The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-07

FOR A FRENCH
COMMANDER
Who Assisted United States In.
Revolution Will Likely Be
Erected.
eay AsseeiArEo PRESS,


Another bond of international good
France is about to take form in the
project for a monument to Admiral
Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse,
commander of the French fleet whose
aid made possible Washington's
final victory over Lord CORVALLIS.
thus ending the Revolutionary war.
The movement has been started by
the Sons of the Revolution, and
definite plans for securing the memoir
ment will be made at the triennial
convention of the organization which
began here today.
Admiral de Grasse, It has been
pointed out by Ambassador Jusser-
and. of France, is the only foreign
commander who helped this country
in the revolution to whom no memro-
ial has been erected. In speaking of
him recently, the ambassador de-
clared that nobody risked SO much
or did so much unaided for the
United States as did de Grasse. = The
monument most likely viii be erect
ed here in Lafayette Square, facing
the White House, although york
town, Va, the scene of the final bat.
tie, also has been suggested. Statues
stand mere to Lafayette ana Rocnam-.
beau, of France; Won Steupen, OF
Germany and Kosciusko and Pulas-
Xxi, Polish officers.
Committee to Report.
A committee appointed to take up
the matter is prepared to report to
Ithe convention. General James
Morris Morgan, of this city, chair
man of the committee, states in ais
report that what is proposed Is dis
tinctiveiy a naval movement. The
io1 Il
tribute to the French fleet, ana
should symbolic some approprl-
ate design the Importance of ade-
quate sea power in relation to shore
operations, and include a central ng-
ure of Admiral de GraSse, the re-
sponsible commander OF that heet
who is entitled in history to all cred
it for what the fleet did" He point
ed out that while one of the minor
figures around the base of the La
fayette monument here represents de
Grasse, the others being Rocham-
beau, Count 'Estaing and Br1gadleF
General du Portal, this constitutes
no reason why there should not pc
a statue to de Grassa himself, espe-
cialIy as the d4ayfayette statue does
not show who the secondary figures
are, simply stating that it is to La
fayette and his compatriots. here IS
moreover a separate statue to KOCH
ambe6u in Lafayette Square.
To Cost $50, 0G0.
The proposition has been pre-
sented to the Navy League of the
United states, and that Organization,
ii is understood, stands ready 70
cooperate in raising funds for the
monument, which 1t Is estimated Will
cost $4,000. The Daughters OF the
American Revolution will also be IN
vited to share in honoring the reyolu-
tionary hero Franklin ID. Roosevelt
assistant secretary of the navy, /
astically in favor of the project,
Had Ii not been for the successful
cooperation OF Admiral de Grasse'
who bottled up the Chesapeake Say 1
in August, 1871, and prevented tthe /
British sea forces from coming up
and joining Lord CORVALLIS, It y (
doubtful, historians hold, whether (
troops would have been able to com 4
pel the surrender Of the British
forces. In April. 1881, de Grasse
had defeated the British admirais,
Hood and Drake, of Port Royai,
then he came up ana
blockaded the York and James
rivers and landed 5000 troops who
co-operated with American forces
Recognition Deserved
The arrival of de Grasse brought 4
the Revolutionary war to its de-
cisive stage. washington, who had
been operating against General Clin-.
ton at New York, withdrew MS emil
tire army southwark to Virg3n.la,
where Lord CORVALLIS, the Rrittsa
was entrenched at
yorktown. Gradually the combined
French and American forces cut on
the British lines from succor or re-
treat. untA in October, 17s1, Lord
Corn wallis SURRENDERED his army OF