Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-31
UNUSUAL TRIBUTE TO FIRST SOL.
plERs KILLED IN WAR WITH
GERMANY.
GIVES OUT RERsHlNo's
REPORT ON suRlALs
No General OFFICERS Who May Fall in
France Will Receive Similar Honors
-Pershing's Report includes Funeral
Grafton of French Commander Under
Whom American Contingent Served.
TBy e, G.. Dougherty.l


Washington, Dec. Sl.-The govern
ment paid unusual honor today to Pri-
vate Merle D. Hay, Of Glidden, Iowa
Private Enright and Corporal Gresh-
an, the first three American soldiers
killed on French soil, when it gave OUT
thru the committee on public informa-
ton. General Pershing's official record
of the burial honors paid them.
No general officers who may fall IN
future engagements in France Will re-
ceive the signal honor paid this lowan
and his two comrades who We're hrSt
to fall
The war department has received
from the commanding general OF the
American eXpeditionary forces, the
statement says, "a copy OF the recolu
describing the funeral services Tor the
three American soldiers who were Kill
ed in the German first trench ralu
AGAINST United States troops on NOV. D.
The papers will be filed in the war de-
partment. They bear the following IN
dorsement from Major General W. L.
Sibert:
Forwarded recommending that the
request Of General Bordeaux to have the
remains of the men left at BetheIe-
mont be granted"
The record, including the address OF
General Bordeaux. says:
by command of General Bordeaux
French division, the bodies OF Corporal
Gresham, Private Enright and Private
Hay, Company Infantry, were
inferred with religious and military
ceremony at Bethelemont on the AFTER
noon of November 4.
AN altar was improvised and ele-
borately decorated in the village ana
the chaplain of French regiment con-
Quoted the church services in the pres
ence Of the following detachments OF
troops: one company Of French infan
try, one section of French artillery, one
section Of French engineers, one de-
rachment of French sailors, one com
pany OF q. S. infantry, one section OF
L. s. field artillery, one squad OF en-
g!neers. A major Of French artillery
commanded the troops.
Following the church ceremony the
cortege proceeded to field adjacent
to the villaeg and formed on three sides
of a square, the bodies being placed in
front of the graves on the fourth side
An American flag, provided by the
French, had been placed over the cas-
kets.
"At 3 o'clock General Bordeaux. &C
corlpanied by his full staff, his tnfan-
try, artillery and engineer chiefs and
a representative of the French corps
commander, arrived and took position.
French field music and band played
funeral march The chaplain perform
ed the religious ceremony at the graves.
Then General Bordeaux advanced TO
the center Of the square and addressed
the troops and then the dead.
The company Of q. 8. infantry fired
three volleys and its trumpeter sounded
taps All the troops were then march
ed by the graves, saluting as they
passed. General Bordeaux and his
staff, advanced to the graves, saluteo
and departed. ..
Turnout the ceremony at the graves
the French batterie. from their posi-
tons, fired minute guns over the village
at the German trenches. The entire
ceremony was most impressive"
General Bordeaux's Tribute.
The address Of General Bordeaux at
the funeral Of the first American SOL
diers to fall on the French front" was
as follows:
"In the name Of the Eighteenth divi-
sion, in the name Of the French army,
and in the name of France, I bid fare
well to Corporal Gresham, Private En-
right and Private Hay, Of the - In
fantry, American army.
"Of their own free will they left their
happy and prosperous country to come
oevr here. They knew that the wal
continued in Europe: they knew that
the forces fighting for honor love, JUS
tice, civilization, were still checked by
the long-prepared forces which are
serving the powers Of brutal domino
ton, oppression. barbarity. They knew
that an effort was still necessary
They wished to give US their help; anc
also their generous hearts did not for
get old historical memories while others
forget more recent ones.
They ignored nothing Of the circum-
stances. Nothing had been concealed
from them-neither the length MOI
hardships of this war, nor the violence
Of the battle, nor the dreadfulness Of
the new weapons, nor the perfidy o
the foe. Nothing stopped them.
They had accepted to lead a hare
and strenuous life, they had crossed
the ocean despite great peril; they hat
taken their place on the front by GU
side, they have fallen facing the TO
in q. hard and desperate hand to ham
fight. Honor to them! Their fan1ilie.
their friends and their fellow citizens
will be proud when they learn of thei
death.
Men! These graves, the first to b
dug in national soil, at but short dis
lance from the enemy, are as mark o
the mighty hand of our allies, firml
clinging to the common task, confirm
ing the will Of the people and army o
the United States to fight with US t
q finish; ready to sacrifice as long a
1t will be necessary, until final victor.
for the noblest of causes-that of Ii
berty of nations, the weak as well a
the mighty.
Thus the death OF this humble cor
poral and Of these two private soldier
appears TO US with extraordinar
grandeur.
I'VE will, therefore, ask that th
mortal remaina Of these young men p
left here. be left to us forever. We wi
inscfibe on their tombs:
Here lie the first soldiers OF tn
United States republic to fall on tn
soil 81 France Tor Justice and liberty
.'The pa1sef-by win stop and uncoye
y t M heal, sssss4 sssyeles~ Of France, {
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