Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

tonnage for our use seemed to hinge
on the allotment of greater proper
ton Of our troops for service with their
armies. He advocated having the Amer
lean Army near theirs, especially main
tanning that our supply and equipment
would really be facilitated, all Of which
was repetition of arguments other
British officials had advanced. But the
question as to the employment Of our
troops as an army was settled.
Lord Readings engaging personality
made it interesting to talk with him,
even though we were on different sides
Of the question he as an advocate with
out particular conviction and en-
trenched behind the Soundness Of the
principle involved.
Later in the day Gen. Diaz, Italian
commander in chief, with whom I was
on very friendly terms, called to see
me. The object Of his visit was to ask
that American troops be sent for Serv-
Ice with the italian armies.
In framing his request he at first
mentioned 20 divisions and as / showed
no evidence Of surprise, having become
quite accustomed to that sort of thing,
he possibly thought that was a favor
able sign, so while the interpreter was
translating he interrupted and raised
the number to IS divisions. With all
the auxiliary services that would have
been required to constitute an army of
that many divisions, 1t would have
reached the modest total Of 1000, 900
men.
Graves Move Pershlng.
This request, coming frcm one In his
position, was so astonishing that 1t
was difficult to regard 1t seriously. In
reply, 1t seemed unnecessary to 60 into
II ~ tgVIa
politely that we were in need Of troops
ourselves and could not send any more
to italy.
Other conferences filled a busy day,
to which was added a motor trip to
Ligny-en -Barrois, with q brief stop at
Vitry-le-FrancoiS for dinner. This
journey took me through portions Of
the scene Of the first battle of the
Marine, where the successive phases of
the battle could be traced by the crosses
over the graves Of those who had fallen.
Whenever passed through this district
the dreadful tell in human life that war
demanded always passed through my
mind.
AS we were now about to enter into
an active campaign, the thought came
to me, perhaps as never before. that
many an American boy would likewise
be buried where he fell before the con-
test in which we were engaged came
to an end.
Since the war the bodies Of those of
our men who were left in France have
been gathered into a few cemeteries,
where they lie in precise rows under
the shadow Of our own nag within the
sacred limits Of their small bit Of Amer
lea. Most of these spots mark the field
of valor where they fell, and each has
become a shrine where devoted COM
rades and countrymen may go In re-
nembrance of American youth who con-
secrated their lives TO a sublime cause.
1t has been a great privilege for me
to be at the head Of the commission
to erect suitable memorials in our
cemeteries and on our battlefields,
through which a grateful people may
commemorate the sacrifices Of their
own. But no matter what else we may
do to beautify the hallowed ground
where our dead lie buried, nothing can
ever take the place Of the white marble
crosses and stars that mark the graves.
They stand as a remembrance Of sacri-
fee and as symbols of our faith in i'm
mortality.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS apparently sus-
pect American attack on eve Of big
drive.
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