Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-04-18
General Pershing Sends Official
Report of Funeral of Amer
lean Heroes.
TRIBUTE BY french GENERAL
Soldiers of France and United States
Surround Grave as General Bor-
deaux EuIogizes Dead-Sug-
gests Monument Inscription.

HIS IcStlNtu 1ItIu NIeIleIol FER.
shing a copy of the record describing
the funeral services for the three
American soldiers who We're killed in
the Germans first trench raid against
United States troops on November 3.
The papers bear the following indorse-
ment from Major General William L,
Sibert:
Forwarded recommending that the
request of General Bordeaux to have
the remains of the men left at Bathele-
mont be favorably considered"
The record, including the address of
General Bordeaux, in part says:
"By command of General Bordeaux,
French division, the bodies of Corporal
Gresham, Private Enright and Private
Hay, company F. Sixteenth infantry,
We're inferred with religious and mill
tary ceremony at Battlefront on the
afternoon of November 4.
~Improvised Altar Used.
"An altar was improvised and elabo-
rately decorated in the village. The
chaplain of a French regiment con-
uuSlSu II N11ulSu StINlC6S.
Following the church ceremony the
cortege proceeded to a field adjacent
to the village and formed on three
sides of a square, the bodies being
placed in front Of the graves on the
fourth side. An American flag, pro.
vided by the French, had been placed
over the caskets.
cat two o'clock General Bordeaux,
accompanied by his full staff, his in
fantry, artillery and engineer chiefs
and a representative Of the French
corps commander, arrived and took
position.
"The troops presented arms and the
French field music and band played
a funeral march. The chaplain per-
formed the religious ceremony at the
graves. Then General Bordeaux adj
vanced to the center of the square and
addressed the troops and then the
dead. A copy of his address is at.
tached.
"The company Of United States in.
fantry fired three volleys and it's trum.
peter sounded taps. All the troops
were then marched by the graves, sa.
luting as they passed. General Dor
deaux and his staff advanced to the
graves, saluted and departed.
"ThroughOut the ceremony at the
graves French batteries from their DO
s%itions, fired minute guns, we the
village at the German trenches.
SSThn ort;po ~, Wv, ~,a14 -.
pressive."
French Commanders Tribute.
The address of General Bordeaux il
part was as follows:
In the name of the Eighteenth division
in the name of the French army. and f.
the name of France, bid farewell t
Corporal Gresham, Private Enright an
Private Hay of the Sixteenth infantry
American army.
OF their own free will, they had lef
their happy and prosperous country t
come over here. They knew that the wa
continued in Europe; they knew that tn
forces fighting for honor, love, justice
civilization were still checked by the lon
prepared forces which are serving tn
powers OF brutal domination, oppression
barbarity. They knew that an effort wa
still necessary. They wished to give u
their help; and also their generous heart
did not forget old historical memorie
while others forgot More recent ones.
They ignored nothing Of the circuu
stances. Nothing had been concealed fro,
them-neither the length nor hardships T.
this war, nor the violence Of the battl
nor the dreadfulness of the new weapon
nor the perf1dy Of the foe. Nothing sto1
ped them.
They had accepted to lead a hard an
strenuous life; they had crossed the ocea
despite great peril; they had taken the
place on the front by our side; they hay
fallen, facing the foe, in a hard and de.
perate hand to hard fight. Honor
: them! Their families, their friends an
their fellow citizens will be proud whe
they learn of their death.
Men! These graves, the first to be du
In our national soil, at but a short di
lance from the enemy, are as a mark
the mighty hand Of our allies, firml
clinging to the common task, confirmir
the will Of the people and army of tt
United States, to fight with US to a finisI
ready to sacrifice as long as it will |
necessary, until final victory for the n
blest of causes, that Of the liberty of Il,
& tons, the weak as we'll as the mighty.
Thus, the death OF this humble co
poral and of these two private soldie,
appears to us with extraordinary gran,
eur.
al we Will, III clOic, dSh lIldI Tile nOTl
remains Of these young men be left her
be left to us forever. We will inscribe {
their tombs:
"Here lie the first soldiers of the
United States Republic to fall on
the soil of France for Justice and
Liberty"
The passerby will stop and uncov
his head. The travellers Of France, of Il
allied countries, of America, the men
heart who will come to visit our battl
d field of Lorraine, will go out of their W.
q to come here to bring to these graves Il
tribute of their respect and of the
g~ratefulness.
Corporal Gresham, Private Enrigf
; Private Haydn the name of France.
. thank you. God receive your souls. Far
well.
Firemen Haul Coal.
Oconto, Wis.-This city saved mOn'
on jtS coal hill %rncaDtlv nv ]pattipp III