The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-05
SOLDIERS BURIED ABROAD

In regard to the disposition of the
bodies of our heroes buried abroad
the war department has issued a bul-
letin known as "No. lob" which ey-
plains in full all that will be done by
the authorities in this matter. Such
bulletin can be procured from the war
department at Washington Some of
the information is as follows:
The graves registration service, a
branch OF the quartermaster corps, is
the official organization of tre war de-
partment. charged with the acquisition
and control Of cemeteries in every
country embraced Within the field of
operations. 1t is also responsible for
the marking and preservation Of all
graves. No other organization shares
this authority, or has power to effect
arrangements or make promises con.
cerning this work. 1t must be remem-
bered also that this service does not
bury the dead. but confines it's oper-
ations to the location and control of
graves. 1t is not prepared to give in
formation on other subjects.
The exact location of grave is
communicated, whenever possible, to
the person whom the soldier had pre-
viOusly registered as the proper one
to be addressed, in case Of casualty.
The great mass OF information to be
gathered, verified and transmitted, will
generally account for delays in mott
fication.
Flowers, flags, etc.-We are fire.
quently asked to accept commissions
to place flowers, flags and other. gifts
on separated graves, but such requests
must necessarily be denied because of
the wide extent of our territory, the
exhausting nature Of the work, and
the impossibility of reaching a thous-
difficult conditions which obtain Such
requests are also discouraged for the
| reason that there should be no in
equality in the treatment of our ma
| tion's dead.
Monumehts-For the same reason,
| in addition to the fact that the gov
ernment would eventually be obliged
to transport monuments with bodies
to designated places of final burial it
! is not at present permitted to erect
any permanent monument; all graves
being temporarily marked with a cross
or the regulation headboard, such rs
| is used in national cemeteries in the
United States. No other markers can
be authorized until the final disposi-
tion Of the dead has been made.
Dsinterments-The exhumation Of
bodies is at present prohibited by the
laws of the countries in which we are
operating. No exception can be made
until the war department shall have
completed its plans for the shipment
of bodies to the states. This applies
also to disinterments for emplacement
in metal caskets; such action, for mil
itary reasons, having been disapprov-
| ed
Photography of graves is entirely
controlled by the chief of the graves
registration service. American expe-
dictionary forces, France. An officer
of the American Red Cross designated
as director of photography, is assigned
to the staff of the chief, graves regis
| tration service, for this work, under
his direction, and funds are provided
through the war chest contributed by
the American people. No funds
should be sent to the graves resigtra-
ton service, the Red Cross or indi
vidual officers for this purpose from
any private source.
| Owing to the difficulties of obtaining
the necessary technical staff, and the
inadvisability of setting up a large
Photographic laboratory in France, it
has been decided to distribute these
photographs through the bureau Of
communication, American Red Cross
national headquarters, Washington, D.
c., and all applications for pictures
should be fled there, as soon as no,l.
fcation of the location of grave has
been received by relative from the
chief, graves registration service.
| 1t Is the desire to furnish the best
possible service to sorrowing friends
at home. and with this end in view, it
is earnestly requested that relatives
OF our dead will be as patient as DOS
sible in awaiting these photographs.
1t will be appreciated that IL requests
are forwarded directly to the graves
registration service OF the army in
France. 1t will only add to the burden
of the work. without achieving the end
Return OF bodies to the United
States will be made in due time. ex-
cept In cases where a specific request
to the contrary is made; which re-
quest should be addressed to the ad-
jutant general of the army, Washing.
ton. d. c.. who will issue proper in
distractions. Due announcement of the
lreturn Of bodies will be made. and the