Evening star., 1932-04-03

in favor OF the American C1lonleS,
or at least that it would have been dragged
ou interminab!y.
And that is the reason why, on December
IL last Representative James Beck of Penn
sy vania introduced a bill in Congress to ap-
propriate a sum of $4,000 to provide and
erect in Washington fitting monument to
Count de Grasse, who played the decisive role
in bringing the Revolution to happy con-
ciusion. The bill was introduced ct the behest
OF Rev. Frank Landon Humphreys, chaplain
general Society Of the Cincinnati premier
patriotic society relating to the War for In
dependence.
3 is one of the enigmas of history thak the
French people, so powerful and dominant in
the prosecution of military operations on land,
should not, in general shine with the same
brilliance as a combative force on the sea.
Theii talents and temperaments just don't
seem to run that way. Napoleon, himself,
often bemoaned this fact He couldn't under
stand at all why 1t was that his land forces
could win victory after victory while, on the
ether hand, French naval commanders should
&C down in defeat. Had it been otherwise, the
history of England might very vel have told
'ar different story.
However, in at least one instance the French
redeemed themselves most nobly. to the ever
enduring well being of the American people, in
particular, and to the advancement of freedom
throughout the world, in general. And it was
De Grasse who turned the trick when in COM
mand of a great feet of crack French fighting
shirS he conclusively defeated and routed
British squadron under no less leader than
Admi- al Graves, of Englands foremost
s. r19n.
Th'c victory was achieved off the Capes OF
tn Chesapeake in October, 1891 1t was so
vastly important in its results that it stands
out one Of the great epoch-making events
Of all time, for it was the decisive factor In
sealing the fate of Lord Cornwallis at York
ffU ard of 1oefi he 0F 4l,r
British for success in the long-continued effort
t" Illustrate the Colonies in their struggle for
independence. After the dire experiences at
YORKTOWN the British lost their appetite for
further conflict. The war, for all practical
p"r77oseS, over.
Now just who was this superman this French
champion who swept across the sea to the
rescue OF an oppressed people and smote the
British vaunted rulers Of the wave? No man Of
orcjncry mold surely Count De Grasse Sow
ereiF1 Prince of Antilles, Marquis de Tilly,
Segneur de Fins, Mondrevi1le Saint-Laurent,
Va!ettc ct Vernes, Commander of the Order OF
Saint Louis, Knight of Saint John Of Jerusalem
and Of Cincinnatus lieutenant general of the
naya! forces, he was descended from a line of
proud feudal lords, tracing their chain Of
lineage back through the ages to Rodoard,
Prince Of Antilles, in 993, and intermarried
with the royal houses of France Spain and
Sicily. All the physical and mental virtues of
his splendid heritage blossomed full in this
great sailor A giant in figure and strength,
he possessed the born commanders ability to
mako instant unerTing decisions and the
brilliant mentality and courage to act upon
them and to assume and measure up to any
responsibility no matter how great
The feudal castle of Bar, or what now
mains Of its ruins, surmounts the picturesque
Provencal village of that name, situated in ro-
mantle surroundings some miles distant from
the town of Grasse. This castle was an abode Of
the mighty Lords de Grasse from the time
of the Crusades. Here, on the 18th of Sep
tember 1872, was born the Chevalier de Grasse
de Bar, the husky child who even in early
youth gave ample promise of the virulent man
he was to become.
He was robust of constitution, athletic in
every sinew, and brimming with the zest of
living. His tutors were hard put to it to curb
in some measure his imperious temper and his
1nordinate love Of energetic outdoor sports He
insisted on devoting his time to pursuits of
field and forest, rather than to compose him