The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-06-05
AMERICA hijaORS
vAL0R or VEROuN
Ambassador Hefrick Presents
Medal Voted by Congress-
SENTIMENT OF L. S. NATION
Historic Defense Against German
s4ordes Wins Mark OF Tribute to
Vaior OF Defenders.

Verdun June o-The first and only
1iledal ever given by the United States
GOV ernmenl 10 any community in the
V orld has taken its place smong the
cherished possessions Of the city OF
Nerdun.
Ii was presented by Ambassador
N,ron 4. Herrick Sin the name O1
Ihe congress and The people OF the
Inited States" To The municipality oi
Nerduu "as mark of America : ap
preciation of the valor of its defend
crS
III is the whole of the United States
which pays this honor the ambassa
,.or said in his speech of presentation
1t is our supreme authority, our con
.ress ana our president, and With
them our people. One feels in this
Irbure. representing the sentiment ol
more than lOO,O0OOO0 human beings
unerliing fundamental massive. fheii
Homage comes from The Pacific coast
and the Sierras. from the Appaiach
ians and the eastern Seaboard, IRON
,ur northern border, from our Mexi
,au boundary. and from the plains
and valleys between, sweeping like
ttdal wave, across the ocean TO Yer
,:un.
The fame of Ferdun and the glory
IF its defenders dates from February
Il, 1916, when the German high com
tnand began its colossal bal tie tc
lot = ha 20 n fE
right wing. and win an immense mill
iary and moral victory which, had II
'.trn snccc sSful. might have meant
.i:i1erent ending to The war.
But the defenders proved irwin
chile In the autumn OF 1918 more
lhan two years after the gigantic
>ruggle began, the gallant army o.
Ierdun stacked It's arms with the
knowledge that imperial Germany haC
witnessed the crushing Of lis supreme
inpe.
The Germans. wiki seven arms
orpS concentrated around Nerdun
:.lso had II railroads al their dis
posal and more than 1000 pieces o1
:.rlillery of all caliDres. The French
.,ith q river in their rear. had one
sailroad. under enemy fire. BY sacri
icing men and material on lavish
>cale, the Germans counted up0r
gapidly overcoming all obstacles
,mashing the defenders resistance un
Ger deluge of 11-inch shells. aht
taking the city within few days.
Their failure TO foresee The le
uacious French resistance was proved
4 year after the battle began, WHEEL
il was learned that the Germans hat
employed 81 divisions N IL month:
against the city, which still remained
IN the hands of its defenders. Begin
ming in August. 1915. Germany. in
consequence Of the French-Brilish OF
ienSive III the Somme, gradually aban
,tuned the campaign around Nerdun
IA which venture she had sacrlncet
lhe pick OF her troops. The city wa!
finally and definitely cleared, on b0tf
nanks OF the MeuSe. in November
i9lS.'
Building his speech upon this mag
niticent defense, Ambassador Herricl
said thai "Verdun and Valor are for
ever one and insepaEable. Here
blazed the spirit of France" he con
inued. The valor was the valor o
France. General Petain had spokel
for France They shall not pass.
And 50 this medal, which L give Il
his illustrious city, hallOwed by sacri
fees and courage Of all France, is
ribute from the whole United States
10 all OF France.
.Hnt no medal will ever be strucl
hv the United States in commemora
lion of German yalOr al ferdun. III
declared, because of our deep an'
abiding conviction that the German
>alnr and sacrifice were poisoned b.
lhe purpose 70 which theS were Gle
voted.
Premier Poincare accepted the med
Al in behalf OF the French gov ernment
making an impassoned speech, IL
which he spoke OF what had been dom
bN American soldiers To help gain Lh'
victory, arh defended Frances posi-
! ION on th, reparations and army Is