The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-11-12
IN HONOR OF FIRST
U. S. SOLDIERS TO FALL,

Their Remains Inferred in French
Soil Honored by American Ar
my and People and Arnv of
France.
With the American Army in France.
wednesday, Nov. 7-(By the Associ-
ated Press THE first three American
soldiers killed in the trenches in
France tonight are sleeping in French
soil, honored by the American army
and the pepole and army Of France.
Ihelr final interment took place YES
terdav W.
/ With guard Of French infantry
men IN their picturesque uniforms of
red and horizon blue standing on one
side and a detachment of American
soldiers on the other, the flag wrap
ped easkets were lowered in the grave
as bugler blew taps and the bate
ries at TIE front fired minute guns.
AS the minute guns went off, the
French officer commanding the divis-
t ION IN this section paid tribute to the
: fallen Americans. His words, which
: were punctuated by the roar of the
guns and the whistle Of the shells,
: touched both the French and Arneri-
| cans. In conclusion the French Off
Ger said:
! 'In the name of the division, in the
= name Of the French arm and in the
name Of France, I bid farewell to
: Private Enright, Private Gresham and
e 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
t that the forces fighting for honor,
V love of justice and civilization were
n still checked by the long prepared
a forces serving the powers of brutal
: domination, oppression and barharity
p They knew that efforts were still
' necessary. They wished to give up
their generous hearts and they have
j. not forgotten old historical memories
D. while others forget more recent ones
n "They ignored nothing of the cir.
e cumstances and nothing had been con
n cealed from them-neither the length
J. and hardships of war, nor the violence
u of battle, nor the dreadfulnesss of new
J. weapons, nor the perfidy of the foe
Nothing stopped them. They accepted
the hard and strenuous life; the,
a. crossed the ocean at great peril; the,
Mt COOh CIiSlI plcICCS Oll LIlG lIOuI ny Ou
A. side and they have fallen facing tn
7 foe in a hard and desperate hand-to
s. hand fight. Honor to them! Thei
~ families, friends and fellow citizens
O: will be proud when they learn Of thei
v, deaths.
in "Men! These graves, the first
X be dug in our national soil and onl
he a short distance from the enemy, ar
-, as a mark of the mighty land we an
a. our allies firmly cling to in the com
On mon task, confirming the will of tn
n people and the army of the Unite
States. to fight with us to a finish
e- ready to sacrifice as is necessary, VI
oh Ill the finsl victory fer the most nob]
W. of causes, that of the liberty of ne
oh tioas, the weak as " eli as the might,
r. Thus the deaChsof these humble so
IN diers appear to us with extraordil
% airy grandeur: =,
= ave will therefore ask that tt
nd mortal remains of these young me
q be left with US forever We inscril
,or on the tombs, Here lie the first SO
~ diers of the Republic of the Unite
in States to fall on the soil of Franz
;th for Liberty and JUSTICE The passe
is by will stop and uncover his hea
,i5 Travellers and men of heart will {
~ out of their way to come here to p;
No their respective tributes.
oss "Private Enright! Private Gresham
w. Private Hay! In the name Of Franc
MD | thank you. God receive your sou
w. FAREWELL"