New-York tribune., 1920-05-30
Council to Aid
In Caring for
Dead i'm France
Baker Announces Forma-
tion of War Memorials
Board: Members TO Rep
rcscntMany Organizations
Graves To Be Decorated
Report OH Possibilities
for American Fields
of Honor Is Approved

WASHINGTON, May 27- Secretary
OF War Baker tonight announced the
formation Of war memorials coun-
Gil, as recommended by Ralph Hayes,
Assistant to the Secretary Of War, in
his report on American military dead
overseas. Mr.. Hayes has just returned
from France. and in his report outlines
the possibilities for American fields
of honor in France. planted with Amer
lean memorial trees and approached by
memorial drives The report has been
approved by Secretary Baker.
The war memorials council will be
the advisory commission IN all matters
pertaining to caring for the dead,
Identification Of cemeteries and mark
ing of graves. Its members will in
clude representatives of The following
organizations: The National Fine Arts
Commission, the American institute OF
Architects, the American Forestry As
sociation, the American Legion, the
Navy Department, the Quartermaster
Corps (cemcterial division) and the
war plans division of the General Staff.
Within the council there will be d
committee on hostess house service,
consisting of delegates from the well
fare organizations, and a committee on
memorial and decorative art
The American Fsrestry Association,
according to Secretary Baker, has sent
millions of American tree seed to Eu-
rope for planting in the devastated
areas.
Recommendation in Report
The recommendation made in Mr.
Hayes's report are as follows:
l. That Romagne, Belleau and Su-
resncs be the permanent American
fields of honor in France.
2. That those bodies not requested to
be returned be concentrated in the
three locations named herein.
g. That the United States acquire
perpetual rights for cemeterial pur-
poses to a generous area say 7OOX900
metres) about the Romagne cemeterial
plot.
d. That the American Commission on
Military Remains be dissolved, by rea-
son of the completion of its work.
s. That headstones and markers be
vigorously uniform and erected by the
government, and that in the making of
permanent plots there be no segrega-
tion into distinctive locations on the
basis of rank.
6. That an advisory war memorials
sentatives from the several interested
organizations, and having committees
on hostess houses and commemorative
art designs.
7. That the War Department procure
the advice of the committee on COM
memorative art of the War Memorials
Council in matters concerning the de-
sign of statuary or structures to be
erected overseas under the authority
or with the collaboration of the de-
partment, and that the cooperation of
this committee be available for those
communities or societies wishing to
consult it concerning the form of pro-
posed war memorials.
Urges Uniformity in Decoration
"To this council, preferably as small
as possible, and its committees,' Mr..
Hayes says in his report, ''the War
Department might properly look for
guidance with rcpect to the design of
headStoneS, statues, mauSoleums, etc,
the landscaping of cemeterial projects
and the providing Of living accommo-
dations for relatives visiting burial
places, as well as for the permanent
personnel employed there Within the
fields of honor | urge that thorough
going uniformity should prevail in the
decoration Of individual graves Head
stones Of private design or markers
individually decorative should not mar
that equality to which the final sacri-
flee of the deceased has made them
heirs"
Regarding the American military
dead overseas the report reads:
"Some months ago a compilation Of
replies from an inquiry sent to ap-
proximately 10000 emergency addresses
CT deceased soldiers indicated that in
about 80 per cent of the eases the re-
turn Of the remains to America was
desired. The additional Al per cent
was made up of 26 per cent who al
tirmatively requested retention in