Evening star., 1926-09-26
GRAVES OF u. S. SOLDIERS
REVERENCED in FRANCE
Officers Here Have No Direct Reports of
Desecration-Proceed With Gene
terry Beautifying Plans.

guarded and supervised American
cemeteries In France and fail to con-
duct himself properly. or even deface
a graveStone. the feeling in War De-
partment circles here is that such an
incident would no more he considered
representative of the whole French
nation than would the acts of a few
visitors at Arlington he representa-
tive of the American people.
AS for the suggestion Senator Cara
way, made that all Of the bodies Of
American soldiers in Europe he re-
turned to the United States to give as
surance that no insults would he di-
rected a them abroad the feeling in
the same circles here Is that this pro-
posal is contrary TO the wishes Of the
parents or nearest kin of the men.
30,621 Bodies Still In Europe.
Congress provided that the body
of any soldier who could he identified
would be returned at Government ex-
pense If those directly interested so
desired, and thus far 46.269 bodies
have been returned to the United
States. There are about 30.621 bodies
still in Europe. all but a small num-
ber being In France. There are
about 800 still unidentified.
Parents and next Of kin were given
| until April, 1922, to decide II they
wanted the bodies returned. There
| fore those bodies now in France are
there because it was desired that they
| should remain where they fell for
| their country's cause. especially when
it became clear that the United States
Government intended. with the fullest
co-opera tion of the French govern
ment. to MAINTAIN the cemeteries In
the hest possible manner,
The French government has given
this cooperation. II Is pointed out.
and has evinced the strongest appre-
citation Of the desire Of American
parents and relatives TO have their
loyed ones buried in French soil.
| If feeling should rise In the
| United States sufficiently strong TO
induce Congress to order the return
of all remaining bodies Of American
soldiers in France and Europe gen.
| orally. the procedure would he the
same as in returning the 46,269 al
ready reinterred in the United States.
An appropriation Of possibly $4,000
600 would he required. although the
cost might be under this estimate.
Each Given Military Honors.
| There is no handling Of soldiers
bodies en- masse. Each body Is han
, died with military honors. and at an
| individual expense from France to
! New York Of between $3.50 and $3.50.
| The Government also pays transpOr-
| tation with an escort. from New York
| to the home town of the soldier. The
! Veteran MS Bureau bears the burial ex-
pensp in the home town up to given
amount.
| 1t is unmistakable. however. that
War Department officers concerned
primarily with this problem and
with the maintenance Of the GENE
teries abroad. do not consider that
any facts have been disclosed which
will cause any considerable public
demand for returning the bodies TO
the United States. On the contrary.
they were surprised by the reports
Senator Caraway brought back and
up to the last Of the week had not
had any similar reports from France
or through any other channels.
The writing on one gravestone. as
told to Senator Caraway. was ITO hell
with America" or words to that ef
feet. 1t was declared by more than
one Army officer here that a French
man almost certainly would not use
such a typical American expression
If he wanted to be offensive. 1t is
not, they say. the way a Frenchman
talks; 1t is not in the French vernac-
| ular.