The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-04-17
To BRING BODIES
FROM WAR ZONE
THREE PROJECTS OF REMOVAL
ARE APPROVED BY THE SEC
RETARY OF WAR.
WHERE TO PLACE PERSHING?
Commander of Oversee Forces Willing
Away His Time Making Inspections
of the Postwar Nations Unable
to Pay Money Borrowed of v. S.


Washington.-The war department
has finally found itself able to give
congress some definite information rel
alive To the disposal and protection of
the remains of American soldiers who
died in France. Three separate prof.
ects of removal have been approved by
the secretary of war The first OF
these involves removals from all cOun-
tries outside of France, and orders
have been issued by the secretary OF |
war Immediately To undertake this |
work. Under this order removals have !
been made from Siberia. One hun
dred and eleven bodies have thus far
been removed from the Archangel d-s-
trict i'm north Russia. This work has
been temporarily suspended because or
disturbances in that country. About
100 bodies still remain in north Rus
STA, and the secretary of war expresses
the view that probably nothing can be
done toward their removal for Il peri
cd of one year.
The bodies buried in Germany are
to be brought home ut once. In Great
Britain there are % places in which
our dead are buried. The bodies bur
| led in these places are to be brought
| home this summer. In Italy all bod
| les have been concentrated in one
| place and the matter of their transfer
| To the States will. the secretary OF
! war saws, be easily effected.
May Return All This Summer.
The second project of removal for
which authority has been obtained in
wolves the branch zone of the interior,
including all the base and intermedl-
ate sections of the battle area. 1t was
at first intended 10 begin work of re-
movaI at Paris. but the congestion OF
French railways has been such that
4 has thus far been impossible to OBJ
tain necessary transportation permits.
However, the war department believes
that everything planned under TINS
project can be accomplished during
this coming summer.
It is the third project in which so
many thousands of persons in the
United States are Interested. That
proiect will become operative as soon
as the government of France agrees
to recommendations relative TO eVac
nation from the zone of the armies
The secretary of war tells congress
that so far as the American govern
ment IS concerned nothing can be done
relative TO this phase of the question
until conclusions have been reached
nv the French government itself. 1t i
confidently believed, however, that l
&c only n question OF time until th'
French government will grant in ful
the request made by the United States
the request for permission 10 brln
home all bodies buried in the war area
The small force of the graves reg
istration service left in France atte
the work of rehabilitation has bee
increased as first step toward brin9
ing hack the bodies. Motor transpOl
tation has also been secured. so, ger
orally Speaking, the war department
prepared to begin the work OF evacu;
tion in a wholesale way as soon q
France agrees TO il. The responses
the letter of inquiry which the depar
ment sent out some months ago to Il
NEXT of kin are now practically all Il
and they indicate that 40 per cent
the dead are to be returned TO the
homes. about $4,000 in all, and th'
about 10000 or $4,000 will remain pc
manently buried abroad.
Expense Will Be Small.
An estimate of the probable cost
the third project the secretary OF WI
SAYS. can be only tentative at this tim
hut he believes that it is likely TO
volva n minimum expense of $500
each case. The secretary of war :
reves. so he says, that minimum a
nropriation of S30,OO0O00 will be
ouired for the completion of the VOL
The sundry civil bill for the cure
wear contains an appropriation OF
AL 600 for the removal of bodies, a
the secretary has requested that [
amount appropriated in the sund
riv,I bill for the year which VIII
gin July l, be s22.OO0,OOO.
In preparation for the carrying
Of the removal projects three zof
have been created in Europe, the 20
of Great Britain with headquarters
Jondon. the zone of mid-Europe &C
- nr,sing all the continental countr
outside of France and having he'
quarters at Cohen, and the zone
France. The graves registration Sc
ice which is to carry out the reno
nroiects has recently been made
division In the quartermaster gener'
office. A large force of clerks in {
division is now engaged in the w
of reconciling conflicting reports, GO
Melting identificatiOns which have n
erto been in doubt, and working
from the mass of diverse and e
conflicting requests from relatives
necessary data upon which the ret
of bodies may be effected.
The nearest of kin naturally wan
know how soon they may expect S
ment from France. On this point
war department responds that II
not say.
Problems UnsolVed.
After having won great war
shall we do with our generals VINO
POWDER MIsAPPLiEo.