New-York tribune., 1920-10-15
hite Crosses in France
4 Message From the American
Cemetery al Fisr1es

10 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: On high slope, overlooking ~.
Valley Of the Vesle, near the town Of
Fismes, eighty miles northeast Of Paris
there IS visible to-day for many miles a
curious white patch. and far above It. q
familiar flag on a white staff.
Below that flag, in orderly rows
stand white crosses on the beautiful
green sod, and there, side by side. lie the
mortal remains of 1,700 and NOR. Off.
GERS and men, former members ~ .ha
American Expeditionary Forces (ths
majority from the 77th, New York CITY.
National Army Division), all of whom
fell in the Hell Hole Of the vesle"
The town at the foot of the hill. after
nearly two years, is still a hopeless mass
or ruins, filled with hopeful, energetic.
but helpless people.
But they are those for whom the SOL
diers willingly gave their lives. and ther
are free. These people can never forget
to be grateful to America, regardless
OF propaganda Of any kind, as long as
tnose silent witnesses are always look
ing down on them.
And for many miles TO the southwark
toward the Ourcq and the Marne.
stretches the rich and fertile country.
SIDE. On its slopes the harvest stand.
gathered; the cattle Craze, birds sing,
ana over all is peace and plenty and
silence.
In the small villages and in the fields
wars ravages have already almost dis
appeared Women sing and children
laugh and the sun shines In the streets
CT Mont st. Martin. Vile Savoye and
ohery Chartreuve, the horrors of which
in 1918 are still fresh in our memories.
But mile or SO to the northeast. where
all can see, stands that white patch
against the skyline, with the flag above
It, the resting place Of those who ;our-
neyed thousands Of miles, willingly leav-
ing everything that made life worth
living, 10 give back France to its own.
All was peaceful in that little ceme-
terry when I visited it on September is
last. Our men have done their work ard
are at rest with their brothers in arms;
their resting place is tended with owing
care. No argument seems possible.
That sacred ground must be a perms-
nent monument to their deeds and q
permanent place OF pilgrimage Tor all
Americans.
Are these men TO be disturbed Is
this great monument and the others like
1.-THE hillside near Belleau Wood. and
that lovely spot in the Argonne. az
Romagne sous Montfaucon, with $4,000
American graves-to be torn down 20
satisfy the demands of few who do
not really understand the situation, and
whose wounds will thus only be reopened
and made to bleed afresh? Il seems
70 me that they do not realize that
there their boys names will be eternally
perpetuated, their memories revereneed
and their graves visited by millions Of
humble and grateful fellow countrymen.
and by the French, for whose homes.
liberty and happiness they gladly gave
their lives, and that, If these men are
brought to America, IL will be simply to
bury them singly in the places where
they would have been laid mad they not
been privileged TO die gloriously fight
ing for their country.
had the honor to serve with those
who lie at Fismes. Many were dear
friends. have seen their resting place
and I know how they felt. and what
they said about this subject when they
were still alive, and can never believe
that one OF them would have been will
Ing or would have wished to lie else
where than under our flag in Frame,
beside his comrades. I found no Amer
lean who had visited our cemeteries in
France who thought that one body
should be removed. Must this hope bs
WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG
New York. Oct. II, 1920.