Evening journal., 1921-10-03
gen. PERSHING
LAUDS POILU
Placing Congress Medal of
Honor on Tomb He Pas
High Tribute to Hero
PLEDGE FRIENDSHIP
AT UNKNOWN'S GRAVE


PARIS. oct. 3.-The United States
yesterday paid its highest tribute to
the dead soldiers OF France when
General John j. Pershing, in the
presence OF an immense throng,
including President Millerand and
other high officials OF the republic,
laid the congressional medal Of
honor upon the tomb of the un-
known poilu under the Arch of Tri-
umph.
The ceremony was the most i'm
pressive expression OF Franco
American unity since the United
States declared war on Germany in
April, 1917.
A military review, second in size
only to the history victory parade,
followed the ceremony. A picked
battalion of American troops. repre-
sentative Of all units comprising the
American forces on the Rhine, led
the parade. which was reviewed by
President Millerand. General PERISH
ing, Ambassador Herricb and all the
marshals of France. The presence of
a large body of American troops In
Paris for the first time since 1919
caused an outburst OF enthusiasm
from the thousands OF Parisians who
lined the Avenues des Champs Ely
sees and the Place deEtoile. where
the arch is located.
Before placing the decoration on
the unknown soldiers tomb, General
Pershing stood before II at salute for
several minutes. Then, in a voice
shaking with emotion. he declared:
In the name OF the President and
OF the people OF the United States
as token OF our perpetual belief
in the righteous OF the cause for
which you died, and as a mark OF
respect and admiration to you and
to your countrymen I place this con-
gressional medal Of honor upon your
tomb"
The American headquarters band
from Coblenz then played the Mar
seillaise" and the "Star-Spangled
Banner"
General Pershing's speech made
profound impression on the assem-
blage and brought tears to manv
eyes. Referring to the unknown as
soldier Of France, dear friend and
my comrade," the general said:
Il salute in your noble life and in
your tragic death you who have be-
come to the world an immortal SYM
Dol OF devotion to the highest ideals
Of mankind. Your valor on many
fields will ever remain an inspiration
| to living mothers who weep over
your grave as they recall the hero
ism Of their own brave sons.
Your allied comrades remember
with deep emotion how you cheere6
them as you fell. They praise your
gallant deeds while they renew their
VOWS OF allegiance to the principles
for which you fought. Dear friend
your battle is over. You sleep quiet
ly amid the noisy traffic of a great
city. For you, the victory is won.
You gave your last drop Of life's
blood for liberty and in the glorious
sacrifice of your youth was born the
hope OF those you left behind. In
your heart there is malice toward
none. but charity for all. II is this
spirit and this alone which will es-
tablish confidence among nations
You fought against the calamity
OF war. but your work will not be
completed until the burdens which
the war brought are lifted from the
shoulders OF all peoples. You gave
your all for peace, but your gift will
be barren unless a generous spirit
OF unselfish cooperation arises to
take the place OF hatred. Unknown
soldier. to you of whom thousands
OF mothers ask, Is 1t my son?' to
your tomb, which is for France the
altar OF the country bring the love
and affection OF the American SOL
diers who fought beside you and the
valiant soldiers of France"
Louis Barthou, minister OF war,
accepting the decoration in the name
OF France. said:
we have confidence in the gov
ernment and in the people OF
America, who in 1917, after calm
deliberation and reason. threw them
selves into the furious struggle in
which civilization was menaced. The
medal with which you have just dec
Grated the unknown Poilu we accept
as proof OF your admiration, but we
also see therein the token OF your
friendship. We have fought to-
gether for the same ideals Right
shall not be truly definitely victo-
rious unless victory keeps her prom
ises."
Referring to Ambassador Her
rick's speech which was a reahir-
nation Of the feeling OF friendship
Z that America has for the Soldiers
OF France who died defending their
country against an unprovoked in
vasion," NJ. Barthou declared:
Il thank you, Mr.. Ambassador