The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-11-08


QUARTERS IN FRANCE, Nov. 7.
delayed. American artillery
men sent salvo of shells whis-
Ting over to Boschland today as
farewell volley marking burial
of Americas first dead from the
firing line.
1t was fitting. in the opinion of
those whose eyes glistened thru
out the simple but dramatic flu
neral services. that the volley
which marks the last farewell
should have been fired, not by a
squad with blank cartridges, but
by American gunners shooting tht
great French los and speeding
each shell with a prayer that 1t
would find its mark among the
enemy.
The collins of Americas first
dead in action were draped In thu
folds OF the American flag for
which they died. Comrades bore
them to the center of a hollow
square, formed by American sol
diers and veteran French troops.
French General Pays HonOrs.
From the massed ranks there
stepped a French general. He
walked straight to the three cof-
fins, reverently hesitating at the
first. Then he stiffened to sa-
lutte, DOTTED his cap, bowed, his
face lined as tho the mute re-
mains before him were of his own
children.
Private Enright," he said
softly, as he bowed before the
nearest bier: "and Private Gresh-
am" and he turned to the second
land Private Hay"-as he
turned to face the third coffin.
''In the name of France, / bid
you farewell. OF your own free
will you left your happy, pros
porous country and took your
place by our side.
You fell facing the foe, in
hard. desperate hand-to-hand
fighting"
The general hesitated a mo-
men., looked at each of the three
flag-draped collins, and then
turned.
All honor to them." he con-
tinued. Their families should
be proud to learn of their deaths.
1--WE of france ask that the i'm
mortal remains Of these young
men be left with us forever.
1--WE will inscribe on their
tombs:
"'Here lie the first United
States soldiers to fall on French
soil for liberty and Justice
"Passersby will uncover their
heads to their graves; men OF
heart visiting the battlefield will
go out of their way to bring their
tribute of respect and gratitude.
Private Enright, Private
Gresham, Private Hay-in the
name of France I thank you. May
God receive your souls. Fare
well."
VOlIey Crashes Farewell.
A great battery Of 75s crashed
the final volley of farewell thru
the leaden, rain-soaked air. Then
stalwart American soldiers, tears
trickling down their faces, low
tired their comrades remains and
covered them over with the soil
for which they fought and died.
The defamation of exploding
shells and the shrek of others
passing thru the air sang the final
soldiers requiem. Batteries of
American artillerymen, returning
from their duty at the front, met
the funeral. Their rumbling cais-
sons halted, their ranks parted
and. rigid at salute, the Amer
leans babe their dead Godspeed
as the cavalcade passed slowly
thru.
Then the battery went on.
Saluted by Children.
1t is grim, deadly war now-so
1t was with no thought of the
dead they had passed that these
same artillerymen hours later
swung hustling into the valley
where their camp was located and
with cowboy yelps welcomed
themselves back home for a rest
from front duty.
Fifty little French school chill