The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-09
|NQVUN|E hts TO
j. s. SOL der
DESIRED
Military Order Of the World
War Backs Measure IN
Congress.

Il . - q
! War stands solidly behind the bill
before Congress providing for the
creation of an American battle nncIltl-
ments commission to erect suitable
memorials commemorative the serv-
ice OF the American soldier In Eu-
rope.
Rear Admiral T. j, CoWie, senior.
vice commander-in.chief OF the or
der, IN q recent letter to the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs. de.
clared that the order Is very much
interested in the marking Of the
American battlefIelds In EUROPE and
urgently recommends the enactment
Of the proposed bill, when meets
with us hearty approval. &
admiral IoWle suggested TO the
committee tnaI the proposed meas
ure be amended To include the COM
mande r-In-enief OF the military or
he said he firmly believed this
would add materially 10 the
strength Of the commission, and
that the commanders services on
the committee would be invaluable.
He said further:
The question OF the proper mark
ing Of our battlefields In Europe Is
not only most important, but very
urgent. Certainly, the great work
OF our soldiers should be cOmmeIn.
GRATED on the ground over when
they fought, and the project must
of necessity, be undertaken by the
National Government, in order to
insure historical accuracy, c0-ordina-
ton OF details, and artistic and
harmonious designs and conpre-
hensiye system Of marketing This
work naturally win require q num-
Der OF years.
The War Department has had y
board working on the general Ques-
ton for over year This board.
in conjunction with the National
Commission OF Fine Arts, has out
lined a project and prepared esti-
mates for the cost They have
also been carrying on historical
research to insure the. markings
involved in their project will be
correct. The work Of the board is
ready for submission to the COM
mission when created.
Personally, feel very confident
that there Is no member OF this
has read the letter Of the Secretary
of War, who will not gladly sup
port the proposed measure, and !
sincerely hope that the bill may
be promptly reported TO the House
and rule obtained for its speedy
passage. The Director OF the Bud
get reports that the tentative
project, as outlined, will cost APP
proximately $40 900. and that $685..
900 will be required for the first
two years. Since the bill, as
printed, calls for an appropriation
or but $4,000, suggest, in the
interest OF economy and in order
that the work, when started. may
not be interrupted, that the com
Imittee recommend an appropriation
/ of at least $125,O00 instead Of
$4,000. This, / am sure, will prove
economical in the end as well a. ex-
pedite the carrying on Of the work.
1--WE all must feel that proper
recognition on the fields over which
they fought Is due the American sol
diers. Their work IN Europe Is, tor
reasons best known to foreigners,
being constantly nninimized, and the
very least we can do for these sol
dersi is to write their achievements
l,on the ground and let them speak
for themselves. Otherwise, i will
be but short time before tourists
visiting Europe VIII begin to doubt
the real achievements of the Amer
lean soldiers, due to the fact that
poorly informed guides are furnished
propaganda entirely misleading and
giving undesirable and misleading
information concerning the Amsrl-
can participation on these battle
fields.
"Of the millions who sailed for Eu-
rope in the interest Of humanity,
thousands never returned, but gave
their all on the battlefieldS that we
propose to mark Many returned
who left arms and legs; others re-
turned sightless and will never be
able to see the battlefields when
properly marked. But to all these
brave men we owe debt OF graft.
tude that can never be paid, and the
very least we can do, at WhaIever
cost. Is to carry out the provisions
of the proposed bill and let the world
know that the achievements OF the
American soldier during the world
war can never be- minimiZed so far
az may be In the power OF this ma
ton to prevent 1t.
II you so desire, / will DO very
glad to appear In person before the
Committee on Foreign Atfairs ana
DISCUSS further with them the points
brought out lin the above,