The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1919-10-24
MARKS spot OF
YANkS' LANDING
France Lays Cornerstone Of
Monument at the Pointe
de Crave.
WALLACE PRAISES FRENCH
= 7, ~ F777I A97N ~. - \.
President Poi are Urges Both Ma
lions 70 Guard Against Estranse-
msnt-Eafayette saitsd for
America From Same Port.

Pointe de Grave, France France
paid lasting tribute to. American ac-
tive entry into the great war by lay
Ing the cornerstone of monument
here c0mmemorating the landing on
the spot OF the first contingent Of
American troops in 1917. Speeches
by President Poincare and Huglr G.
Wallace, the American ambassador,
were the features of the exercises,
appropriately held on the birthday Of
Lafayette. who sailed for America
from this same port In TIT. Il
The scene was. brilliant one,
nunls Gus detachments of French and
Amen Tan soldiers, sailors and ma
rines 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 fighting on the Marine
In 1913.
Distinguished Gathering.
IN addition to Premier Clemenceau,
Marshal F0cll and other distins
guished Frenchmen, numbers of prom
inent Americans assisted in the cere-
mony, among them Frank L. Polk, I'M
der secretary of state; Gen. Tasker H.
Bliss and Brig. Gen. w. ID. Connor,
now commander Of the American
forces til France. The French repre-
sentation included also Marquis de
Chan1brun, descendant Of Lafayette
and q member Of the Joffre mission. to
the United States lin 1917 IL Andre
Tardieu. and Deputy Maurice Damour.
chairman of, the committees in charge
Of the exercises. A band from the
U. $. $. Garcia played. ~
\. A crowd Of some 5000 witnessed
Vie ceremony. Il A
President Poincare In his speech
ed to America to continue that
relationship which caused the
led States to come to the aid Of
France.
'In the plains Of Picardy, Lor-
raine and Champagne by the side of
100000 whom the war has mown
down." said he, s"sleep your Ameri-
cans 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
and listen. 1t is the same voice which
everywhere arises from the depths Of
the earth. we have suffered they
say, in order that the world should
become free TO YOU now falls the
duty to watch. that never again may
leap up this danger which We have
removed. Do not allow France and
America to estrange themselves one
from the other. Do not draw apart
those hands which are now Joined.
Be on your guard that there shall
never be kept between you misunder-
standings which sooner or later might
be transformed into disagreements.
Tomorrow no more than yester-
day can you dispense with each other.
Separated you will quickly be exposed
to the offensive return Of violence.
Side BY side the peoples who have
won the war will be strong enough
to make such war impossible
Praises Spirit OF France.
American Ambassador Wallace said
the monument would be to "victory
and liberty"
The speaker praised the spirit OF
France and said thft while many and
great are the glories of France there
is none that compares with the glory /.
of the Marne."
Ambassador Wallace, after = ig
dwelt upon the part Lafa ad
played in the Reyol-t' Id
the United Stat e.