The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-09
TRIBUTE TO U. S. men
France Enshrines American
Graves on the Battlefield.
French Officer Asks That Remains Of
Privates Enright, Gresham and
Hay Be Left There.

With the American Army In France,
Nov. 9.-The first three American sol
diers killed in the trenches In France
are sleeping In French soil. honored
by the American army and the people
and army Of France. Their final inter-
ment took place Wednesday.
With guard of French infantrymen
I'm their picturesque uniforms of red
and horizon blue standing on one side,
and detachment Of American soldiers
on the other. the f1ag-wrapped caskets
were lowered into the grave as a bu-
gler blew taps and the batteries at the
front fred minute guns. AS the minute
guns went off the crench officer COM
manding the divisxn in this section
paid tribute to the fallen Americans.
His words, which were punctuated by
the roar of the guns and the whistle Of
shells, touched both the French and
Americans. In conclusion the French
officer said:
"In the name OF the -th division,
In the name of the French army, and
in the name Of France / bid farewell
to Private Enright. Private Gresham
and Private Hay of the American
army.
''Of their own free will they had left
prosperous and happy country to
come over here. They knew war was
continuing in Europe; they knew that
the forces fighting for honor, love Of
Justice and civilization were still
checked by the long-prepared forces
serving the powers of brutal dOmina-
ton, oppression and barbarity. They
knew that efforts were still necessary.
They wished to give up their generous
hearts and they have not forgotten old
historical memories. while others for
get more recent ones.
"They ignored nothing of the cir
cumstances and nothing had been con-
cealed from them-neither the length
and hardships of war nor the violence
of battle, nor the dreadfulness Of new
weapons, nor the perfidy Of the foe.
Nothing b+opped them. They accepted
tn. hard and strenuous life; they
crossed the ocean at great peril they
took their places on the front by our
side and they have fallen facing the
foe In a hard and desperate hand-to-
hand fight Honor to them Their
families, friends and fellow citizens
will he proud when they learn of their
deaths.
"Men! These graves, the first to be
dug in our national soil and only a
short distance from the enemy, are as
a mark Of the mighty land we and our
allies firmly cling to in the common
task, confirming the will of the people
and the army of the United States to
fight with us to finish. ready to sac
rifice as long as Is necessary until
final victory for the most noble of
causes, that of the liberty of nations,
the weak as we'll as the mighty. Thus
the deaths of these humble soldiers an.
pear to us with extraordinary gran
deur.
1--WE will therefore ask that the NOR
tai remains of these young men be left
here, left with US forever. We in
scribe on the tombs, Here lie the first
soldiers of the republic of the United
States to fall on the soil of France
for liberty and Justice The passer by
will stop and uncover his head. Trav-
elers and men Of heart will go out of
their way to come here to pay their
respective tributes.
"Private Enright! Private Gresham
Private Hay! In the name of France,
I thank you. God receive your souls.
Farewell !"