The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-02-18
DEAD" Army TO
UNITED STATES
The Bodies Of the Yankee Soldiers Bur
led in Europe Will Soon
Start for Home
MOVEMENT is A GREAT TASK
Over $4,000 Relatives OF Yankee Dead
Want Reburials in This Country
Army Transports to be Utilized

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 12-An-
other homeward movement of the
American soldiers who fought lin
Europe will start in the early spring
a return journey not Of men who will
cheer from the ships as they enter New
York harbor, but of men who will come
from the silent fields where they now
lie buried abroad.
Combined plans Of, the war depart
ment for bringing home the American
soldier dead have been made known.
Ralph Hayes, of Cleveland, O., assistant
to Newton y. Baker, secretary OF war,
will start abroad the end of this week
as the personal representative of the
secretary to get in touch with the work
and bring back information for the de-
partment. Il
Two organizations have been bring
ing pressure to bear on the government
from different directions. the Bring
Home the Soldier Dead league. which
asked that the bodies of American boys
be returned home for final rest, and the
Field OF Honor association, which adj
vocates final burial of the men in
fields of honor" in the war country
Want F4s, ,9os Returned
The war department, which long ago
promised the return Of the body Of ev-
cry soldier whose relatives desired 1t,
has committed itself to the policy of
consulting and meeting the wishes of
the parents or others who are the next
of kin Of the dead. In pursuance of
this policy, the adjutant generals office
sent out 74,770 cards to the next Of kin,
receiving 63,70a answers.
The preliminary canvass resulted I'm
AZ, ,9O9 requests for returned to the Unit
ed States, 19,499 requests for retention
in Europe, and 300. requests for rebur.
ials in countries other than the United
States.
AS explained in the case Of men bur.
led elsewhere than in France, the bodies
will be returned to this country unless
there is request from relatives to the
contrary. All bodies of American SOL
diers buried in Germany and Luxem-
burg are to be removed whether or not
such action is requested. If so desired
nv the next of kin these bodies will be
sent backsto the United States; If not,
they will be reinterred in cemeteries in
France. Bodies Of men buried in
France viii be returned home provided
it is SO requested. i1
7310l Gr1yes Registered
6g 70 December, 1919. the graves regis.
stration service had registered 1881
graves, distributed over eight countries
Of Europe. The summary of registra.
ton work is: &,
Graves registered in France, zone OF
the armies, 5l.0O1; in France, zone OF
the interior, 1866; in British isles, p.
519; In Germany. 1.207: in Belgium, 4, ,O15
ina Luxemburg, 154;s in north Russia
Archangel. III; in Italy rs; in Spain, p
Total, 1851. Sg
OF the dead buried in the British isles
1872 are in England, 6S0sin Scotland
26 in Ireland and l in Wales. These
dead will be the first brought back, In
ali probability ,and it Is anticipated the
first returns will start from Southamp
ton within two months.
The return Of the bodies from the
zone of the interior in France will begin
about the same time or. shortly thereaf'
ter, it is expected.
1t must be borne in mind that the
task will not be easily nor quickly com
pleted. Speed is being held secondary
to care and complete Identification. The
work Of bringing back the bodies will
he gradual burt once the movement be-
gins. two months hence, it is expected
. II viii be. carried straight through until
each parent or other relative who long
for tfiN American burial of the one 'WhG
died abroad will have been granted then
= S,,;Shas r y III tFi$ +. futga2 ~ 0iTs EHIis
M special ships will be employed for
the returning of the bodies, but army
afrahsportsWill be utilized, iilasm,ich as
the returns will be by gradual process