The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-08
$4,000 PEOPLE
HEAR CAPT. NYE
AT CELEBRA TON
In A FRENCH CITY
French And English Join,
Americans In Observ-
ing Memorial Day
BASTTLLE DAY
CELEBRATION
Presence Of American
Troops Helped To Make
1t a Red Letter Day

Captain C. A. Nye, who was one
of the speakers at the Memorial day
exercises held in a large French city
writes to Mrs. Nye Of that event;
also Of the celebrat ton of Bastille day,
In his letters he also expresses his
pleasure at being able to do his part
in the great war. Captain Nye has
made application for permanent
transfer to the zone Of advance, but
the commanding officer of the base
says his services in his present Ioca-
ton are too valuable to spare him
for service elsewhere.
Following are excerpts from Cap
tain Nye's letters telling of the two
celebrations; the first was written
July Il, Bastille day.
Frances Great Day.
This is the greatest day of the
year in France, the anniversary OF
the fall Of the Bastille., Every
Frenchman has donned the colors
and proceeded to celebrate; flags are
flying from every building and every
one for the moment tries to forget
the horrors of war and its hellish-
ness. To add to the nations usual
celebration. the American troops have
entered into the event with a zest
that makes it a red-letter day.
Thousands of our troops with guns,
large and small, trucks, wagons,
carts, ambulances and ALI the imple-
ments Of war are in line.
The French helped US with royal
celebrate the Fourth Of
July and also to commemorate our
fallen soldiers on May 80, but moth
ing has equaled this-airplanes are
circling overhead while cannon boom
out the reminder to all the world,
that France is celebrating its free
dom from autocracy.~ Surely it is
good to be an American, perhaps
best of all to be an American in
France today for no troops have ever
been more warmly welcomed nor
more Hospitality received. The bonds
of friendship between these nations,
as also between us and England, are
being firmly cemented in a united
effort for a heroic cause.
Captain Nye Was Speaker.
Il must tell you about May the
S0th. On the evening of May 20, my
lieutenant colonel sent for me and
told me | must be one Of the speak
ers at the celebration the following
day, as the American CONSUL who
had been selected as the speaker, had
just. sent word that he, could not be
present. I urged upon the colonel
that the thing he asked was utterly
impossible, but he reminded me that
the soldiers sworn duty is to obey
all lawful orders.
THE ceremonies took place in the
great Place DIES Quinconces, at the
foot of the beautiful monument
erected to the memory Of the Giron-
diers of the French revolution of
1889. Thousands of English, French
and American troops were drawn up
in regular formation, while the peo-
pie of the city occupied all available
space, more than $4,000 people being
present, including many high city
and state officials and, notably, some
of the great French military officers
and heroes of this war.
THE occasion was an inspiring
one, though to me, rather an awe
some one; and it was one of the few
times in my life that 1 felt the power
to speak to her than my own. Con-
gratulations which followed were be-
yond anythingfI had ever experienced
or dreamed Of. In a few days 1 re-
ceived from General Scott, COM
mander of this military base, who
presided, at the ceremony, a cordial
letter of appreciation and thanks,
which I value highly.
Present also were the French
photographer and moving picture
men. The pictures were, of course,
shoWn'at the movies, but as was at
camp, did not see them. Some Of
the French army officers, who are
courteous and gallant, sent
me some of the pictures taken, one
of which is large and lifelike one
of myself in the very act of making
my address. 4.
The second letter, dated July 81,
contains the following reference to
General F'och's great drive;
These are exciting days over here
and long before this reaches you you
will have heard the particulars of the
terrible fighting now going on. We
believe the tide has now turned in
favor of the Allies though, of course,
no one can guess what is still to de-
velop".