The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-05-31
FRANCE iiv.jORS
AMERICAN DEAD
Decorates Graves Of 10000
U, S. Soldiers.
PO|LUS GUARDS OF HONOR
Marshal Petain and Ambassador WAL
lace Speak at suresnes Ceremonies.
At Lafayette's Grave.

Paris May 31.-America' war dead
in Europe were eulogized and their
graves in all parts of France We're de-
corated the second Memorial day
since the close of the great struggle.
American flags tloated in the breeze
over The resting places of more than
10000 soldiers. and allied OrganiZa-
lions Joined the Americans in France
in services in their memory. while
throughout the repIhic detachmentS
of hOriZon-blue clad poilus acted as
guards of honor at the cemeteries
where lie those who fought beside
them on the field of battle.
The American Legion, with the army
and navy patriotic societies, c"-nner-
ated with the newly formed Memort".
day committee, headed by Ambassador
Wallace, TO decorate the little mounds
in 1917 hurying places scattered along
the battle front from the channel 70
Switzerland and from the Rhine to
the Atlantic. There were 125 places
where a single American service man
was buried. but Memorial day services
we're conducted over each of these
"one graves, some of which are in
southern Italy and others in Spain.
The French and representatives Of
other of the allies tOok part in the
ceremonies virtually everywhere, while
Marshal Petain. the French command
er-in-chief. and other men of promi-
hence from the French army and navy
and civil life. spoke at the cemeteries.
In some places the French women
of the locality made the day almost
one of their own. bringing tokens of
their remembranceS to place on the
graves of the youths who fought be-
side their boys in the dark days of
two years ago. In all the Catholic
churches in Paris. The Jewish syna-
gOgueS and in the American church,
there were religious ObservanceS and
in the provinces there were number
less local ceremonies organized by the
parish priests or the population gen
orally.
In Alsace a childrpnS chorus march
ed from one burying ground TO another
20 sing beside the graves of fallen
Americans. while their mothers and
sisters. with dead of their own to
mourn. placed wild flowers or grass
wreathS on the mounds beneath which
lay American dead
For the American army of occupa-
ton, Major General Henry I. Allen
spoke a the great military cemetery
in ROmagne-S Sous -NIOntfaucon, where
more than 21,00O Americans are burr
ed, and told of the great battle in
which fell most of those to whom he
did honor
Speaking for the French government
at SureSnes cemetery. outside Paris.
Marshal Petain Saluted the dead Of
America, and there also Ambassador
Wallace voiced Americas message to
her lost sons.
A simple ceremony at the tomb of
Lafayette in the Picpus cemetery op-
ened the days celebrations. Colonel
Francis f. Drake, of the American
chamber of commerce in Paris. laid a
wreath upon the tomb of the French
hero of the American revolution and
delivered a brief address. Response
was made by Colonel count de Cham
brun, a direct descendent of Lafay
cite A platoon of the Fifty-frst in
fantry from the American army of
occupation at COblenZ was present as
a guard of honor The tomb was lie
corated with flowers and American
and French flags entwined. Four little
orphan girls dressed in black laid
great wreath of immortelles upon the
tomb. II bore the inscription, "In re-
membrance of the American soldiers.
friends of the children of France"