ask that the mortal remains of these young men be left here,
left with us forever. We will inscribe on the tombs, 'Here lie the
first soldiers of the Republic of the United States to fall on the soil
of France for liberty and justice.' The passer-by will stop and
uncover his head. Travelers and men of feeling will go out of their
way to come here to pay tribute.

"Corporal Gresham, Private Hay, Private Enright, in the name of France,
I thank you. God receive your souls. Farewell."

As the French officer wished, there they remain. Soon a worthy
monument will be erected upon the ground where they fought and now lie
asleep in death. Americans of this generation and of generations to
come will stand in future days with bared heads before that monument
and pay tribute.

[Illustration: The religious and military tribute paid to the first
Americans to fall in battle, at Bathelmont, November 4, 1917. General
Bordeaux, in the name of the French army, bade "farewell to all that
was mortal of the three heroes." At this point in the funeral, notice
that the American soldiers in the background are standing at "parade
rest."]

FOUR SOLDIERS

THE BOCHE

The _boche_ was chiefly what his masters made him.

He was planned and turned out according to specifications. His leaders
and his enemies always knew just what he would do under any given
circumstances, and he himself always knew just what he would do. He
would do what he was ordered to do, if he understood the order and had
been taught how to execute it; otherwise he would do nothing but stare
helplessly. He was a machine built to order, according to plans and
specifications.

"In critical moments the boche waited for direction instead of relying
on himself. He could not vary a hairbreadth from an order given, even
when the variation would have brought success. He was part of a
machine army, a cog in a mechanism which needed a push to make it move;
his actions must be dictated or he could not act; his very thoughts
were disciplined and uniformed."

To the _boche_ there was no chivalry in war. He fought as the
barbarians would have fought, if they had had all his knowledge and
equipment, but were still uncivilized. Women and children never called
forth his pity or his mercy. He would defile and destroy a church or a
cathedral with greater pleasure than he would a peasant's hut.

To him there were no laws of war. War meant to fight, to conquer,