The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 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
DRY Of Three Americans Who Fell
at BetheImont Is Sent to
Washington.

Washington. 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
proposed monument was sent to Pres
ident Wilson by Ambassador Sharp
at Paris a few months ago at the re-
quest of those in charge of the prof.
ect. Originally it 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 situated so near the firing line
that the ceremony had to be held at
Nancy. Ambassador Sharp has sent
to the state department graphic re-
port OIL the subject. A large crowd
of distinguished people were present
at the dedication exercises.
Nc 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 battlefelds of France.
Young men from the United States,
to fight, had enrolled voIun-
tarily in the French and English ar
mics and already in 1916 their num-
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 Star-Spangled Banner they
procured an American flag and decided
hat each Of them, in turn, should car.
" it wrapped around his breast. In
his way our flag was present in all |
hose numerous combats in which the
'olors of the Foreign Legion partici-
dated. Twice it was pierced by bull
cts and stained with the blood Of |
Wounds. Once he who carried it fell,
he American volunteers searched the |
ield and found their dead comrade,
ook from his body the well-beloved
olors, and armed with this emblem,
hey went forward to new exploits.
When the United States took up the in
ulting defiance of Germany these
american volunteers, already veter-
u.s. took their places in their Nation
nd +o
ag which so proudly they had borne
trough numerous battles, and the
rench reverently deposited it at the
nvalides. {
A few days after the first Ameri-
ans entered the trenches the Germans
esired to test the worth of their new
nemy. They directed an attack
gaipst the sector. Valiantly did the
merican soldiers support their bap-
small fire.
Did Not Yield an Inch.
They did not yield one inch of their
1sitions. The enemy who had pene-
ated for moment into their trench
! withdrew, leaving numerous dead.
hree Americans were killed in the
rench lines, one pierced by a revolver
lot, the other two stabbed with pom
rds. They were inferred in a field
low the hill on which are clustered
e houses Of the village Of Bethel
ont. 1t was decided that the names
these three first victims should be
scribed on stone, and although the
oject could not be given dimensions
keeping with the Importance of the
storic fact to be commemorated, the
sign is artistic and was drawn by
'uis MajOrelle. The cross and the
istle Of Lorraine are entwined with
e stars of America. The inscription
one side reads; e.-~~