The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-03-20
PAUL DONART SAID
To have been IN.
JURED OCTOBER 6
RED CROSS SECURES INFORMA-
TON AFTER MILITARY
BRANCH FAILS.
WAR DEPARTMENT CARELESS
SISTER TOLD TO SEE RETURNED
SOLDIER FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT BROTHER.

ADOOl DRO hLRs
The absolute incompetency of the
United States War department in re-
porting casualties, has been brought
very forcibly to the attention of Sank
Centre people.
In May, 1918, Paul Donart was
indicted into military service in COM
pany with many others from this city.
The boys were sent to Camp Lewis,
Wash, and later to- Camp Keamey,
Cal. At the later point they became
members of the 158th Unfit, of the
doth Division and were sent overseas
in August, 1918. Shortly after arriv-
ing in France, Paul, Joe Jackson and
others were transferred to a replace
ment company and sent to the front.
Prior to October first Paul wrote his
mother, Mrs. Rose Donart, at regular
intervals, but the last letter received
was dated October first. After lapse
of several weeks without word, moth
er-like, of course, Mrs. Donart began
to worry. Pvt. Joe Jackson had been
reported slightly injured Oct 18th, bu
up to this writing Paul's name has
never appeared among the missing,
slightly or severely injured, killed or
died of disease.
Joe Jackson returned to Sank Cen
tire in January and stated that he and
Paul had slept in shell hole in the
Argonne woods on the night of Oct.
4-that they went over the top to-
gether the next. morning and that he
had not seen or heard of Paul since.
Joe received his injuries October Is.
Mrs. Donart wrote the War Depart
ment December 25th and received an
answer advising her to write the
Commanding officer of Co. G. She
wrote as directed and received word
from the commanding officer that he
knew nothing about Co. G. as it had
been broken up and Paul had been
transferred.
About the first of the year the local
branch of the Red Cross started an
Investigation through the Northern
Division. On March Is 1919, Mrs.
Emma Moynihan,s secretary of the
Sank Centre branch, received the fol-
lowing message from the Northern
Division:
Mrs. Emma Moynihan,
Civilian Relief Committee, A R. c.
Sank Centre, MINI.
My Dear Mrs. Moynihan: Follow
ing is the copy of message received to-
day from the Bureau of Communica
ton:
"A cable from Paris received this
morning tells US that Pvt. Paul Donart
Co. G 128th Unfit, was reported slight
ly wounded in action Oct. 6, and that
they are investigating further for
some information. You may be sure
that just as soon as it is received we
will send it on to YOU"
Will you please forward this infor-
nation to Mrs. Rose Donart, the boys
mother, and assure her of our desire
to help in any way possible.
Very truly yours,
Marjorie q. Evans,
Director of Information Service,
Bureau Civilian Relief,
Northern Division.
You will note that Paul was slightly
injured in action on the morning of
Oct. 9Th, 1918, and at this writing,
five and one-half months later, the
War department haven't any trace OF
him.
The ineffciency of the department
is very aptly illustrated in the fol-
lowing under date of Feb. 18th, 1912
written to Helene Donart, Pau's sis
ter. in which the war department has
apparently learned through the Her
aid of January 23d, that Paul went
over the top with Joe jackson on
October 9Th. This Herald had reached
the home boys overseas and conveyed
the story of Joe,s return home. The
letter follows:
COMPANY "G'' 15Sth INFANTRY.
February Is, 1919.
From Company D &C" 15Sth Init,
A. E. F.
To: Miss Helene Donart.
Subject: Pvt. Paul Donart.
1. Your letter relative to the
above named soldier forwarded to
Commanding officer Of Co. sc" 128th
SIT.
2. Pvt. Donart was transferred
from this organization to a draft OF
Infantry Replacement Troops on
August 10Th, 1913. We are informed