Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-18
TABLET UNVEILED
70 FRENCH HEROES
MEMORIAL ERECTED At AN
NAPoLis IN HONOR OF uN-
KNOWN DEAD.
sELATED TRIBUTE TO
AIDS IN REVOLUTION
Tablet Erected Thru Efforts Of Society
OF Sons Of the Revolution-Monu-
"snt Simple Shaft Of Granite
Stands on Campus of Naval Aead.
emy-TeIesraphie News.

let erected by the General Society Of
che Sons Of the Revolution to the
memory of the nameless French SOL
diers and sailors who in 1871 laid down
their lives N the cause Of American in
dependence. President Taft and Am
passador Jusserand both made formal
addresses. The midshipmen OF the
national naval academy did not turn
out in honor of those who prevented
the capture and probable sack of An
napolis, but represents tatives of the
Sons Of the Revolution from all parts
OF the country, the Sons Of the Amer
lean Revolution, the Society OF the
C1ncincinnati. the Maryland Historical
Society and the Daughters ;,of the
American Revolution were in attend
ance.
To Prof. Henri Marion of the de-
partment of languages at the naval
academy. is due in large measure the
credit OF awakening interest in the for
gotten allies whose unselfish devotion
- largely contributed to our freedom.
Some years ago in lecturing before the
Alliance Francaiso at Baltimore he told
how "FIe.:ch troops under lafayette
and Rcch1:ni eau N mred &. .Nnl.ay-
ol'S 2--G y tA&.r lA.ss.ue,t (Aar. L.
Ist,) plevented the capture and prob
able sacking Of that city. A number
OF French soldiers and Sailors" he con-
tinued. "died2from their wounds OF from
disease, and were buried at that time
on the grounds at ST. Johns College
Annapolis. Could not monument be
faa ON f1H> - 4 - -,
defenders of American independence 2"
How Plan Was Started.
In the audience was q member OF
the general society OF the sons OF the
Revolution: He sought out the lec-
turer, got from him the needed facts
and. when in 1906. French fleet came
to assist at the final interment of the
first American admiral, John Paul
Jones. whose body had been brought to
America the year before from Paris.
Col. Oswald Tilghman, member Of
the society and then secretary OF state
for Maryland, called attention to the
old military burying ground, and, as a
part of the ceremonies OF the visit the
pediment of the present monument
was laid, and the society pledged Itself
to raise the necessary funds for its
completion. Later design was deter
mined upon and the commission to ex-
exute it was assigned to J.. Maxwell
Miller, Baltimore sculptor.
Simple Shaft Of Granite.
The monument Is simple shaft Of
pink granite thirteen feet high, bearing
on one face q bronze entableture in al
to relieve, seven feet, seven inches
wide, by three feet, nine inches high.
The composition shows sorrowing
Memory, crowned with the olive leaves
Of peace and leaning upon her victor
ious shield. watching the departure of
a small group of marching soldiers, and
it is interesting to note how much
more subtle in suggestion is this treat
ment than the more usual one Of troops
confronting the spectator.
Above the heads of the marcllers
banners are flying In the wind and in
the background are seen the spars of
vessels, while in the foreground are
two small gravestones inscribed "Ici
gitun soldat de Ia France" and the
other, "Ici git un marine de la France"
(here lies a soldier. here lies a sailor
of France.)
On the shield appears the English
inscriptions: "a tribute of gratitude to
the brave soldiers and sailors Of
France buried here, who gave their
lives in the struggle for American In
dependence. The memory of their
deeds will endure forever. 17S1-17S3."
Beneath the tablet is a legend: Erect
ed April 19. 1911, by the Sons Of the
Revolution"
Altho David Ridgely In his Annals
Of Annapolis published in 1870, says
that traces Of the French encamp-
ment still remain" and speaks OF
mounds raised to iiloso who diet: 4:
the Service the exact spot for the
memorial was chosen only after
painstaking research. and It. has been
impossible to discover the names of the
dead or even their exact number. It
Is only known that alive they defended
the field and dead they still hold It.