New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
President of France, Marshal
Foch and Other High Of.
ficials at Ceremony Where
First Americans Landed
Mutual Tributes Are Paid
Historic Place Also Saw
Departure Of Lafayette
for the Colonies in 1777

POINTE DE GRAVE. France. Sept.
8 (By The Associated Press).-France
paid lasting tribute to-day to
Americas active entry into the
great war by laying the corner
stone Of monument here COM
memorating the landing on the spot Of
the first contingent Of American troops,
in 1917. Speeches by President Poin-
care and Hugh c. Wallace the Amcri-
can Ambassador. were the chief feat
ures Of the exercises, appropriately
held on the birthday of Lafayette. who
sailed for America from this same spot
in 1777.
The party which conducted the cere-
monies arrived this morning from
Paris. In it were President Poincare,
Premier Clemenceau. Marshal Foch,
Frank l.. Polk, Under Secretary Of
State; General Tasker II. Bliss and
Brigadier General w. d. Connor. now
commander Of the American forces in
Europe. Rear Admiral Andrew T. Long,
naval attache: Captain John II. Mac
Fadden. assistant military attache at
the American Embassy in Paris, and
Captain Melville Wallace. son of the
ambassador, were also members of the
party. Ten Senators and twenty-five
members Of the Chamber of Deputies
were the official representatives Of the
French Parliament in the party.
5000 Witness Ceremony
Others in the party were the Marquis
de Chambrun, descendant of Lafay-
ette and a member of the Jofre mis-
sion to the United States in 1917;
- r., nd ~ @
Damour, chairman of the committee in
charge Of the exercises. A naval band
supplied the music of the occasion.
A crowd of 5000 persons witnessed
tho ceremony.
the addresses of President Poincare and
during a slight drizzle. None the less
the scene was a brilliant one. numerous
detachments of French and American
soldiers. sailors and marines assembled
among the sandy dunes of the Pointe
giving color to the picture. The guard
Of honor, for instance, was composed
of United States marines, many OF
whom were veterans OF the fghting on
the Marne in 1918.
President Poincare in his speech
called to America 10 continue that
close relationship which caused the
Uited States to come 10 the aid Of
France.
Gives Voice to Dead
"In the plains of Picardy, Lorraine
and Champagne, by the side of 1,400,-
900 which the war has mown down"
said he, "sleep your Americans, whose
mothers do not know their tombs.
They all sacrificed to the same ideal
the French died for.
LET US bend down over these tombs
ard i!s.eN. l. is the same voice which
everywhere arises from the depths Of
the earth. we have suffered, they
say. ain order that the world should be-
come free. To you now falls the duty
20 watch that never again may leap up
tins danger which We have removed.
Do not allow France and America to
estrangc themselves one from the
other. Do not draw apart those hands
which ere now joined. Be on your
guard that there shall never be kept
between you Misunderstanding which
sooner or later might be transformed
into sagreements. Tomorrow no
more than yesterday can you dispense
with each other. Separated. you will
quickly be exposed TO the offensive re-
turn Of violence. Side by side. the
peoples who have won the war will be
strong enough to make such war i'm
possible
Wallace Praises France
Ambassador Wallace said the monu
ment would be to victory and liberty"
He praised the spirit of France and
said that while "many and great are
the glories of France there is none
that compares with the glory of the
Marne.
~ bring this tribute from overseas"
he said, "and the words | speak are
but the echo Of the sentiment en-
graved in the hearts Of civilization.
The Marne was your victory and at
the Marne a few years ago this very
day YOU saved the world"
Deputy Danour. who. with Senator
Mcnier, has prepared a souvenir sketch
entitled From Lafayette to Wilson,"
said to-day that the sculptor Barthel-
emy, who is designing the monument,
will complete his work on the draw
ings in few days, and that the work
of construction will proceed imme-
l,ata1x.