The Washington herald., 1910-08-19
STATUE is UNVEILED
Gift of Virginia Presented to
the French Nation.
COL. MANN IS CHIEF ORATOR
Ambassadors JuSserand and Bacon
Among the NOtables Present When
HOudOn's statue of Washington Is
Dedicated, in VersaiIIes-LaureI
Wreath Placed on Tomb.

Paris. Aug. 1s.-The Washington statue.
the gift of the State of Virginia to
France, was formally presented to-day
1t was essentially a military function.
Gen. Brun. minister Of war. who had
been appointed TO receive the gift on be-
half of the government, was present in
full dress uniform, accompanied by a full
star.
NJ. Jusserand, French Ambassador TO
the United States. was among the earliest
arrivals. The court outside the Palace
Of Versailles was doubly lined with sol
diers. A regimental band played the stir
ring &Sombre ct Meuse March" as The
American delegation. Coz. Mann. and
Senator'S Halsey and King OF Virginia.
entered the Napoleon vestibule. which
leads to the hall where the Senate and
Chamber Of Deputies elect the presidents
OF France. The vestibule was crowded
with French and Americans, among them
being Ambassador and Mrs. Bacon, who
brought the Virginia delegation in their
automobile; Marquis de Lafayette and
Count de Rochambeau
Pay Tribute 10 Heroes.
Messrs. Halsey and King opened the
/ ceremony with short speeches, in which
they paid tributes to Washington and La
fayette and TO Frances aid. which made
what would otherwise have been an IN
successful attempt at rebellion a war Of
independence. Col. Mann made the pre-
sentation. He mentioned the fact that a
list of all French participants in the war
OF the Revolution had been sealed inside
the pedestal by Marquis Segur
The band played The Star Spangled
Banner" as Capt. Count Chambrun, great
grandson of Lafayette. unveiled the
bronze statue which was draped with
the flag Of the State of Virginia Gen
Brun accepted the gift in a brief speech
in which he referred without naming
/ England. TO relations which long since
had become peculiarly precious.
Jusserand Also Speaks.
NJ. Jesserand also spoke. He de-
clared that Washington was In his place
at Versailles among the French who
had decreed him a French citizen for
his efforts in behalf OF liberty He also
referred to England saying:
THE old animosties are gone and the
old enemy has become the friend Of
both America and France"
He added in English:
mo gift could be more valuable as no
! part of America is dearer than historical
Virginia. The birthplace Of the United
| States"
He referred to his being asked TO pro-
| pose a toast TO the American army
when he was visiting Petersburg, Va,
in company with President Taft at the
Inauguration OF the civil war memorial.
He said in conclusion:
America is the only country with
which France has never fought France
is the only country with which America
was ever an ally"
The playing of the Marseillaise closed
the ceremony. Ambassador Bacon gave
a dinner in honor Of the delegates to-
night. President Fallieres will entertain
them at luncheon on August o. He has
offered them the presidential box at the
Coincide Franchise tomorrow night and
his box at the opera on August o. The
delegates before leaving Paris will place
a laurel wreath on the tomb Of La
fayette