Evening star., 1920-11-22
GIFT PAYS TRIBUTE
T0SONG Of FRANCE
MiIwaukee's Plaque, Pre-.
sented to Strassburg, Ac-
cepted by Marshal Foch.

| oCiilCu " OIL dSSUul y, tV
cepted by Marshal Foch.
| STRASSBURG. Alsace Lorraine, No
| vember 81 (by the Associated Press
A large bronze plaque. commemo-
| rating THE Marseilla ise," the French
| national song. which was written here
| in 1892 by Capt. Claude Joseph Rou-
get de LiSle, was presented to StrasS-
| burg today by a delegation from Mil
waukec. Wis. The ceremony of pres
| cntation gave Marshal Foch an op-
| portunity to voice Frances good feel
| ing toward the United States and the
ma rShafS own optimism as to tho
| future.
when / recall the past. and when
| | sec the present" said Marshal F'och
| Il do not doubt the future that awaits
! usl'
In addition to Marshal Foch. there
were present Gen. Wcyband. assist
ant to Foch during the war, and Cen
Gouraud. who commanded the army
that entered Strassburg after the war:
c. +. Alapetite., commissioner general
to AIsace: NJ. Rebel. undersecretary
for foreign affairs. and Col. T. Bentley
Mott. the American military attache
representing Hugh c. Wallace, the
American ambassador.
After a review of the troops the
American delegation, the spokesman
of which was Lawrence Fitch. assem-
bled before the statue of kleber, OPP
posite the city hall.
Local organizations paraded to the
tune of. The Marseillaise." shouting.
Long live the United States" Long
live the AmericanS. and Long live
our brothers of America
Presentation Address.
This plaque, sculptured by Daniel
Mr.. Fitch. in his presentation speech
will remain here as permanent
symbol of our Affection symbol not
only Of Milwaukee, but OF all the
american people. The bronze of
this plaque taken from the banks of
Lake Michi gan, will be as enduring
throughout the ages as orr friend
ship
Half the city of Milwaukee, Mr..
Fitch added. was animated by Ger
for the presentation had come to
lStrassburg ito affirm that the other
half was profoundly sympathetic to
Col. Mott. on behalf Of Mr.. Wallace,
read the message sent by the ambas-
statement that that which Rouget
de Lisle prophesied France had ac-
complished, and not for herself alone
Civilization itself was saved at the
Marne by the French army to the
sound of "The Marseillaise."
Marshal Foch's Response.
Marshal Foch, in replying, referred
to the role which Jean Baptiste Kle-
ber. the noted French general of Ma
poleonic days. who was born in
Strassburg, had played in French his
tory.
But" he added. "if you wish to go
back little in history we will see
that it was from an Alsatian family
from Alsatian stock-that came
Pershing, chief of the
American armies, of the great war
armies he led to victory. It is be-
cause 1 shared with him the honor of
leading those valiant battalions to
his origin, which Alsace can claim by
good title"
Referring to Mr.. Fitch's description
OF part of Milwaukee having been
Marshal Foch continued:
But she took her part by bringing
material and men to the allies. The
United States itself responded with
generosity and gave all she had to
aid France. which wrote to President
Wilson: We do not know when the
war will end. but 1t is necessary. per
you can furnish
President Wilson's Pledge.
But in 1918, President Wilson an
swered US: You will have in June.
1918. one hundred divisions, and il you
wish more, you shall have them
The part of Milwaukee and Ameri-
ca l cannot sum UP in the brief time
| have today, but !, who have seen
them. will tell you that the 26th and
divisions IN hn tn,
the Argonne. They gave without
counting the cost. and in particular
they took formidable positions at
And they led US vic
torious to the Meuse and from the
Meuse to Sedan. That is why I ask
you not to forget Milwaukee today.
ment that unites Milwaukee and
Strassburg. When recall the past,
when see the present, do not doubt
the future that awaits us. Just al
union has been our strength and
given US incontestable victory IN the
the bonds of sentiment uniting in
their glorious past America and
France. which now are one, will bring
about the development and prosper
Ity OF our two nations"
Americans Decorated.
Undersecretary Rebel. on behalf of
me Frencn government, presented
decorations to the Americans. Mr.
Legion Of Honor. The insignia was
conferred by Marshal Foch. Messrs.
O'Neil. Guerey and EarMng
were made officers of public fnstruc.
lion: Messrs. Uller. Firthjarnt, Hick-
ok and Thompson were named ofiicers
u the academy. Dr.. King. Miss
of the T.Aoion of IJouor