Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-04-02
WILL b Vt HOME IF
AELATIVES so DESIRE
Members Of Families win Not be
Permitted to Go to France to
Supervise Removal Of Dead

Of the bodies to this country. While
authority was sought of the last con.
|gress to make an appropriation for
the establishment Of q national field
OF honor in France for the burial OF
all American dead of the recent war,
the war department desires wher-
ever possible to meet the wishes of
relatives Of the heroes and return
to this country the bodies of all who
desire interment here.
The following memorandum of in
formation is being sent to relatives
of soldier dead:
"The war department desires to as
certain 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 repre-
|sentatives of the deceased are being
called upon now for an expression OF
their desires regarding the final dis
position of the bodies.
1T cannot be stated now just
when the work of transfer of the
bodies to this country will begin, as
It must be deferred until the con-
|ditions. including that Of transports
tion. warrant the undertaking. Due
notice will be given thru the public
press. ~
''It is not deemed practicable to
grant requests for relatives. friends
or undertakers to go to France to
superintend preparations and ship
Iments of. or to accompany bodies
back to the United States. You will
appreciate that there were over co..
900 casualties abroad, and to. per.
NIT even one representative to cross
in each case would require a great
deal of transportation both on thf
sea and abroad. Upon arrival abroad
they would have to depend upon the
grave registration units for infor,
nation and assistance, which would
/; only interfere with those units in
following any systematic plan o1
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
tion units, whose duty it is to lool
after burials, to care for the ceme
teries. and to preserve Identification
records.
Can Not Furnish Details.
"Details concerning the death o.
our soldiers are not ordinarily re
ceived by the war department. It II
believed you will appreciate the fac
that as rule it will not be possible
to furnish details. Many men were
killed during darkness, or on Z
smoky. dusty battlefield, and nj
witnesses are available. You cal
rest assured, however. that every
thing possible is being done to re
lieve the anxiety of the relatives oi
our soldiers who have made th(
supreme sacrifice in the great cause
|of liberty"
The war department also an
nounced that inquiries concerning tn,
following subjects should be address
sed to the official bureaus named op
posite the respective subjects:
Exact location of grave: Chic
grave registration service, American
expeditionary force, France.
Personal effects: Effects bureau
port Of embarkation, Hoboken, New
Jersey.
Back pay: Auditor for war de
partmerit, treasury department
Washington, d. C.
Liberty bonds: Director Of financ
es, Washington, D. G.
Allotments: Zone finance officer
Lemon building. Washington, d. G
Insurance.: Director, bureau o
war risk insurance, treasury depart
ment. Washington. d. C.
| .-o
when the Iowa roads reach tn,
stage that schools must be closes