Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-20
URGES RETURN or BODIES
OF MEN SLAIN OVERSEAS
is'chmond Father Registers Strong
Protest Against Inactivity OF
Government.
SAYS PLEDGE is UNREpEEMED
James b. Cleary Declares War De-
Partmcnt Promised to Bring Back
Boys, but Is Now Circulating
Propaganda Against Action.

phrtmcnt Promised to Bring Back
Boys, but Is Now Circulating
Propaganda Against Action.
has Pes sll1d6 that sto the War Department
turn to Amrica The bodies ID es''' Of those
soldiers who died or were killed over
s ssSs Eernard v,o cleary GIL North
dressed a letter to The Times Dispatch
lating PROPAGANDA with view OF
the bodies abroad. His letter says
propaEanda thai Is being eirculased
relative to the question of the removal
Of the bodies of our soldier dead. ami
the establishment voiced by the PEG
pie with whom you talk to about this
mater. Ter. l am asking that you alidw
me space TO present some of the facts.
and apparent status of this neglected
matter TO our citizens
governments liability with its soldiers
In the recent war was not ended until
TO their home stations The govern
ment recognized this obligation in
Dar, by speedily returning the living
deed very propcr). Does any one doubt
that this duty would have been ac
that these living Soldiers had a voice
anu used IT very Justify too. in de-
ha, ,h sn SS, Of Hai wha, ab9
dters whose voices are forever hushcd?
Does the government think that death
else why all the misleading statements
issued by our war Department?
Attitude Seems Changed.
Tho. War. Department at the very
the conflict. has repeatedly assured us.
both in an official way, and in the
these bodies would in be de i've to o. the o
parents who 80 desired them. After
to our anxious Inquiries. we were in
formed that they had TO bring back
mcd.a,ely upon the completion OF tina;
duty. the dead soldiers would be re-
turned 70 those who desired them. Tina,
sounded reasonable. o we waited patti
emily until we thought that about all
of the troops had been returned. and
they replied that nothing could be
gone because the French people had
of the bodies removed for 0 thaee any
we and that just soon as the
arm;stice was signed the commander
IN chief of the American expeditiona-y
force declared that none OF the dead
american soldiers should be brough:
propaIa nda Of Let the Tree lie where
u falls" has been quietly going on ever
sin a;Ss,. :. :. ,,
who have offered TO 60 over TO France
and get their sacred dead. and pay ali
expenses. are absolutely refused per
Why. is it tina. ex,Presiden, Roose-
welt and General rersh!ng's expressions
re! from The War pepartmeqi; y
honor and glory OF tie contemplated
great American field OF honor in
France is dwelt upon in nearly all
the departments letters and their pub
lished articles in the press?
Opposed by Army Officers.
Why Is 1t that army officers have
appeared before congressional com
mitiees and given voice to their OPP
position TO the removal of these
bodies?
Why is 1t that recruiting officers
are alIuringly setting forth dazzling
lonors OF the American field OF honor
and dwelling upon the many difficult
ties that would be entailed in remov
ing the bodies. and portraying the
feelings OF the French people. etc?
was sent out by the War Department
TO every bcreaved parent in the coun-
try. asking that II be signed-'yes' or
'no'-as TO whether or not they wanted
vita this card was n circular which
dwelt upon how very fitting and ap
remain where they fell. and how ten
derby and beautiful their graves would
be kept for all time in the great
american field of honor in France.
inducements held forth in this accom-
panyins circular. they only succeeded
in getting less taan % per cent or
the parents to consent TO leave the
bodies in France. Why was this cir
cular sent along with the return card ?
let me state right here that no
one has any quarrel with any parent
who desires his or her boys body TO
remain in France; that is purely CUES
ton Of individual preference, and not
for outside interference. And i, may
nrOhahiv anDF0nrtlfn E.X &
President Roosevelt and Admiral Gus
tav Kaemmerling TO give expression
10 their sentiments in view OF them
both having lost sons in the war. but
IL most certainly seems shameful and
unwarranted interference upon the
parents private. sacred rights for Off
cials who suffered no loss TO meddle
in matter OF this kind.
Pledge Is Not Redeemed.
Tho war has been over for nearly
year. and there hasn't been done the
wards redeemine it's pledge. Every
evidence points to their promise as
nothing but a., SCRAP Of Iy paper nr We do
turning these bodies. We feel that
n na ineS they %eud 10 have seen to
that all of the necessary preliminary
arrangements were made directly after
the signing OF the armstice. so that
when the living ones had been re-
turned there would have been no de-
lay III " 'HH iHS odCh INC oettu ones,
and had this been done we would never
have heard word Of the social lied
and much dwelt- French objec-
tons
1--WE feel now. since we have begun
TO realize the antagonism OF the War
Depa rtment that the so-called French
objections. and other obstacles are
largely visionary and are wondering
il they are not made to order for the
purpose of delaying the removal
hoping that we will forget il the
matter Is kept where It is We feel
deeply that we have. been dealt with
in shamefully unfair manner: and
that the French objections were real
and could be backed up with the logic
OF common sense (Which they cannot
be) i; undoubtedly would be a most
m