Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-05-18
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in local storage under constant guard of American
watchmen. And thus the days work is done.
All evaeuations being completed within that
section, the bodies are then removed from the
local storage, and accompanied by conveys and
guards, taken by rail or river barges, as con-
ditiOns allow to the concentration point for that
particular section.
Port officers maintain at all times close liaison
with the field operating unit in order to obviate
misunderstanding, to prevent delays, and to per-
NIT satisfactory and definite plans being made In
sufficient time for sailing. These concentration
points are under the personal and constant super
vision Of commissioned officers and watchmen who
are honorably discharged American soldiers.
The ports chosen as shipping bases are: Brest
st. Nazaire, Bordeaux, Toulon Cherbourg, Calais,
France; and Antwerp, Belgium, through which,
during last year. 2091S' bodies were returned to
America Cherbourg has had the greatest number
to handle as evacuation of bodies for return from
areas Of Romagne, Thiacourt and Belleau all
passed through this port to the number Of 25,OOO.
Finally the news comes from one of the six
porte that the transport is ready for It's precious
cargo. Officers, conveys and guards then place
the dead on special French trains or barges which
have been draped with American flags. Depart
ure Is taken amid large gatherings Of the popula-
tion Of the town and q guard Of honor, comprising
two or more companies of French soldiers who
come to pay homage to our dead:
Quickly the news spreads that "les Americans"
are taking their dead heroes home, and all along
the line of the journey many are waiting Priests
are there and these men of God gently and loving
ly chant the prayers for the dead while children
with arms full OF flowers are waiting to place them
in the care of the guards or drop them on the
barges as they slowly pass by. Every honor is
shown both by civil and military France; and so
the journey becomes triumphal procession OF
Americas heroic dead.
The port is reached, and there on it's great "Pier
of the Dead" the bodies are gently laid side by
side under the watchful care Of the military
Guard of Honor" comprising company Of men
detailed from the American forces In Germany.
Before it goes on the transport, each shipping
case containing body Is carefully gone over to
ascertain If it is in perfect condition for ocean
transportation
The tag showing the name and address Of the
consignee which has been tackled to the side Of
the box Is then removed, and name and address
stencilled on the side instead. The port officers,
who are commissioned officers of our army, are
present when this stencng is DONE the quarter
master general holding them personally respon-
slble for all discrepancies and inaccuracies Ev-
erythng finished to the satisfaction OF these off,
GERS the bodies are finally placed on the transport
the warning bell is sounded and the transport
slowly moves away.
The military attachments stand at Attention"
while their bugles salute the dead. All flags and
ensigns of shipping, or those on vessels Of the
various navies of the world, which may be repre-
sented in the harbor are lowered as our funeral
ship solemnly passes out, and then begins the
long last voyage of our soldier dead.
simultaneously with the sailing Of the transport,
cable message bearing the names of the dead
returning speeds its way to Washington and Is
received by the chief Of the cemeterial division,
who Immediately takes steps to provide that every
care and attention shall be attendant upon the ar
rival of the sacred cargo at the home port
Let us leave for awhile our dead as they cross
the great Atlantic and let get glimpse of
the fields of honor in whose beautiful broad, white
acres will repose for all time those whose nearest
Of kin desire that they shall stay sleeping In
France. The Quartermaster corps has spared no
effort in making lovely and lasting monuments to
the boys who made the supreme sacrifice. Grounds.
graceful and majestic, were chosen and arranged
with simple dignity that seems to be eminently
fitting for the resting places Of the dead.
At the present time, only five cemeteries in
France and Belgium have official approval and
sanction for their permanency but the advisability
of increasing the number Of national cemeteries
abroad is receiving favorable consideration; it is
recently that ThiacOurt has been added to the
number. In this cemetery lie so many Of the men