FIRST AMERICAN CASUALTIES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 18, 5 March 1918, Page 2

FIRST AMERICAN CASUALTIES.

AN IMPRESSIVE GRAVESIDE CEREMONY.

Directly behind the front line trenches there took place on November 4th the funeral of three American soldiers, the first to give their lives for the cause of right. The scene, under a grey sky and with rain falling steadily, was very impressive, writes "The Times" correspondent at American headquarters.

Three companies of infantry from the battalion to which the dead had belonged, American artillery detachments, and a number of French infantry and artillery, formed a hollow square round the graves. At the head of each grave a small silk American flag flew in the wind, and during the entire ceremony salutes •were fired in honour of the dead—not the ordinary salute, but shell aimed at and landing in enemy lines at one-min-ute intervals alternately from French and American batteries. After the coffins had been lowered into the graves the general commanding the French division under which the American troops are being trained delivered an address, in the course of which he said: —

“In the name of the —th Division, in' the name of the French Army, and in the name of France, I bid farewell to Corporal Gresham, Private Enright, and Private Hay, of the 16th Infantry, United States Army. Of their own free will they had left their happy and prosperous country to come to France. They wished to give their help, and also their generous hearts did not forget old historical memories. They had taken their place on the front by the side of Prance, and they have fallen facing the foe in a hard and desperate hand-to-hand fight. Honour to them! Their families, their friends, their fellowcitizens will be proud to learn of their death.

“Men! These graves, the first to be dug in our soil of France at but a short distance from the enemy, are as a mark of the mighty hand of our Allies, firmly clinging to the common task, confirming the will of the people and the Army of the United States to fight with us to a finish, ready to sacrifice so long as it will be necessary, until final victory, for the noblest of causes—that of the liberty of nations, of the weak as well as the mighty. Therefore the death of this humble corporal and these two private soldiers appears to us in extraordinary grandeur.

“We ask therefore that the mortal remains of these young men be left fiere, be left for ever to France. We will, in the fullness of peace inscribe indelibly upon their tombs: 'Here lie the first soldiers of the Republic of the United States to fall upon the soil of France in the cause of justice and liberty,’ And the passerby will stop and uncover his head. Travellers through France and from France, from every Allied nation, from the United States, those who, in reverence of heart, will come to visit these battlefields of France, will deliberately go oht of their way to visit these graves, and bring their tribute of respect and gratitude. ‘ ‘ Corporal Gresham, Private Enright, Private Hay, in the name of France I thank you. God receive your souls. Adieu.”