Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-03
PLACE WREATH ON
WESTINGHOUSE TOMB
Spoke8men Of Great Britain,
France and u. S. Honor
American Leader.
CEREMONY IMPRESSIVE.
Representative Of Three Democraciea
Pledge Themselves to Fight
against Aut0cracy.

Mount Vernon, Va, April 29.-The flags
of Great Britain, France and the United
States floated proudly together to-day
over the tomb of George Washington.
Beneath them. spokesman of the three
great democracies paid homage to
Americas soldier and statesman. and
pledged themselves, each to the other In
the name OF the dead. to prosecute the
present mighty struggle against autoc-
racy on the lines he himself had followed
in bringing America into being.
Nature was in her most most bounteous
garb. Tho evergreen sentinels before the
tomb stood out boldly in tho new life
Just blossoming. The only sign of human
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 forrnality. Secretaryq Danielc
motioned to NJ. Viviani. minister of JUS
tice and former premier Of France, who
advanced slowly into the center Before
the tomb NJ. Viviani delivered an address,
in which the whole force Of his emotional
power deepened by the significance and
sombreness Of the occasion. fought for ex-
preston. Concluding. NJ. viviani said:
AT this solemn hour in the history OF
the world, while saluting from this sacred
mound the final victory Of justice. I send
to the republic Of the United States the
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
p, feelings which grip us all here to-day
He has not only paid fitting tribute
brought our thoughts most vividlI
down to the present. The thousands
who have given their lives. French
Russian. italian. Belgian. servian
Montenegrin, Roumanian. Japanese
and British were fighting for wha
they believed to be the cause O
liberty.
Dedicated by the British mission Il
the immortal memory OF George Wash
ington. soldier. statesman. patriot
who would have rejoiced to see tn
country Of which he was by birth I
citizen and the country which hi'
genius called into existence. fighting
side by side to save mankind from
subsection to a military despotism."
General Joffre. the hero of the Marine
next came forward in field .marshal''
uniform. Simply. earnestly. he spoke II
French two brief sentences:
In the French army all venerate TIT
name and memory Of Washington. re
spectfully salute here the great solids
and lay upon his tomb the palm we one
our soldiers who have died for thei
country"
Two French officers came forward will
the bronze wreath from the French mis-
sion. the humblest and the highest mari
Of honor which the French nation cal
accord the dead. Bending over. the mar
shall passed through the narrow entranc
and solemnly placed the wreath upon tn
stone coffin. He then stood silently a
salute.
As Marshal Joffre passed back anon,
the spectators Mr.. Balfour came forwar
with the British wreath OF lilies and GA
leaves tied with the colors Of the thre
allied nations. He too entered the tom
,, and placed the British token beside tn
French. while Northumberland Bridge
stood outside at salute.