The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-08-27
Bodies Of American Soldiers
Are Being Found In France
After Seven Fleeing Years Discov.
cries Are Being Made By Feder-
al Research Workers

Paris, France, Aug. 24-Recent
discoveries of the remains of Ameri-
can soldiers lying on French battle
fields have brought the number OF
bodies now in the mortuaries of
American cemeteries over here to
eighty.
The majority of these have been
identified, and are awaiting what
ever disposition may be directed by
the next of kin. The others are be-
ing held for further investigation and
research in the archives Of the War
Department in Washington in the
hope that they too may be Identified.
Seven years after the American
legions swept across the fields of
western France, little detachments
of men just as determined may be
found today securing those historic
trails blazed in 1918 for comrades
who fell in battle.
After seven feeting years, during
which service men have become ac--
customed again to roll-top desks and
regular baths, an average OF fifteen
honored names of their buddies are
being stricken monthly from the
American Army rolls of the Miss
ing," according to Colonel William o.
Smith, of the Quartermaster Depart
ment, commanding officer OF the
Graves Registration Service.
Returning from his periodical tom
of the American cemeteries he re-
ported that 159 bodies of American
boys have been found during the past
ten months. About seventy-five per
cent of this number have been iden-
titled. The missing stoll totals rough
ly 1900.
The ranks of our Unknown Sol
diers are decreasing week by week,
to the comfort of loved ones at home
who all these years have suffered
from the haunting doubt which is
keener than sorrowful certainty. Re-
Gently the remains of six Americans
were discovered in one grave in the
Fismes sector. All but one, an Off
Ger, has been identified, and the
service is confident that the War De-
partment will be able to supply data
to establish the name of the officer.
These men were found near a rail
road embankment.
The work of locating graves is ex-
tremely difficult at this time of year,
Colonel Smith said, because of the
high grass and foliage about tbs
thicR underbrush. Our boys learned
something about that underbrush
seven years ago this month, and
while it was an impeachment to pro-
gress, it often served as friendly
cover. 1t is still cover for those who
remained there.
The best time for retaining the
dead is in the late autumn or winter.
Under Colonel Smith systematiZed
search of the various sectors where
Americans fought has been organic
ed, and from clues already at hand
workers expect to exceed their aver
age later this year. In Beleau Wood
alone it is hoped that the remains of
fifty Marines will soon be found.
At this late day the parents of
most of these men whose remains
have been found direct that they
shall be buried in France, and ac-
cordingly they are laid finally at rest
in the cemetery nearest the sector in
which they fell. They are placed in
a coffin draped with an American
flag and military honors are accord
ed them. If survivors so direct, the
remains are shipped home at the ex-
pense of the government. Recently |
an officer left Paris with eight |
bodies, leaving half in Italy and pro-
ceeding with the remainde to Pales-
tine where they were buried accord
ing to our military regulations.