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Show Rochambeau. THE name of Rochambeau, until quite recently, was unknown to most Americans. The unveiling of the statue of this brave hero who played an Important part in the war of independence, brings to light the almost al-most unforgotten. history of French sympathy with the struggling colonies. Senators and members of , congress, when asked by a correspondent of the Transcript who Rochambeau was, answered: "A Frenchman who was with Lafayette." Lafay-ette." ' ..; "A Frenchman who gave money to the cause of American independence:" "A French officer who took part in the revolutionary war," and "One of the French who fought with us at the battl of Brandywine." He was a Frenchman who had for years won many laurels in his native land. In his bravery and military tactics tac-tics King Louis XVI had the most abiding faith. As an expression of his sympathy with .the colonies seeking their independence, the king sent Rochambeau Ro-chambeau to aid them in their struggle strug-gle to be free men. His arrival in this counrry was subsequent to Lafayette. After landing he was placed in command com-mand of 6,000 French oldiers who did more than yeomanry work in bringing the war to a close. He took part in the siege of Yorktown and materially aided in its capture. After the war closed he returned to his native country coun-try wliere he received universal plaudits plaud-its from his countryment. But like Brutus, the fickle Frenchmen during the revolution charged their distinguished distin-guished military leader, who shed luster lus-ter on the French nation, with the terrible ter-rible crime of aristocracy, and being a memher. of an old noble family. That was too much for the red-handed revolutionists, revo-lutionists, and the sentence of the tribunal was death. Before the time appointed for his execution came, the tables were turned and Robespierre himself -was condemned and executed, and Rochambeau declared free. After he was liberated, he served his country and stood jn the front rank of military commanders during a part of Napoleon's Na-poleon's reign. The honor paid to his memory in the unveiling of his monument monu-ment shows that the works of brave men are not forgotten. American gratitude grat-itude for the part taken by France in public was clearly manifested in the honors paid to the French representatives representa-tives sent here to take part in the ceremonies cere-monies of dedicating the monument that will perpetuate the memory of a soldier and a brave, courageous man. |