Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-02
BODIES OF SOLDIERS BURIED IN
FRANCE CAN NOT BE RE.
TURNED HOME.
FRANCE PROHIBITS IT.
WAR DEPARTMENT SAYS
Efforts May Be Made TO Secure Modi.
fiSation Of Ruie-Mcst Relatives De.
sire Bodies of Kin Rest in France
Decrease Compared to Last Week.
tBy Z. G. Dougherty.l

Washington, d. c., August -2-Un-
til the French government o. con-
sents, the bodies of Iowa soldiers who
are buried in French cemeteries can
not be returned to this country. an an
nouncement just issued by the war
department makes plain.
There are approximately 100000
bodies inferred in France as a result
Of the war. The attitude of the French
government is against the removal of
any OF these and legislation prohibit
ing the removal for a period Of three
years from Jan. i. 1919. is now before
the French parliament for considera-
ton. Pending the enactment Of this
law, the matter is regulated by minis
terial action of the French government
Legislation.
France objects to the removal Of the
soldier dead because the disinterrment
would result in numerous funerals
and renewed mourning in France
alone. adding to the period of national
depression and sorrow of the nation
there. Also the removal and transfer
Of large numbers of bodies might be
productive Of epidemics and pestilence,
Negotiations with the French gov
eminent, the war department an
nounces, are now in progress with a
view to securing a modification Of the
prohibition against removing Ameri-
can bodies IN order that the requests
IL, III Gov l,A
turn of their dead may be granted. The
war department, however, warns that
in many cases it would be undesirable
that caskets on their arrival in this
country should be opened because OF
the condition Of some of the bodies.
While the war department desires to
conform to the wishes OF the relatives
Of American soldiers who are buried
in France, ii was pointed out today
that many relatives have expressed a
desire not to have the bodies Of their
dead returned.
Among these the war department
announcement said, "are two OF our
most distinguished citizens. both SER
vice men. the one an ex-soldier and
ex-president, the other a sailor: the
late Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and
Admiral Gustav Kaommerling. U. s.
navy, each Of whom wrote in effect
that he could conceive Of no greater
honor for his dead son than to rest
where he fell, fighting the foes OF
civilization, upon battlefield OF
France"
U. S. to Care For Cemeteries.
Confidence was expressed in the de-
partment announcement that the
American government would provide
cemeteries OF American fields Of hon
or" to be cared for and maintained by
the United States government.
The French government" the an
nouncement said. has considerably
offered to cede several tracts Of land
for this purpose. One Of them. at
Romagne-seus- Mentfaucon, Is in the
heart Of the Meuse-Argonn battle
field. Another is near the city OF
Paris, upon the slopes OF Mount
Valerian. overlooking the pretty town
Of 'Suresmes, the valley Of the Seine
and the Bots Boulogne. No more
beautiful site could be imagined. The
! municipality &C Paris has already con-
structed splendid highway. called
Boulevard Washington, connecting the
latter cemetery with the French
capital. ...
IF we follow the example of our
allies. no private monuments will be
permitted to be erected over the
graves and thus all discrimination
will be avoided. Where every one did
as well in life. there should be no dis
tinction in death. On the contrary
standard or uniform headstones will
be provided at the public expense, as
in our national cemeterial. differing
only in the inscriptions and symbols
of religious faith, and possibly grouped
in accordance herewith. Perhaps
national monuments may be erected
as we'll as state memorials. after being
passed upon by an art commission and
with the approval of the proper au-
thorities. thus making one or more
enduring testimonials to the courage
Of the American soldier and to the
| decisive part played T.; the United
States in the great war"