Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-22
u. S.-FRENCH union
MEANS PROTECTION
OF LIBERTY FOCH
Marshal Is Given Baton by
K. of C. at dwelling of
Gift to Metz.
By the Associated Press.

Marshal Foch, standing at the foot
Of the statue of Lafayette. just pre-
scented to Metz by the Knights of
Columbus, today voiced his friend
ship for America and received from
the knights a jeweled baton and in
| sigma of his office as a marshal of
| France. He sat on the platform
| among the other notables, smiling
| when the compliments were trans
/! lated, but he was obviously deeply
moved when the baton ceremony took
! place.
| The marshal rose early and headed
| a procession of knights into the old
| cathedral, saying to the knights: Il
| have come to pray side by side with
you for the American heroes in the
! war"
| The marshal took communion with
| the knights during the solemn high
| mass of requiem celebrated by Bishop
| Pelt.
! The ceremony at the statue brought
out the entire population of Metz, as
| well as hundreds from the surround
| ing country. The city was decorated
with American flags, and it was a
general holiday. The statue was
yelled in silk. with an American flag
| draped near the base. Around the
| in native costume Five thousand
| troops formed a guard of honor and
| thousands of civilians crowded the
park. sloping down toward the
Moselle.
Recalls Pershing's Words.
Supreme Knight Flaherty. in pre-
senting the statue, after the veil had
been drawn aside. reminded those as
sembled of Pershing's famous words,
Lafayette, we are here" and added,
Lafayette, We are still here"
me statue was dedicated by Martin
n. Carmody, and was accepted by the
mayor of Metz and representatives of
the various departments. Immedi-
ately after the ceremony Marshal
Foch went to the foot of the monu-
ment. to which three little girls
brought the case containing the
patton, which Mr.. Flaherty presented.
at the same time describing Marshal
Foch as 1.-The ideal Christian soldier"
and the greatest son of France and
the warmest friend of America"
The marshal embraced Supreme
Knight Flaherty, and in rendering his
thanks. said: Il welcome you, Knights
of Columbus, as the representatives
of America. 1 know your merits be-
Cause of what you have done in the
war. The same sentiments that led
Lafayette to go to America to fight
have prompted you to come to Metz
to reassure France that America is
ever ready to do her part"
You have come here to tear down
the statue of the red prince, just as
your soldiers came to tear down the
menace of autocracy which the statue
represented, and you have come to
put in its place the protagonist. of
freedom, Lafayette.
Alsace Forever French.
You have given me this magnifi- |
cent baton as tribute to your
affection for France and for me. You
hoy
L was student there and 1 was
exiled by the German autocracy. But !
1t was my glorious privilege to lead |
the victorious army into Metz when |
we won the hard-earned victory. |
THE union of France and America |
will assure forever that the natural
boundaries between France and her
late enemy will be maintained. |
will be forever !
French. America and France have
long. fought for liberty, and they will !:
continue to protect liberty through !
out the world. Knights of Columbus |
you have done France and America !
service" |
Marshall Foch has been made an !
honorary member of the Knights of |
ers-Cardinal Mercier and King AL |
bert of Belgium.
HonOrs for U. S. knights.
After the ceremony, M. L'Hopiteau, |
minister of justice, who presided !
throughout, announced the promo F.,
ton of Edward l.. Hearn of New
York, general commissioner for Eu- |
rope of the Knights of Columbus, to |
officer of the legion of honor and the |
creation of five chevaliers of the |
legion-Joseph c. Pelletier of Boston,
William J. Mckinley of New York, |
William P. Larkin of New York, DR..
E. w. Buckley of ST. Paul and Martin !
H. Carmody of Grand rapids.
He announced also the creation of
officers of public instruction, with
palm, as follows: John F. ONeill, |
Jersey City; John H. Reddin, Denver; !
Luke E. Hart, ST. Louis; John F. Mar |
tin, Greenbay. Wis. and j. ]. Leddy, |
Saskatoon, Canada
Marshall Foch and the chief officials |
of the Knights of Columbus took !
lunch at the residence of the military !
governor, Gen. Berthelot, after which !
they went to st. Clemens. where the |
Marshal proudly displayed his baton J
IN his old friends