The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-19
Mir. Jusserand Lauds Ameri-
 can Ideals
HONOR THE FRENCH
Taft Makes Speech--Monume-t Is Erected By Sons of Rev0luticn in Honor of the French
 Soldiers

SOld1ers
 | Annapolis. Md. April ls.-On the
 campus of St. Johns college there was
 unveiled here today bronze table
 erected by the General Society of the
 Sons of the Revolution to the memory
 of the nameless French soldiers and
 sailors who in 17s1 laid down their
 lives in the cause of American inee-
 pendence. President Taft and Ambas-
 sador Jusserand both made formal ad-
 dresses. The midshipmen of the Ma
 tional Naval academy did not turn out
 in honor of those who prevented the
 capture and probable sack of Annapolis but representatives of the Sons of the
 Revolution from all parts of the coun- | try, the Sons of the American Revoiu-
 tion, the Society of the Cincinnati, the Maryland Historical society and the | Daughters of the American Revolution were in attendance.
 The dedication services were in
 charge of the General Society of the
 Sons of the Revolution. which is meet Ing in tri-ennial session at Washing ton this week.
 Following the presentation of the monument to s. Johns college as cus-
 todian by Edmund Wimore, acting president of the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution, the memorial was unveiled by Miss Amelie DePau Fowler of Baltimore, a descendant of Admiral Count De Grasse commander of the French fleet at Yorktown. In brief speech, pr. Thomas Fell. presi- dent of St. Johns accepted the monu-
 ment on behalf of the college. The ad- dresses of President Taft and Ambas-
 sador Juesserand followed. Jusserand Speaks With glowing tribute to American ideals and thoughtfulness in memorial izing those who came from foreign lands to help in the struggle for inde pendence the French ambassador to the United States, Jules Jusserand, ex- pressed the gratitude of France to the Sons of the Revolution for the monu-
 ment erected by them to the French soldiers who fought in the Revolutions | ary war
 ITO voluntarily remember the anx- | .ous times of long ago. said Ambas- | sador Jusserand. the hard trials expe-s
 rienced. the willing help conferred in
 the hour of need. by a friend. is rare
 accomplishment. Among many other rare accomplishments the American nation certainly numbers that one. More than 130 years have passed and Frenchman who visits the United States has only to open his eyes to discover images of his compatriots and tokens of the survival of the old friendship. At the capitol the speaker sits between portrait of Washington and one of Lafayette. In front of the White House the one who brought the first help. Lafayette, and the one who brought the definite aid, Rochambeau. stand on
 their pedestals, in the center of city tLat in their days, was yet to be built, city that was to bear the name of their friend and leader. Washington.
 At Philadelphia, at Savannah, at New York, Newport, Baltimore Boston.
 statues, tablets. pictures tell the same
 tale. The American nation is a nation | that remembers.
 The ambassador eulogized Washing ton and the spirit of friendship with which the French volunteers were re- | oeived by the American troops. He spoke of the absence of friction or jealousies which often embarrass allied armies or u1HeTenl Died for Worthy Cause of the thousands who had crossed \ the ocean," said the ambassador in con- clusion, many were destined never | gain to see the family hearths, nor to rest under the shade of the village steeple To them this monument has been raised by American hands, a pro- duct of American art token of Amer
 ican friendship It has been raised in
 this city where generations of sailors
 continue the traditions of early days, In that state of Maryland. which. when a proposition came from the adversary to conclude peace without waiting for France, proclaimed anyone who would entertain such a proposition an enemy to the state. Our soldiers rest in hall lowed ground, in friendly country.
 and if it is true they never saw theirs again, yet it must be said that the cause for which they fought was worth dying for. It was the cause of great nation of today and the cause of liberty
 here and through the world. 'oro the Sons of the Revolution, who
 are keeping alive the memory of those
 men, I beg to express the gratitude of
 France"
 The monument is a simple shaft of pink granite IS feet high, bearing on one face
 a bronze entabeture in alto relieve, feet ! inches wide by 8 feet inches high. The composition shows sorrowing memory. crowned with the olive leaves of peace and leaning upon her victorious shield, watching the departure of small group | of marching soldiers, and 1t Is interesting | to note how much more subtle in sugges- | ton is this treatment than the more usual one of troops confronting the spectator. Above the heads of the marphers, ban ners are flying in the wind and in the background are seen the spars of vessels. while in the foreground are two small | gravestones inscribed: lei git un soldat de la France" and the other, "Ici git un
 marin de la France" (Here Lies Soldier.
 Here Lies a Sailor of France) On the shield appears the English in- scription: "A tribute of gratitude to the brave soldiers and sailors of France buried here. who gave their lives in tho | struggle for American independence. The memory of their deeds will endure for- ever i7S1-17SS." Beneath the tablet Is a legend: Erected April 19. 1911. by the Sons of the Revolution"
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