Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-06-04 | Page 9 | How Relatives Get Word of Casualties

HOW RELATIVES GET iro oralis War Department Notifies One Person Designated by Enlisted Soldier, i . I A pamphlet has been received from the adjutant generals office at Washington, which gives information of interest concerning con-cerning casualties in the army. It reads aa follows: Each officer and enlisted man, upon entry nto the service and again upon embarkation for foreign service, is required to give the name and address ad-dress 'of the person to be notified in case of emergency. The war department depart-ment feels bound to respect the soldier's sol-dier's wishes in this respect and cannot can-not undertake to notify any other person except under very unusual circumstances. Those less closely related re-lated to the soldier should obtain information in-formation concerning him from the i person thus designated. Persons who know that they have been designated in an emergency address should be particular to notify the war depart- , ment of any change in address. In case of death in action, or from disease, or of wounds, or capture in action, a telegram giving this information infor-mation is sent at the earliest practicable prac-ticable moment to the person designated desig-nated by the soldier, and the absence ab-sence of such a telegram may be accepted ac-cepted aa assurance that no report of casualty has been received in his case. A report of death is followed immediately imme-diately by a letter of confirmation, giving such details as have been re- 1 ceiveJ, and a report of burial and other information are forwarded as received. It is not the intention of the war department to return the bodies of our dead to the United States before the end of the war, and such removal by individuals is not practicable during dur-ing the emergency. It is expected, however, that the remains of all American soldiers dying abroad will ultimately be returned to the United States for burial at their former residences, res-idences, at public expense. Subsequent report of men. wounded in action is seldom received in the war department, so long aa the wounded are r-rogressing favorably. Any information received is transmitted transmit-ted without delay to the person designated. des-ignated. Should further information be desired, it should be obtained by mail or cable from his commanding" officer. ExampleIf Private Smith, X company, com-pany, Infantry, ha3 been reported wounded, further information should be requested of the commanding- officer, of-ficer, X company, infantry, Amer- " ican e:peditionnry forces. Further information concerning men nrported missing In action is transmitted aa soon as received. The Red Cross, however, usually receives such information through its agencies abroad before the war department. Mail intended for any prisoner of war in Germany should be addressed to him by name, followed by: "American "Amer-ican Prisoner of War, via New York City," and the name and location of the prison camp where he is interned, if known. All matters pertaining to allotment from a soldier's pay and to his war risk insurance should be taken up with the bureau of war risk insurance, insur-ance, treasury department, Washington, Washing-ton, D. C.