Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-07
MONUMENT
TO FRENCHMAN
ADMIRAL DE GRASSE. WHOSE AID
MADE POSSIBLE WASHINGTON'S
FINAL VICTORY OVER CORNWALL
LIS. To BE REMEMBERED.
MOVEMENT Is STARTED
SONS OF REVOLUTION TAKE UP
MATTER. AND DEFINITE PLANS
WILL BE MADE At CONNENTION
THAT OPENED TODAY.
(Associatcd Press Coyrespondcnce.)

(AssOcidted Press CorreSpOndcnre
Washington. ID. g.. pril Another
bond Of international goodwill between
the United States and France is about Ia
take form in the project for u monument
to Admiral Francois Joseph Paul de
Grassc. commander II the French fleet
whose aid made possible WaShingion's
final victory over Lord CORVALLIS. thus
ending the Revolutionary War. The
movement has been started by the Sons
of the Revolution. AMI definite plans for
securing the monument will he made al
the tricnnial convention Of the organiza-
ton which began here today.
Admiral de Grasse il has been pointed
out bv Ambassador Jusscrand. IT France
is thc only commander who helped This
country in the revolution. To whom no
memorial has been erected. In speaking
of him recently the ambassador declared
that nobody risked So much or dpl ST.
much unaidcd for the niied States as
did de- Grassc." The monument most like
~ will be- erected here in Lafayette
square facing the White House. although
Yorktown, Va, the scene of the final bat
tie has also been suggested. STATUES stand
here Ia Lafayette and Rochamleau. of
France: won Sieuhcn. of Germany: Kos
ciusko aud Pulaski. Polish officers.
a committee appointed "a take up the
matter is prepared Ia report Ia the con
v~ention. General James Morris Morgan.
of this city. chairman of the committee.
states in his report that what is pro
posed is distinctively II naval monument
The memorial" he adds. should he a
tribute Ia the French fleet. and should
symbolic in some appropriate design the
Importance of adequate sea power ~ re-
lation Ia shore operations. aud include a
central figure of Admiral he Grassc the
responsible commander Of that fleet who
is entitled in history to all credit for
what the fleet did" lie points out that
while one of the minor figures around the
base of the Lafayette monument here rep
rescnts dc Grassc. the others heing lso-
chambeau. Cont Il E>taine and I;riea-
dier General du Portal. this constitutes
no easom why there should not bc \ stat
ne Ia de- Grasse himself. ALLY n the
Lafayette statue does moi show who the
secondary figures are. simply stating
that il is Ia Lafayette aud his cnmpatri
OTIS. There il moreover a separate statue
Ia Rochambeau. in Lafayette Square.
The proposition has been presented 10
the Navy League of the nitcd States. and
that organization. il is understood.
stands ready To cooperate in raising
funds for the monument. which il il e.
timated will cost S.J0,O0W. The Daughters
of the American Revolution also will be-
invited Ia Have u share in hosoring the
revolutionary hero. Franklis ID. i.oo>c
welt. assistant secretary of the Navy. has
expressed himself rs enthusiastically i'm
favor of the project.
Had il not been for the successful co
operation Of Admiral lie Gra>se. who
bottled up the Chesapeake Bay in Aug
,lst. l7Sl. and prevented the British sea
forces from coming up aud joining Lord
Cornwallis. il il doubtful. historians
hold. whether Washington and his
French land troops would have been able
10 compel the surrender Of the British
forces. In April. i.>l. de Grass had
defeated the British admirals Wood aud
Drake. off Port Royal. Martinique: then
he came up and blocka,ed the York and
James rivers and landed :ssss trooIss who
cooperatcd with American forces.
The arrival II dc Grasse brought the
Revolutionary war To lis decisive stage.
Washington. who had been operating
against General Clinton nj New York.
withdrew his entire army southwark 10