The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-01-19
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 Dor.
deaux EuIooixes Dead-sug-
gests Monument Inscription.

washington, ID. C.-The war depart
ment has received from General Per-
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,
were inferred with religious and mill
tary ceremony at Battlefront ON the
afternoon of November 4.
Improvised Altar Used.
San altar was improvised and elabo-
rately decorated In the village. The
chaplain of a French regiment con-
Quoted the church services.
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
ove the caskets.
AT 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.
1.-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.
1.-THE company Of United States in.
~ biGu &C NOfiNyS III It's iIuIl>
peter sounded taps. All the troops
were then marched by the graves, sa-
luting as they passed. General Bor-
deaux and his staff advanced to the
graves. saluted and departed.
Throughout the ceremony at the
graves French batteries from their pc.
sitions, fred minute guns, over the
village Mt the German trenches.
1.-THE entire ceremony was most Inn.
pressive."
French Commanders Tribute.
The address of General Bordeaux In
part was as follows:
In the name Of the Eighteenth division
In the name Of the French army. and II
the name OF France. I bid farewell tc
Corporal Gresham. Private Enright and
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 wal
continued In Europe: they knew that tn,
forces flghting for honor. love. justice
civilization were still checked by the lont
prepared forces which are serving thu
powers Of brutal domination, oppression
~barbarity. They knew that an effort wal
still necessary. They wished to give U,
their help; and also their generous heart,
did not forget old historical memories
while others forgot more recent ones.
They ignored nothing Of the circum
stances. Nothing had been concealed from
them-neither the length nor hardships O
this war. nor the violence Of the battle
nor tho d~readfulness of the new weapons
nor the perndy of the foe. Nothing stop
ped them.
i They had accepted to lead a hard ant
strenuous life: they had crossed the ocear
despite great peril: they had taken thei
place OF the front by our side; they hav,
fallen. facing the foe. in a hard and des
perate hand to hand fight. Honor t
them! Their families, their friends ant
their fellow citizens will be proud whel
they learn OF their death.
Meni These graves. the first to be dui
In our national soil. at but a short dis
lance from the enemy. are as a mark O
the mighty hand Of our allies, frml,
clinging to the common task. confirming
b will OF the people and army of tn,
United States. to Tight with US to a finish
ready to sacrifice ~ long as 1t will b,
Z nacassary. until ANAL -yictorx for the no