The New York herald., 1921-05-30
ADDRESS BY WALLACE
Speaks at Tomb of I'm
known Soldier and Places
Wreath Upon 1t.
SERVICES IN CHURCHES
American Envoy and Marshal
Petain Will Make Addresses
To-day at Suresnes.
BIZ the Associated Press.

PARIS, May 29.-France in military
and religious services Joined with
America to-day In the first of two days
observance OF Memorial Day for the
Americans who gave their lives In the
great war. With British. Belgian and
other allied participants, the French
people symbolized their reverence for
those who fell by notable ceremony at
the Arc de Triomphe, where soldiers and
civilians placed wreaths on the tomb OF
Frances Unknown Soldier. while Hugh
C. Wallace. the American Ambassador,
speaking for his nation, coupled his
tribute to the dead with an expression
of the worlds admiration for the spirit
OF France.
Throughout France wherever there
were American graves memorial services
were held In the French churches, and ir
Paris there were observances of the day
in all English speaking churches. Amer
icas day for the dead has become al
most a French rite. The Government
and people through the newspapers ani
veterans organizations asked to be al
lowed to honor the American dead. and
tho programmes Of to-day and to-mor-
row suggested by the American Memoir
ial Committee were arranged by the
French alone at many places and IN
various parts Of the country.
Symbol OF Fraternity.
The ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe
served as a symbol of the fraternity OF
the comrades in arms in the late wa
when a composite battalion of the Amer
F.rt f1aH
RhineIand with its band playing Made
lon," swunug up the Champs Elysees.
under the arch and passed the Frencs
guard OF honor. with a sprinkling o.
other allied uniforms In the masscd
forces at the arch.
The Garde Republicaine Band opened
the ceremony with THE Star Spangled
Banner" all the troops standing at at
tention. Then Ambassador Wallace, ad-
dressing himself to the French unknown
soldier, who "ded for France, as France
stood ready to die for liberty II there
was no other way" placed a wreath on
the great slab marking the grave, and
eight buglers sounded taps.
The American and French colors were
dipped, the French using the tattereo
battle flag formerly carried by the
French Twenty-fourth Infantry. only
thin shreds remaining. but still symbol
izing the struggle in which SO many
died.
AS the American boys. tall and
straight and with their clean cut
faces tanned almost to match the shade
OF their uniforms. marched past the
guard, the pride of the American spec
tators was stirred by the laudatory
comments OF the French veterans on
the appearance of the American force.
In dcpositlng a wreath upon the un-
known soldiers grave Ambassador WAL
lace said:
.I place this wreath upon the grave OF
the unknown soldier who rests here as
the very type and symbol or heroic
France. He died for France. as France
herself stood ready to die for liberty II
there was no other way. He died Tor
France, and glory could grant no more,
who shall call him unknown when every
French mother who lost a son may claim
him as her own?
He sleeps In peace, but who did more
TO bring peace to France and to the
world? His body lies in the earth which
bore him, but his spirit fingers near, and.
with its fellows, keeps watch and ward
over France. This is not death. it is life
supernal.
SOI0IeEh - 1hss'sS'
soldier OF France / speak to you.
for YOU still have ears to hear. We
praise you, but we can do you little
honor, for you are above and beyond all
earthly tribute. Your resting place. a
hallowed tomb for you, is for us a
shrine. Here your countrymen may
come as to an altar to pray for France.
Here they may imbibe patriotism from
a never failing source.
"The spirit which took you into battle
was the spirit of France. The courage
and devotion which led you on to the su-
preme sacrifice OF your life for home
and country are at once precious MEM
ory and an example to be followed by all
who como after you. France will not
perish while that memory lasts.
I'VE pray that wars may cease, but
that is as God Wills. When France is
threatened she will protect her own. The
world knows what il owes her. and her
Allies will be faithful, but her chief de-
fence Is in her children. Inspired by
you they will do as you did. As they
march TO the battle the eye Of faith will
see above. apd marching with them. that
IN....x ar