, 1922-04-07
ON FOREIGN BATTLEFIELDs

At the request of the secretary of war, the presi-
dent has recommended TO the Congress legislation for
fbe creation of n Battle Monuments Commission. The
composition of the proposed commission as recon-
mended is as follows: The Secretary of War, one
United States Senator, one United States representa-
tive, a general of the United States Army, the ma
tional commander of the American Legion, one army
officer designated by the Secretary Of War, who snail
net as the secretary Of the commission
1t Is proposed that this commission shall have the
speoi6ic duty of erecting suitable memorials comment
Grating the services of American forces in France
Belgium and Italy. It is intended that special monu-
Dents of artistic design will be used to mark the
places of unusual historical importance in connection
with the American Expeditionary forces, as, where
the first American soldier was killed in Europe;
where first American soldier was wounded at the
front; where German raid on First Division Noven-
Der 3rd, 1917, took place. during which the INST three
American soldiers were killed in action and the nrst
American prisoners were taken; first sector held by
an American division acting as a complete unit; where
the 18th U. S. Engineers fought at Cambria, after the
British lines had been broken and held the Germans
IN check until the British and French brought up rein
forcements; sector where the 9th o. S. Engineers
held the Germans in check, March Fl, 1918; sectors
marking the location of the 369th, 370th, 371st, 372o
regiments, which were brigaded with the French
troops; spot near Casara, italy, where the 3s2d q. s.
Infantry WIS engaged.
In addition to these special monuments, bronze
tablets will be placed to mark certain buildings OF in
terest in connection with our military operations IN
foreign lands. Outline map monuments VIII be
erected showing former positions of American troops
in the battle sectors. These monuments will be in the
form of relief maps and will show in eolored enamel
battlefront lines and numbers OF American troops
engaged. The face Of the block toward the observer
will show the coat-of-arms of the United States and
the words, Omitted States of America" viii be cut in
bronze. !
The idea of a relief map showing the topography of
the immediate locality is that a person can look out
over the ground and pick out the places where the
various forces fought and be able to trace what
ground was either lost or gained. This is a new idea
in connection with battle monuments, as the monu
ments which have been erected on battlefronts n
previous wars do not give the visitor any inforn0'
which enables him to revisualize the movements Of
troops at that particular place. For this reason e"
are necessary at all such places in order to give
visitor an adequate idea of the troop movements.
It is further planned to place monuments at sites OF
former division headquarters of American forces at
the time the division held a sector. These monuments
viii give a sketch Of the part each division played in
the war. It is also proposed to erect an appropriate
building near one Of the permanent cemeteries in
France, in which building win be housed relief maps
of all operations of all American forces during the
world war. This is desirable because it is. believed
most visitors viii have neither the time nor the money
to visit more than a few of the battlefelds and will be
able, by consulting these maps, to ascertain exactly
where they wish to go with the least waste of time
and expense. At this building there win also be
pamphlets that will give additional historical informa-I
ton concerning the movements of American forces in
France during the world war.