The evening world., 1917-11-27
FRENCH WAR CROSS
FOR IS AMERICANS
CANNOT Be WORN
Men Praised for lIcrOism in
stopping Trench Raid First
Time Under Fire.
wIrIf rifEAMrrIcAN ARMY w

w ~ - WV 90 IVY wv ~" '.N''a
prosD An lmpfoauve ceremony
marked tho presentation u tho fr'nrb
War Cross 10 the American soldiers
WIN withs,opd the met German ~ 4
early this month Fifteen offioors aud
men cited with tnrIr company ~ tno
French Gcn,rHi commanding the sec-
tor wor" decorated yrai"rday
n vig hto IN the afternoon when
tho regiment ~ which the company
which suffered tho casualties n at
ilrhoi marcAcd 10 the top of a big
grnsgy hill. There. under skies threat.
eninr rain and with tho cold. wintry
wind blowing. they formed three sides
~ a hollow square. A. the case ~
the square the rsglmcntal colors and
the Stars and stripes waved In the
wind Tho regiment was called 10
attention as the General commanding
came up and took his position In the
open side ~ the square.
The General FIRST read the citation
Tor tho whole company. which was
standing near tho colors. breaches in
the ranks showing where tho men
now prisoners In Germany or In hos
pitals had formerly stood. Tho Gen
cral congratulated the company, say
Ing.
Occasions arise frequently In war,
and will arise frequently again. where
clCur-hcadcd GOODNESS and courage
are necessary, This company be-
haved on one occasion ns II was cx-
pccted TO do and as every other COM
pany OF American soldiers Is expected
To do under similar circumstances.
Tho French General commanding the
sector considers these men have
earned War CrosScs. and hero de-
liver them and the citations.
"Yuu must understand that YOU
must not wear them, but must keep
them In your possession until Con-
gress authorizes the wearing OF
them"
lie then presented the company's
citation and Cross to the Lieutenant
commanding Next the three Lieu
tenants stepped from their positions,
salutod aud received their individual
Crosses. The General congratulated
each. Next the non n-cOmmissioned Of
ilCcrs and men marched up, were con-
graduated on receiving tho honor and
then returned to their places in the
ranks.
The company Lieutenant was given
tho Cross and citation for a corporal
who was unable TO leave the hospital
because OF a severe wound. 10 the
regimental Colonel the General in
trusted the decorations awarded the
three men Killed In the raid, asking
him 20 zee that they were sent to the
next OF kin in tho United states.
Az the regimental bnnd played
THE star Spungled Banner" the
r. glmcnt came briskly 10 the salute.
remaining in that position until tho
last notes had been borne away
across the valley by the wind. The
regiment then marched buck to the
nearby town where IL 10 billotCd.
seemingly with Just a little more
snap IN every step.
And the men who had in their
! pockets the coveted French dccora-
| ton. which ~ awarded only for heroic
! deeds In the face Of tho enemy, wore
! broad grinS OF satisfaction.
II there were any man In the rcgi-
ment who did not come TO the tents
, Of tho honored company TO shake
] a a. L.. Il "a
| rades, whom France officially mas
proclaimed heroes, It was because
| that man or men had urgent duties
elsewhere requiring immediate atten-
! tiun, The soldiers several times tTlCd
| 10 evade the congratulations Of their
! comrades and two OF tho younger
| ones to get the War Cross actually
blushed when the press OF admIrlng
friends became too great around
| them.
In referring 10 the action OF this
American company, the French Cen
eral said:
"On the night OF Nov "a this
company, which was In the line for
the first time, met an extremely
violent bombardment, despite which
II seized arms and offered such stub =
born resistance that the enemy
though numerically superior. was
Obliged 20 retire."
The General specially cited In the
order OF the day Corpl James u
Gresham and Privates Merle ID. Hay
and Thomas T.. Enrlght who dieo
bravely In hand-to- hand fighting
with the enemy. who had penetrated
the first line"
The others cited were Lieut., William
II. Mclaughlin Lieut.. r. O. Paterson
Lieut.. y. f.. Erickson, Sergt. John
Arrowwood. Corporals David M
knowles and Homer Givens and Pri
Yates Charles Massa. william o.
Thomas. George Hurd, Boyce Wade
Robert WmkleT and John j Jarvis.
A recent offer by the British Ad,
miralty 20 decorate certain ofiiceri
and men OF two American destroyer
! for their services In combating sub
marines was declined. according I,
the announcement OF Secretary Dan
iels, because the laws OF this coun
try prevent soldiers and sailors frou
receiving decorations from forelgl
= Governments
I DANIELS VIII Advise That Dsrorn