New-York tribune., 1918-09-07


Britain, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Portu-
gal Greece, Of the CzechoS Slovaks and
of the nations Of South America allied
against Germany, met last night with
citizens of the United States at din
ner given by the Franco American So
ciety in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to
commemorate the 161st anniversary
of the birth of Lafayette and the fourth
anniversary Of the Battle of the Marnc.
With the name of Lafayette on their
lips, they spoke Of the new war for
democracy and of the new world that
would emerge at its close. They lis
tened to the soaring notes Of Enrlco
Caruso and the lofty purposes ex
pressed by Franklin X. Lane, Secretary
OF the Interior, of preserving the ex-
olted spirit Of the United States to
cheer and help the Americans who
would return from France intent on re-
construction.
They heard, with cheers, Jules Jusse
rand, French Ambassador reveal pub
lcly for the first time the specific name
with which general Of France had
designated what used to be the Bpis de
Belleau From his lips they learned
that, while the censorship had per-
mitted only the generalization, the
wood had been renamed for the
"Americans," in reality it had been
renamed for that brigade of American
marines which took it, held it and
pushed on, parrying the thrust at Paris
and starting the forward movement Of
the Allies which has not yet been
halted.
Hun Peace Offensive Futile
Ambassador Jusserand declared that
Germany was babbling peace on its
Falstaf'ian deathbed Just as Shake
;speare'ss swashbuckling braggart bah
bled of green fields. The peace Of
fensvc Of the Hun would be as futile
as his efforts in the field Of battle, he
declared.
Secretary Lane said that he had just
come from naming the Lafayette Flying
Field, in Mount Desert National Park,
and he hoped to find some mountain on
the continental divide whose rocky but
trcsses flung the watchword of Verdun
at roaring glacial torrent and bestow
upon II the name Of Jofire. He spoke
of the efforts made by the United
States, of the unity of action which
had developed and declared that this
precious gift Of war must be held in
vlolaDlc as Il tool ready for the hands
Of the young mon who would return
from the war with ouickened ideals.
The nation must. when peace comes,
he said. be prepared to meet and deal
ntelligently with the problem of as
slmilation Of Immigration. problem
which had been left too much to
chance. The war had revealed the true
America, he declared vigorous. gen
crous, confident America and the spirit
Of the reborn nation must be incul-
Gated in it's newest citizens and its
instruction and development Of the
public school system.
Mr.. Lane asked the support Of his
hearers for legislation to be intro
duccd in the next Congress to reclaim
arid lands of tho Southwest for return
ing soldiers. Two hundred million
acres of land lay idle, he said. for lack
of water. BY irrigation it could be
rendered fertile and a farm be pre-
pared for every soldier.
Notable Men Present
More than 300 men prominent in
civic. military and diplomatic worlds
were at the dinner. Enrico Caruso
sang "The Marseillaise," 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner" and "God Save the
King DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler
presided. Other speakers were Pro
fessor T. G. Masaryk, chief of the
provisional government of the Czecho-
Slovak nation; Sir Henry Babington
smith. Acting High Commissioned of
Great Britain, and Justice Dowling, of
the Supreme Court. A cable message
from Marshal Foch was read Presi-
dent Wilson also wired his regret t
not being present.
Professor Masaryk declared that the
Dual Monarchy was the Germany Of
the little nations of Eastern Europe
and that Austria Hungary must be
dismembcred before continental peace