Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
TO A GALLANT OFFICER
Statue of ROChambeau to Be
Unveiled in May.
ELABORATE CEREMONY
HIS BRILLIANT SERVICES IN THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
A Friend to This Country in It's Time
of Media Brave
Soldier.
ELABORATE CEREMONY

The uaveiling of the statute of Rocham-
beau. the famous French field marshal
who contributed so much toward the In
dependence of the United States, Will be
made the occasion of an imposing demon
stration. The event IS set for May - next,
which is the anniversary of Rochambeau's
entrance into the military service of
France, when but seventeen years of age,
In 1742. He reached the grade of field
marshal in I'LL. and commanded the
French military forces which took part in
the American revolution.
The statue will be erected on the south
west corner Of Lafayette Square, and
therefore will be a companion piece to
the statue of Lafayette on the southeast
corner OF the same square. 1t is a replica
of the statue of Rochambeau, unveiled In
June, 1899. at Vendome France the birth
place of the distinguished soldier. 1t was
made in Paris by Fernand Hamar, a
French artist of repute. 1t is about the
same size as the Lafayette group, and Is
represented to be highly ornamental work
OF art.
The Rochambeau group is unique in sew
eral respects. The field marshal, in the full
uniform of his high rank, stands in a COM
handing position, with his right arm out
stretched in the attitude of directing an
attack on the British lines. The figure is
of bronze and of heroic proportions But
possibly the most striking and significant
feature of the memorial is the symbolic fig
ure at the base. This shows the figure of a
woman hurrying forward with a flag OF
France borne aloft in her right hand.
Beneath her feet is the Prov of ship,
suggestive of the force which France sent
over the seas to the aid of America. Below
are the arms of France and of the United
States. including the eagle linked together.
The sides of the base Of the statue contain
the coat of arms of France and also those
of the Rochambeau family. The conception
is one of beauty and at the same time is
suggestive of the ties of friendship between
the two republics.
Distinguished Guests.
Assistant Secretary PIERCE of the State
Department. Col. T A. Bingham of the
army and Commander Raymond P. Rodgers
Of the navy comprise the special committee
charged with the arrangements for the I'M
yelling ceremonies, as well as the reception
and entertainment of the distinguished
French visitors who have been invited to
attend as guests of the nation. The gem
eral program is now under consideration
and will be announced in few days. All
the military in this vicinity. including the
National Guard of the District, will prob
ably take part in the ceremonies and moth
Ing will be left undone to pay suitable
tribute TO the memory OF the gallant French
soldier. Official notice has been received
that Count Rene de Rochambeau and Count
CASTOR Sahune de Lafayette have accepted
Invitations to be present 1t Is expected
that the French government will be repre-
scented by general and an admiral and
their aids upon a warship and by two off,
Gals of the foreign office.
Following the original action of Congress
appropriating $1,000 10 defray the ex-
penses attending the preparation of the site
and the erection of pedestal for the
statue of Rochambeau there was some IN
teresting correspondence between the
French embassy here and Count de
Rochambeau, head of the distinguished old
house of Rochambeau and the present
holder Of a title which became famous in
Americas revolutionary struggle
Forwarding the Project.
Ambassador Cambon is greatly interested
IN the project. and he has had the active
aid OF Mr.. Boeufve, chancellor of the en-
bassy, who has seen that there was no lag
ging In the details of the enterprise. When
the two houses of Congress voted the an
preparation for the statue Mr.. Boeufye adj
vised the present Count de Rochambeau in
Paris of what had been done. This was
in March, 1901 Count de Rochambeau re-
Piled at once, thanking Mr.. Boeufve, and
saiNS; :. wiz, .rs., ,,...n.a ~. , -,
the vote of Congress thanked Gen.
Porter in the name Of the Rochambeaus
and asked him to convey to the members
Of the American parliament the expression
sir, to beg you to fulfill the same request %
Later the count was advised of the plans
for the statue, and he replied to Mr.
Boeufve, as follows:
You are a thousand times kind to think
In the midst of your occupations, of send
Ing me these most interesting articles con-
Sernipa the project Of the Rochambeau