Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-21
MEGLECTs Graves.
GRAVES or AMERICAN SOLDIERS
NOT BEING CARED FOR
Returned Red Gross ehetouraphs~.
Iowa Man, Reports Conditions Very
unsatisfaotory--oravss Service Slow
Would Leave Bodies Overseas
Suggests Iowa Monument

Des Molnes, Jan. 2l.--America has
little Of which to be proud in the man
ner in which the graves Of the men
who died in France are being cared
for.
Such is the message brought back
TO Iowa by Charles Darlington. who
has just returned from overseas, where
he has been photographing graves of
American soldiers for the Red Cross.
Mr.. Darlington told OF what was be-
ing done in France. and what should
be done by this government in caring
for the final resting. places of the
American heroes, at dinner given in
mis- honor by newspaper associates.
From the cemeteries of the army of
occupation along the Rhine io the
cemeteries IN the rear areas of France
only once did Mr.. Darlington see an
American flag flying he said.
Grave Service Slow.
In one instance he found q cemetery
In which tlGe regulation crosses had
not been raised. He reported the case,
ana returned in several months TO
find, thai despite the report the
graves registration service had done
nothing.
In many places the graves We're
sunken. not properly marked and
without sign OF grass or shrub to
relieve the bleakness OF the view"
says Nh. Darlington. ar have photo
graphs showing some cemeteries in
which crosses were broken off or
splintered and in some cases with the
cross arm bearing the name nailed
on upside down. These cemeteries
were those cared for exclusively by
the Americans. They Will doubtless
be put in shape In time but Uncle
Sam has big job ahead. The Gem
eteries which the French are caring
for and contain hundreds Of American
dead are well kept for the most part.
Would Leave Bodies Overseas.
Personally I do not believe it Is
practical for the United States to
bring the bodies OF our Yank heroes
home. In many cases, the boxes in
which these bodies repose would not
stand the strain and often the boys
were buried in rain coats or blankets.
doubt whether it would be possible
to remove them. England has many
thousands more men buried in Europe
than has Uncle Sam and England Is
not expecting to return any OF the
bodies to the British Isles.
THE most carefully cared for graves
I found were those in the little old
French cemetery on the hill just out
side Of Baccarat," he said.
ut was here the first Iowa men TO
die in France lie buried. 1t Is here
that the twenty-four victims of the
Battle of BadOnviller, March 8. 1915
have been laid. Capt Harry c.. Nc
Henry, Capt. Edward O. Fleur, Lieut..
Clarence Green of Winterset, and two
score others of the men who died In
those Lorraine trenches in the foot
hills of the Vosges mountains make
the spot an Iowa shrine"
Iowa Should Rear Monument.
The French of Baccarat and Of the
two little, nearby towns Of de Neurve
and Badmenil have kept these graves
sacreGly. MIR. Darlington reports. They
spare no time nor expense in honor
ing the memories of the men of the
Gent soixante-huit" who are buried
there.
It Is at Baccarat that The Capital
has suggested that Iowa raise a mon
ument to the men from this state who
gave their lives abroad.
In a letter written to Gov. w. L.
Harding yesterday. The Capital has
urged the states chief executive to
forward that plan in the next session
Of the legislature. ....
Baccarat will forever be shrine
for Iowa pilgrims In Europe. It should
be marked by suitable monument by
the state whose sons fought and died
in it's sector.