdies for 4 period of three years
from, January /. 1919. Pending the
enactment OF the proposed law, the
matter Is being regulated by minis
terial action OF the French govern
men. along the same lines OF the pro-
rosed law itself. The French gov
ernment then, naturally feels tnat II
cannot consistently extend to 'ne
American government greater priS'
tleges In this respect than accorus
30 it's own people. But why snou.o
the French government not wen its
,,,.~ -raonla 20 remove and again
bury their dead
France wac a nation in mourhihs
t,roughcut the entire four years OF
Tho war. To permit the removal OF
mo French dead by relatives VIII
ronsesuent funerals and rehe~ee
reri "a OF mourning would only aoa "
shs. sonr .reriod Ct national aePres
sion and sorrow that this naiion -
irving TO recover from, at time "hei'
tho onnosite should prevail in order 10
,rdertake the tremendous work .,
reconstruction From sanitary an,
medical standpoint the removal aho
transfer of large number OF oou i'
might be productive OF epidenllcs ail''
nestilence. which can be reaoiiy
Information has been received ~
the army recruiting Stath"fis
Va maj negotiations with the French
government are now in progress WIZ
the view of securing a modinca'lon
or waiver of present ninister'al pr
bthition and of the proposed law IL
self II passed. so that the American ,
6oaa may be returned to the uniteo
states before the expiration OF 'he
three wear period Future acton II,
rncard to thu removal OF such dead
win depend upon the extent to whicn
the French government VIII consen'
10 modify its minist erial decision ano
tho provisions OF the proposed law
II must be ren,rnbered however os
those OF us on this side who are nos
familiar with the conditions uhuv'
which our loved ones gave their all
tha. during the continuance OF nos
tjlities II was nearly always impos-
sshle to ennbalm our dead. or even .o
nrovide baskets for their burial. In
very case or reinterment. however
a coffin was provided. Every enor'