The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1920-06-24
FIELDS OF HONOR
ARE DESCRIBED
BY RALPH HAYES
American Cemeteries In France Oc-
cupy Beautiful Sites and are
Accessible

In his report TO the Secretary OF
War. Ralph Hayes recommended that
the American cemeteries At Romagne.
Snrresness and Belleau Woods, in
France, be made permanent. De-
scribing these cemeteries in the same
report. Mr.. Hayes wrote;
Nesting beueath the massive gray
walls OF ri. Nalerien and with the
Seine beneath IL. Surennes cemetery
is pieturesQuesly located in the viii
lage OF the same name. ON the out
skirts of Paris Flanking IL on three
sides is the beautiful Washington
boulevard. Al either end OF the
present reservation. additional par
cells OF land are being secured. so that
in additional To the enlargement OF
the area. there will be no possibility
OF commercial encroaehment. More
than 600 bodies are now In Suren-
mes and there will be maximum ca
pacity of 5000. Its location within
few miles OF the capital solves the
questions OF transportation and hotel
accommodations. Sentimentallv II j
a splendid location for lasting and
solemn memorial of GrancO-Aneri-
can military cooperation.
Beiieau Moods teinetery.
Deep in the consciousness OF
Americans everywhere are the neigh
boring localities of Chateau-Thierry
and Belleau Woods. These spots TO
us are symbols which serve to dram
atize the final crushing of the Ger
man offensive on the banks OF the
Marine. Americans In France viii 20
as a matter OF course to the fields
nearest Paris where our troops so
distinguished themselves. II was al
Belleau that Marine forces were SO
heavily and heroically engaged. to-
gether with other troops in June,
1918. IL is particularly fitting that
the war department should retain
this burial place. so firmly rooted in
the affections and so baptized by the
blood of the army's sister service.
The trip from Paris Is made easily IN
a day by automobile or train and am
pie hotel accommodations are avail
able in Chateau-Thierry. few miles
from Belleau.
1000 Buried at Romange.
when, in late September. from all
the region about the Mouse and the
forest OF Argonne a khaki host went
forward TO the attack which was TO
end only on the eve OF the armistice |
UONlAlttA VI Ah' 'tf''f
was the great bulk OF Montfaucon. |
Not far away was the modest village |
Of Romagne. Now. on a gentle slope |
beside the gaunt ruins OF the little
own $4,000 crosses mark the place
" nearly half our dead in the zone OF
he armies. They lie In ground they
themselves wrested from the enemy
N the last month OF fighting.
faflliflAG In H0-
nagne are still inadequate and there
ire no commercial hotel accOmfnoda-
sons In the immediate vicinity. But
combination of army barracks, Rel
ross equipment and Y. NJ. G A. per
onnel has resulted inthe establish
nent OF comfortable hostess house.
imple and unpretentious. but adequ-
Itely able TO supply food and lodging
1 normal cost TO parents visiting the
emetery Two Red Cross automo
mobiles are kept there and met the
rains each day at Dun-sur- Meuse.
he nearest railroad station.
"The remoteness OF Romagne from
french centers OF population is not a
efficient deterrent to its retention.
indeed a location of relative seclu-
ion would be preferred by many per
ons as more befitt'ng a city OF the
cad than IA place near the much ira
eled paths OF the casual passer-by.
he Americans who have an interest
4 the white field at Romagne will
ave an interest also in the terrain
ound about. for which the men
hose remains are there paid the full
ieasure OF devotion. Verdun. Mont
ucon. Grandpre. Sedan-these will
ave their Mace for all the wears I'm
ne history text OF unborn genera