Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1918 — TELLS OF BURIAL OF U. S. SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

TELLS OF BURIAL OF U. S. SOLDIERS

General Pershing Sends Official Report of Funeral of American Heroes. TRIBUTE BY FRENCH GENERAL Soldiers of franco and United States Surround Grave as General Bordeaux Eulogizes Dead—Suggests Monument Inscription. Washington, D. C. —The war department has received from General Pershing a copy of the record describing the funeral services for the three American soldiers who were killed in the Germans’ first trench raid against United States troops on November 3. The papers bear the following indorsement from Major General William L. Sibert: “Forwarded recommending that the request of General Bordeaux to have the remains of the men left at Bathelemont be favorably considered.” The record, including the address of General Bordeaux, In part says: “By command of General Bordeaux, French division, the bodies of Corporal Gresham, Private Enright and Private Hay, company F. Sixteenth infantry, were interred with religious and military ceremony at Bathelmont on the afternoon of November 4.

Improvised Altar Used. “An altar was Improvised and elaborately decorated in the village. The chaplain of a French regiment conducted the church services. “Following the church ceremony the cortege proceeded to a field adjacent to the village and formed on three sides of a square, the bodies being placed in front of the graves on the fourth side. An American flag, provided by the French, had been placed over the caskets. "At two o’clock General Bordeaux, accompanied by his full staff, his infantry, artillery and engineer chiefs and a representative of the French corps commander, arrived and took position. “The troops presented arms and the French field music and band played a funeral march. The chaplain performed the religious ceremony at the graves. Then General Bordeaux advanced to the center of the square and addressed the troops and then the dead. A copy of his address is attached. “The company of United States infantry fired three volleys and its trumpeter sounded taps. All the troops were then marched by the graves, saluting as they passed. General Bor-

deaux and his staff advanced to the graves, saluted and departed. “Throughout the ceremony at the graves French batteries from their positions, fired minute guns, over the village at the German trenches. “The entire ceremony was most impressive.” French Commander’s Tribute. The address of General Bordeaux in part was as follows: In the name of the Eighteenth division, in the name of the French army, and in the name of France, I bid farewell to Corporal Gresham, Private Enright and Private Hay of the Sixteenth infantry, American army. Of their own free will, they had left their happy and prosperous country to come over here. They knew that the war continued in Europe; they knew that the forces fighting for honor, love, justice, civilisation were still checked by the long prepared forces which are serving the powers of brutal domination, oppression, barbarity. They knew that an effort was still necessary. They wished to give uS their help; and also their generous hearts did not forget old historical memories, while others forgot more recent ones. They Ignored nothing of the circumstances. Nothing had been concealed from them—neither the length nor hardships of this war, nor the violence of the battle, nor. the dreadfulness of the new weapons, nor the perfidy of the foe. Nothing stopped them. ’ They had accepted to lead a hard and strenous life; they had crossed the ocean despite great peril; they had taken their place on the front by our side; they have fallen, facing the foe, In a hard and desperate hand to hand fight. Honor to them! Their families, their friends and their fellow citizens will be proud when they learn of their death. Men! These graves, the first to be dug In our national soil, at but a short distance from the enemy, are as a mark of the mighty hand of our allies, firmly clinging to the common task, confirming the will of the people and army of the United States, to fight with us to a finish, ready to sacrifice as long as it will be necessary, until final victory for the noblest of causes, that of the liberty of nations, the weak as well as the mighty. Thus, the death of this humble corporal and of these two private soldiers appears to us with extraordinary grandeur. We will, therefore, ask that the mortal remains of these young men be left here,

be left to us forever. We will Inscribe on their tonjbs: "Here lie the first soldiers of the United States Republic to fall on the soli of France for Justice and Liberty." The passerby will stop and uncover his head. The travelers of France, of the allied countries, of America, the men of heart who will come to visit our battlefield of Lorraine, will go out of their way to come here to bring to these graves the tribute of their respect and of their gratefulness. Corporal Gresham, Private Enright, Private Hay—ln the name of France, I thank you. God receive your soul*. Farewell.