Washington Journal., 1942-01-09
War in Europe Spared
Our Soldiers Graves
Germans in Occupied France
Preserve American Cemeteries

AlOSl Oh tlG CCIllClCllCS lOl AliCl-
lean soldiers, who fell in France
and Belgium in 1918, so Fred H.
Morhart, Jr. reported recently, are
in the custody of Germans, who
treat them with proper reverence.
So far as is known, no harm as
yet has come to the cemeteries.
Until the recent declarations of
war between Germany and our
country the upkeep of american
cemeteries and war monuments
abroad was entrusted TO the Amer
lean Battle Monuments Commits
sion here, but lately all American
cemetery superintendent have re-
turned here, leaving the care of the
graves abroad to the local author
tiles, most of whom now are under
German supervision.
From what is known of German
traditions about war heroes graves
our American Battle Monuments
Commissioners are confident that
no Intentional harm will befall our
soldiers graves under German eyes.
At all events u Governments an
nual appropriation of $l35,0OO for
the maintenance of those graves is
expected to be continued, SO it will
be a recognized item in the ultimate
peace settlements, together with
reckonings for war prisoners await
ing future mutual adjustments.
Identifications to be Preserved
An important item of the general
maintenance of American cemeter-
les abroad is the preservation of
established identi6cations of the in
dividual remains. Every soldier
buried in those cemeteries has been
identified on a marker with his
name, rank, organization, home and
date of his death. The headstones
are a cross for Christians and the
six-pointed star of David for Jews.
OF the 81,O67 Americans killed
in that war, there remain 4,431
unidentified. This figure includes
1,643 buried in unidentified graves
in the cemeteries, 1857 buried at
sea and 1850 whose bodies were
never recovered.
Eight Cemeteries Althogether
There are eight large cemeteries
hitherto maintained by the Amer
lean Battle Monuments Commits
sion. Two are at Bony and Waere-
Chem, in Northwestern France and
Belgium. In the same region are
three American monuments
Audenarde and Vierstraat in Bel
GUM and Bellicourt, just to the
north of ST. Quentin, in France.
The largest of the American
group Of graveyards is at Romagne.
1t contains 1920 graves. Most of
these men lost their lives during the
Meuse-Argonne autumn offensive,
the greatest battle of the war in
which Americans participated.
Practically all units of the Amer
lea Expeditionary Force of 1917
1918 are represented there, includ-
ing some of those, who died in the
dreary expedition to Archangel in
Russia.
Americans and British in
FLANDERS Field"
The Waereghem Cemetery con-
tains 368 graves and is situated
half way between Brussels and
Ypres; better known as Flanders
Field. Seven miles distant is the
monument at Audenarde.
The Bellicourt memorial COM
memorates action by 10000 Amer
lean troops who fought alongside
the British in France. 1t is on the
battlefield where the 9th and 3Oth
American Divisions fought and is
located on the ridge above the St.
Quentin Canal.
Other Burial Places in France
Four miles south of Ypres, near
Vierstaadt, is a small, impressive
monument not far from the base
of Mount KENNEL. This COM
memorates the valiant action of
American troops in the Ypres-Lys
offensive of August and September
1913.
Other cemeteries in France are
at Suresnes, Belleau, Thiacourt and
Fere-en-T ardenois. Additional mo-
numents are at Brest, Tours, Chate-
au-Thierry, Sommepy, Montfau-
con, Souilly, Mont Sec and Chat
mont.
Each Cemetery has q Chapel
In each cemetery is a vaulted,
lofty chapel of classic design, built
to withstand the ravages of time.
They compare favorably with
modern European memorial archi-
lecture. Before the American
custodians withdrew there was gen.