Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-23
SOLDIERS RECORDS
STATE TO RECEIVE HISTORY OF
EVERY SERVICE MAN.
Di9 Work Undertaken by War Depart
msnt - Complete Data Regarding
Those Killed in War and Who Died
in Service to Be Compiled First
No Passports for Near Aliens.
by l.. G. Dougherty.l

Washington, Dec. 23.--ShoNly aiter
the first Of the year Adj. Gen. Charles
I.asher will begin to receive complete
military data and records OF service
of all the Iowa boys who We're killed IN
action or which died In the war against
Germany, in pursuance to the plan OF
the war department to furnish all state
adjutant generals with complete data
on the military service Of the men OK
each state. After the names and rec
ords of the Iowa Logs who fell in the
war are supplied to Adjutant Lasner.
the names and military records OF
those to whom decorations were be-
slowed will be furnished, and then the
names and military data Of all the 9TH
er Iowa sons who Joined the colors
during the war against the Hun.
Mai. Gen. Peter c. Harris, tho ad-
jutant general Of the army. now has
large force of clerks and military ex-
perts compiling the history OF each
man who served in the war against
Germany. The task involves 100000
soldiers. but, It Is expected that the
data will be Supplied to every state ny
the end of, the fiscal year. June w.
1920.
This furnishing Of e1ery state with
the military history Of her sons was
authorized in an act of congress pass
ed more than a year ago, when the
provost marshal general was given an
appropriation for the employment OF
clerical help required to furnish to the
adjutant generals of the several states
statements Of the service Of all per-
sons from those states who entered the
military service during the war with
Germany"
The intention Of congress in author
+izing the distribution Of this military
information. 1t is believed, was for the
purpose Of encouraging the state off,
Gals to in turn place the data In the
hands of the families Of the soldiers.
In this work, the posts Of the Amer
lean Legion are likely to cooperate
with the state officials in placing In
the hands Of the relatives OF the Iowa
heroes the facts concerning their mill
tary history.
No Passports for Near Aliens.
Iowans who were born In Germany
and Austria and have taken out only
their first naturalization papers Will
not be permitted to return to their ma
tive country on American passports.
the state department oday notified
Senator Kenyon. The department Of
state also intimated that no assurance
could be given these aliens who did
embark, for their fatherland that they
would be admitted to the United
States on their return, because ilegis-
lation calculated to bar all nationals OF
the kaiser's former realm 10 likely TO
be passed when congress re-convenes
after the holiday recess.
Senator Kenyon has received num-
Der of requests for passports from
citizens of Iowa who were born In
Germany and Austria and who have
failed to complete their naturalization.
all of them only having taken out their
first papers or made declarations OF
their intention to become American
citizens. He referred the cases to the
passport or citizenship bureau OF the
department Of state, with the result
that little encouragement was given to
persons who failed to become full
fledged American nationals.
The applicants. who. in the eyes OF
the American government arc con-
sidered aliens and subjects Of their
fatherland. because Of their failure to
become completely naturalized. II they
desire to return to tho old country
must make application to the consular
officer in Chicago. who Ia handling the
affairs of their former government. In
the case Of Germans. the consul OF
Switzerland at Chicago. is the proper
officer to whom request should be
made for wise Of permits to sail.
The precautionary advice given by
the state department on the matter Of
re- admittance to this country Is sx-
pected to be deterrant to many Of
the Iowa citizens who have entertained
desires to return temporarily to their
former homes In Europe. It was
pointed out that upon coming back to
America they will have to 60 thru the
same procedure Of satisfying immigra-
ton Officials Of their right to land.
and If stringent legislation, which has