Evening star., 1923-12-09
AMERICAN BATTLE CEMETERIES
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

again the government curtailed the
amount to be purchased, and again
Mrs. Frazer's association has come to
the front and bought two fields nee
essary to bring the property out to
the two roads.
Most of the land occupied by Amer
lean Gem meteries was donated by the
French government, but in some in
stances 1t has been necessary to pur-
chase small areas in order to protect
the cemeteries from the encroach-
ments of persons interested in estab-
fishing shabby numerical enterprises
on the outskirts.
The gem OF the American ceme-
teries, according to Mr.. Moore, is the
one at Suresnes, near Paris, which
lies along the Boulevard George
Washington and stretches back to the
wooded slopes of Dilerien, one of the
Paris area. The plans for this ceme-
terry include small plot OF land on
the side of the boulevard opposite the
cemetery, on which two buildings are
being erected. Joined by a terrace
overlooking the Seine and Paris.
magne. The main road from Ro-
magne to Verdun passes directly
through the cemetery. which slopes
up the hills on either side of the road.
with the graves on one side and the
necessary buildings on the other
slope.
The British have 1900 cemeteries
in France to our six. Thus, If the
American participation In the world
war Is going to count visibly in
France 1t Is necessary to make the
six American cemeteries impressive
This can be done only by using suf-
ficient land and making the buildings
dignifled, while the landscape effects
the constant aim Of the Commission
Of Fine Arts to make the architecture
In these cemeteries "feel at home" in
France. Simplicity and dignity, good
proportions and good design have
been sought.
How the Graves Are Marked.
Each grave will be marked by, a
white marble headstone of simple,
dignified design, upon which will be
inscribed the full name of the SOL
dier, his rank. regiment, division and
the state from which he came. In
circle two and a quarter inches in
diameter near the top will be cut a
Latin cross. embIematic of the Chris
tian faith. or the Star of David, en-
blematic Of the Jewish faith. The
stones will be "a inches above ground,
Is inches wide and inches thick,
with q slightly rounded top.
1t may seem a bit odd that it has
taken four years to bring the ceme-
teries to their present state of con-
struction, but that is because of the
enormity Of the task which has faced
the War Department. A brief review
OF the activities Of the graves regis
tration bureau of the War Depart
ment will give an idea of the diff
culties involved.
During the war the lack of ship
ping space prevented the Immediate
return Of American dead. Graves
registration units were, therefore, or
ganized, which followed closely on
the heels of the troops. often to the
very line Of combat. They searched
for the unburted dead, exhumed the
hastily and inadequately buried and
reburied them in selected temporary
cemeteries. making a careful report
to the headquarters Office. 1t, in
turn, advised the next of kin given
by the decedent Of the grave location
and made record Of requests received
as to the final burial place for the
body. In some cases photographs of
individual graves we're made by the
Red Cross and sent to bereaved fam
lilies.