The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-01

battleflelds In Europe, on Saturday art
ernoon received the first official in
formation in regard to the plans of
the United States government to return
to their homes the bodies Of the
heroes. The statement is one signed
by Newton D. Baker, secretary of war,
and it indicates that the remains of
ell Kenosha men who fell on the bat
tie fields of France and Germany may
be brought back to Kenosha before
the end Of the present year. 1t states
that the expenses connected with the
return Of the bodies of these men will
be borne by grateful people. It
announces that the return of the bodies
of the heroes is already well under
way and that relatives will be notified
just as soon as possible as to the def
mite plans for the return of the bodies.
Divides Battle Area into Zones.
In his letter Secretary Baker ex-
plains to the Kenosha relatives that
the whole area in Europe has been di-
vided into three zones and that at
this time the work Of removing the
dead from two of the zones is now
going forward.
"The personal requests from rela-
tives indicate that practically seventy
per cent of the dead are to be returned
to their homes" the letter of the sec
rotary declares. "This will be about
$4,000 in all and with about 10000 or
$4,000 to remain permanently inferred
abroad"
It is estimated that the cost of re-
turning the bodies will be in the neigh
borhood of $500 but the assurance is
given that this cost will be borne from
appropriations made by the United
States government. Secretary Baker
announces that bodies which are to be
left abroad will be permanently inter
red on ga field of honor" and that the
cost of interment of such bodies will
be in the neighborhood of from $500
TO $3.50 each.
Caslzets Already Purchased.
The secretary states in his letter
chat 1900 caskets have already been
purchased and that many of these have
been shipped to France, Great Britain
and Russia, and that others are to
follow as rapidly as they can be Sc
cured.
1t is stated that all but III bodies
have been removed from the Siberia
sector and returned to homes in this
country. The work Of removing the
dead from cemeteries in England is
now under way. Many unide titled
dead, few of them victims of the
sinking of the Tuscania, were buried
in English cemeteries along the Irish
coast and the effort is now being made
to bring Identification for these bodies.
1t is possible that the wor will bring
some comforting news to Mr.. and Mrs.
John Junker, Sheridan road, whose
son, Corporal Arthur Junker, was one
OF the victims of the Tuscania. AT
the Junker home on Sunday it was de-
clared that no final word had ever
been received of the finding of the
body of Corporal Junker. 1t is be-
lieved that he was buried in one of
these little English cemeteries and it
is possible that the identification of
his body may follow the work now
being done by the government.
Early Return of Bodies.
The letter from the secretary Of war
guarantees the early return of all
bodies buried in zones outside of
France. Most of the Kenosha men who
fell in battle are buried in France and
many of them in the battle areas. The
bodies of such men will probably be
the, last to be returned to their native
. land, In regard to the removal of
the bodies from these areas Secretary
Of War Baker says: "The removal will
become operative as soon as the gov
eminent of France shall have agreed
to recommendations relative to evacua-
tion from the zone of the armies, which
are to be submitted by an international
council appointed for the comprehen-
sive study of the question affecting
allied dead, inferred within that zone.
So far as the American government is
concerned nothing can be done rela-
tive to this phase of the question I'M
til conclusions have been reached by
eAs French government itself"
Sow Bodies Have Been Lost.
eDuring the heat of battde aud the
rapid movement of contending armies
many bodies were necessarily buried
IN isolated locations and in sections
Where future maintenance was impos-
sible," says Secretary Baker "The
Graves Registration Service, falling
beir to these unsatisfactory conditions,
Sock the initiative in attempting sal
wage Of bodies, and their concentra-
SION in places where suitable mainten-
ance might be assured. Practically
10000 bodies have been so transferred
some 10000 isolated graves having
been removed iii one battle area alone.
No direction has been given concern
ing the permanency of these concen-
tration cemeteries, but it is undoubted-
" due to the forethought and energetic
action Of the Quartermaster Corps and
its Graves Registration Service that
many bodies of the dead which were
in danger Of loss, may be returned to
their homes"
Kenoshans Divided in Sentiment.
An investigation shows that Kenosha