Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-20
BATTLE SHAFT TO
AMERICAN MEN
Monument Erected to First to
Fall Fighting on the Soil
of France. -.
FRENCH SHOW APPRECIATION
Replica Of Monument Erected in Mem.
ory Of Three Americans Who Fell
at Bethelmont Is Sent to
Washington.

Washington.-The first three Amer.
lean soldiers to die in battle on French
soil fell in the village of Bethelmont
about twelve miles east of Nancy. The
population of this region decided to
erect monument cOmmemorating
their sacrifice, and replica of this
proposed monument was sent to Pres
ident Wilson by Ambassador Sharp
at Paris few months ago at the re-
quest of those in charge of the prof.
ect. Originally il was the intention
to hold the ceremony of dedication in
the very village of Bethelmont, where
the three young heroes had given their
lives for freedom, but the community
was %ituH'"d so near the firing line
that thu ceremony had to be held at
Nancy. Ambassador Sharp has sent
to the state de- rtment graphic re.
port on the subject. A large crowd
of distinguished people were present
at the dedication exercises.
NJ. Mirman, in his address before a
huge assembly at Nancy, emphasized
. the fact that the three young heroes
in whose honor the monument had
been erected were not, indeed, the
first Americans whose blood had
tinged the battlefields of France.
Young men from the United States,
impatient to fight, had enrolled volun-
tarily in the French and English ar.
mics and already in 1916 their mum.
Der exceeded 10000.
Carried American Flag.
A very touching incident illustrates
the patriotism of those Americans who
had Joined the French Foreign Legion
before the United States entered the
war Not being able to fight openly
under the StarSpangled Banner they
procured an American flag and decided
that each of them, in turn, should car
ry it wrapped around his breast. In
this way our flag was present in all
those numerous combats in which the
cOlOrs of the Foreign Legion partici-
-pated. Twice it was pierced by bull
let's and stained with the blood of
wounds. Once he who carried 1t fell,
the American volunteers searched the
field and found their dead comrade,
took from his body the well-beloved
colors, and, armed with this emblem,
they went forward to new exploits.
When the United States took up the in
sulting defiance of Germany these
American volunteers, already veter.
ans, took their places in their Nation
al army and presented to France this
flag which so proudly they had borne
through numerous battles, and the
French reverently deposited 1t at the
Invalides.
A few days after the first Ameri-
cans entered the trenches the Germans
desired to test the worth of their new
enemy. They directed an attack
against the sector. Valiantly did the
American soldiers support their bap.
tismal fire.
Did Not Yield an Inch.
They did not yield one inch Of their
positions. The enemy who had pene.
trated for moment into their trench.
es withdrew, leaving numerous dead.
Three Americans were killed in the
French lines, one pierced by revolver
shot, the other two stabbed with pom
iards. They were inferred in field
below the hill on which are clustered
the houses of the village Of Bethel
mont. 1t was decided that the names
of these three first victims should be
inscribed on stone, and although the
project could not be given dimensions
in keeping with the Importance of the
historic fact to be cOmmemOrated, the
design is artistic and was drawn by
Louis Majorelle. The cross and the
thistle of Lorraine are entwined with
the stars of America. The inscription
ON one side reads
LORRAINE TO THE UNITED
STATES"
That on the other side:
Here
in Lorraine territory
repoSe
the three first
American soldiers
killed by the enemy
on November Sd, 1917.
Corporal JAMES b. GRESHAM
(of Evansville)
Private THOMAS F. ENRIGHT
(of Pittsburgh ~
Private MERLE d. HAY =
(of Cldden)
As worthy sons of their great
and noble Nation they have
fought for Justice, Liberty
and Civilization against
German Imperialism,
the scourge of the human race.
THEY DIED ON TIE BATTLE FIELD.
Thus it Is that on the face of this
monument is engraved in enduring let
ters the fact that in Lorraine territory
repose the first three fallen American
cn1diprs