Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-08
BURY
FIRST DEAD in
SOD OF FRANCE
Salvo of Shells Whistling
Over Bocheland Marks
Final Farewell
FRANCE PARTICIPATES
Nation Honored by Holding
Heroes Remains in Sacred Soil
Defended by Their Lives
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS
LII, N-f,Lr Nn.. LdelnNedl

AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS,
FRANCE, Nov. : (deayed).
American artllerymen sent salvo OF
shells whlstling over 20 Bocheland today az
the farewell volley marking burial Of Amer
ica's first dead from the firing line
IL was fitting in the opinion Of those
whose eyes glistened with tears throughout
the simple but dramatic funeral services
that the Volley which marked the last fare
we'll should have been fired not by a squad
and Will blank cartridges. but by American
gunners shooting the great French I0s and
speeding each shell with prayer that II
would find its mark among the enemy
The coffins Of Americas dead in action
we're draped in the folds Of the flag for
which they died Comrades bore them to
a hollow square formed by American SOL
diers and veteran French troops.
From the massed ranks there stepped
French general He walked straight to the
three cofhns reverently hesitating at the
first. Then he stiffened 10 the salute, doHed
his cap. bowed his face lined as though
the mute remains before him were Of his
own children.
Private Enright." he said softly a. he
bowed before the nearest bier, and Private
Gresham" and lie turned to the second,
"and Private Hay" as he turned sim fur
ther TO face the third coffin, lin the name
OF France | bid YOU farewell. Of YOU own
free will you left your happy. prosperous
country and took your place by our side.
You fell facing the foe in hard, in des.
perate. hand-to-hand fight"
The General hesitated a moment looked
At each Of the three fag-draped cottins and
then turned
"All honor 10 them" he continued Their
families should be proud to learn OF their
deaths we Of France ask that the mortal
remains Of these young men be left with
US forever.
we will inacribe on their tombs:
Hs'e lie the first United states sol
diers to fall on French soH for liberty
and Justice.
}"Passersby will uncover their heads to
their graves men Of heart visiting the bat
teheld will 60 cut Of their way to bring
their tribute Of respect and gratitude
Private Enright, Private Gresham. Pr-
yate Hay--in the name OF France, ! thank
you. May God receive your souls. Fare
well ;"
A great volley Of seventy-fyes crashed
the final volley Of farewell through the
leaden, rain-soaked air. Then stalwart
American soldiers. tears trickling down
their faces, lowered their comrades IT,
mains and covered them over with the soil
for which they fought and died.
SHELLS SING REQUIEM
Z No one who saw the Smple ceremony will
ever forget il. Throughout the rain
drlzzled dismally The detonation Of ex-
picding shells and the shrielSs of others
passing through the air sung the final sol
dfers' requiem.
Batteries of American artillerymen re-
turning from their duty al the front met
the funeral procession. Their -rumbling
oaissons halted, their ranks parted anC
rigid at salute. the Americans bade them
godspeed the cavalcade passed slowly !
through.
Then the battery went on. Il is grim
dread war now--so il was with no thought
of the dead they had passed that these same
artillerymen hours later swung hustliug into
the valley where their camp was located
and with cowboy yelps welcomed themselves
back home for a rest from front duty.
Fifty little French school children stiff
and starched UP in their best bib and tuck.
er. stood I'm martial array to welcome les
Americans back. Their tiny hands went
3oyfully TO the salute and one little girl
hung a wreath OF flowers on the grim muz-
zle Of the gun that fired the first shell over
the German trenches. Then she distributed
posies TO the gun crew OF that weapon. OF
the six men of that crew. two are from
South Bend. Ind. and there is one each
from 81. Paul, Chicago, Cincinnati and San
Francisco.
The hrst batteries 10 do duty on the
front all, returned without casualties.