The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-08
sEFor Liberty and Justice"
Is Epitaph of Three
American Privates
FRENCH OFFICER
CONDUCTS FUNERAL
sEIn The Name of France I
Thank You. God Re-
ceive Your Souls"
(Bv Associated Press.l

With the American Army in
France, Wednesday, Nov. THE
nrst three American soldiers killed
in the trenches in France tonight are
sleeping in French soil. honored by
the American army and the people
and army of France. Their final in
terment took place yesterday.
With a guard of French infantry
men in their picturesque uniforms
of red and horizon blue standing on
one side and a detachment of Amer
ican soldiers on the other, the nag
wrapped caskets were lowered into
the grave as a bugler blew taps and
the batteries at the front fired min
ute guns. AS the minute guns went
off the French officer commanding
the division in this section paid trlb-
ute to the fallen Americans. His
words, which were punctuated by the
roar Of the guns and the whistle or
shells. touched both the French and
Americans. In conclusion the French
Officer said:
'Tn the name of the --th divi-
sion, in the name of the French
army and in the name Of France I
bid farewell to Private Enrlghts
Private Gresham and Private Hay,
OF the American army.
''Of their own free will they had
left a 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 civiliza-
ton were still checked by the long
prepared forces serving the powers
OF brutal domination, oppression and
barbarity. They knew that efforts
were stii necessary. They wished 20
give up their generous hearts and
they have not forgotten old historical
memories, while others forget more
recent ones.
They ignored nothing of the cir
-cimstances and nothing had been
concealed from them-neither the
length and hardships of war, nor the
violence of battle, nor the dreadful
ness OF new weapons, nor the perfidy
OF the foe. Nothing stopped them.
They accepted the hard and strenu-
GUS 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 be proud when
they learn of their deaths.
Men, these graves, the first to be
dug in our national soil and only al
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 q
finish, ready to sacrifice as long as is
necessary until final victory for the
most noble Of causes, that OF the lib
erty of nations, that weak as we'll as
the mighty. Thus the deaths Of these
humble soldiers appear to us with
extraordinary grandeur.
we will, therefore, ask that the
mortal remains OF the young men be
left here, left with us forever. We
inscribe 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
passerby will stop and uncover his
head. Travellers and men of heart
will go out of their way to come
here to pay their respective tributes.
Private Enright, Private Gres-
ham, Private Hay, in the name OF
France thank you. God receive
your souls. Farewell"