The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-30
PLACED WREATHS ON
WASHINGTON,,S TOMB
French and British Emissaries Performed
Solemn Act at Mount Vernon, at
the Same Time Paying Trib-
ute by Word of Mouth.

Mount Vernon, Va, April 30.-The
| flags of Great Britain, France and the
United States ffoated proudly together
yesterday over the tomb of George
Washington. Beneath them, spokesmen
of the three great democracies paid hom-
age to Americas soldier and statesman,
and pledged themselves, each to the 9th
er in the name of the dead to prosecute
the present mighty struggle against au-
tocracy on the lines he himself had fol-
lowed in bringing America into being.
Nature was In ber most bounteous
garb. The evergreen sentinels before the
tomb stood out bodily in the new life
just blossoming. The aaly sign Of hui
man change since Washington was laid
to rest so long ago was the flags of the
three allies over the arched entrance to
the tomb itself.
Without formality, Secretary Daniels
motioned to NJ. Viviani, minister of JUS
tice and former premier of France, who
advanced slowly into the center. Before
the tomb M. Viviani delivered an ad-
dress, in which the whole force OF his
emotional power deepened by the signifi-
canoe and sombreness Of the occasion,
fought for expression. Concluding. M.
Viviani said:
"At this solemn hour in the history OF
the world, while saluting from this sa-
cred mound the final victory of justice,
| send to the republic Of the United
States greetings of the French republic"
Then came forward Arthur James Bal
four, foreign secretary of Great Britain,
who stood for a moment in silence.
"M Viviani," said Mr.. Balfour, "has
expressed in most eloquent words the
feelings which grip us all here to-day.
He has not only paid fitting tribute
10 great statesman, haIt he has brought
our thoughts most viyidly down to the
present The thousands who have given
their lives, French, Russian, Italian, Bel
gian, Servian, Montenegrin, Rumanian,
Japanese, and British were fighting for
what they believed to be the cause of
liberty.
Dedicated by the British mission to
the immortal memory of George Wash |
ngton, soldier, statesman. patriot, who
would have rejoiced to see the country /
IF which he was by birth citizen and
the country which his genius called into
existence, hghtlng side hy side 10 save
from subjection to a military
General Joffre, the hero Of the Marne,
next came forward in field marshals
inform. Simply, earnestly, he spoke in
French, two brief sentences;
an the French army all venerate the
lame and memory of Washington. | re-
pectfully salute here the great soldier
md lay upon his tomb the palm we offer
,ur soldiers who have died for their
ountry."
Two French officers came forward with
he bronze wreath from rhe French mis-
ion, the humblest and the highest mark
i honor which the French nation can
ccord the dead. Bending over. the mar
hal passed through the narrow en-
rance and solemnly placed the wreath
pon the stone coffin. He then stood ST.
emily at salute.
As Marshal Joffre passed back among
he spectators, Mr.. Balfour came forward
nth the British wreath of lilies and
ak leaves tied with the colors of the
hree allied nations. He too entered
he tomb and placed the British token
eside the French. while Lieutenant-Gen- !
raj Bridges stood outside at salute.