The herald., 1922-06-01
~ EANOEHS EZEZD5

In local storage under constant guard of American
watchmen. And thus the days work is done.
All excavations being completed within that
section, the bodies are then removed from the
local storage and accompanied by conveys and
guards are taken by rail or river barges, as
dltOhs allow, To the concentration point for that
particular section
Port officers maintain at all times close aison
with the field operating unit in order to obviate
MISUNDERSTANDING, TO prevent delays and Ia 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.
Inc ports chosen as shipping bases are: BreSt
ST. Nazaire. Bordeaux, TOulon, CherbOurg Calais
France: and Antwerp, Belgium, through which.
during last year, 20,91S bodies were returned to
America. CherbOurg has had the greatest number
10 handle as evacuation of bodies for return from
areas Of ROmagr2. Thiacourt and Belleau all
passed through this port, to the number of 25OOO
FINALLY the news comes from of the six
port that the transport is ready for its 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-
ton of the town and guard of honor, comprising
two or more companies of French soldiers who
come to pay homage to our dead
Quickly the news spreads that lies Americainsn
are taxing 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 waiting to place them
In the care of the guards 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 a triumphal procession OF
Americas heroic dead.
The port is reached and there on its great pier
al no lo;1
side under the watchfu care of the military
Guard of Honor" comprising a company of men
detailed from the American forces in Germany
Before it goes on the transport, each shipping
case containing a 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 commissioned officers of orr army are
present when this stenciing is done the quarter.
master general holding them personally respon-
sibe for all discrepancies and inaccuracies Ev-
erything finished to the satisfaction of these Off
GERS, the bodies finally placed on the TRANSPORT
the warning bell is sounded and the TRANSPORT
slowly moves away.
The military attachments stand at "Attentionp
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 transnort
a cable message bearing the names Of the dead
returning speeds on its way to Washington and ia
received by the chief of the cemeterial division
who Immediately takes steps to provide that every
care and attention shall be attendant upon the mr.
rival of the sacred cargo at the home port.
Let us leave for awhile our dead ms they cross
the great Atlantic and let us get a Climnse 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 sleeninp 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 arranrad
with simple dignity that seems TO be emnentIv
lifting 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 permanently hut the adyisabiIi,
of increasing the number of national cemetarios
abroad is receiving favorable consideration. il is
recently that Thiacourt has been added IN tho
number. In this ce."etery lie so many of the men