FRANCE'S DAY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 14, 16 July 1918, Page 3

FRANCE'S DAY

TRIBUTES TO OUR ALLY

"SACRED LOVE OF HOME AND COUNTRY"

France's National Fete Day was celobrated by a public meeting at the Town Hall last evening. Although the attendance was not large, the proceedings 1 wero marked by much enthusiasm, and inspiriting addresses were delivered by the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke.C.M.G., M.P.), and Messrs. J. P. Firth, John Hutcheson, and Captain Barclay. Amongst those present were Mrs. W. F. Massey, Hon. Sir Francis Bell {At-torney-General), Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways), Hon.. Sir William Fraser (Minister of Public Works), Hon. G. W. RusselL (Minister of- Internal Affairs), Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P., Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Mr. James Macintosh (Consul for i France), Captain Hall-Thompson (Naval Adviser), and Mr. D. J. R, Seymour (representing the Returned Soldiers' Association). The Mayor apologised for the absence of the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), the Hon. Arthur Myers (Minister of Munitions), the Hon. j. A. ITanan (Minister of Education), and the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of Justice). Mr. Myers, in a telegram, said : "I desire to associate myself in paying a tribute to the glory and endurance of the sons of France, and in commemorating the 129 th. anniversary of the birth as *. democracy of 'our gallant and loyal Ally. France has ever been illustrious for her enthusiastic championship of chivalry, honour, and freedom, and her record in this respect has only been rendered more brilliant and imperishable by her stand in this righteous war. May Britain, France,' and America stand together for air time in support of tho ideals which animate our races, and may the battlecry of France—'Liberty, equality, and fraternity'—be her slogan throughout the ages." Mr. J. P. Luke said they were gathered that evening to commemorate an event that was being celebrated not only throughout France and her dominions, ■but also throughout the British Empire. They had met to take part in paying a tribute to the sacrifice and the glorious work that was performed by the French people 129 years ago. On that occasion there was enacted in France one of the most important events in connection with that country—the fall of the Bastille, which was the signal for a free France. We were identified with that great nation, not only because of the struggle that we were now jointly en- ! gaged in, but because of the great sacrifices that she had made. After paying ii tribute to the statesmanship of Sir Edward Grey, especially at the time just preceding the outbreak of the war, , Mr. Luke said that notwithstanding i frrar years. of anxiety .and trial, the j French nation was to-day as unflinching | in her determination to carry the war [ to a successful conclusion as she was on the first day of the war. (Applause.) ?!o felt sure, on the other hand, there •vould be no war weariness or slackening in our effort until victory, was -.ecured. (Applause.) The Mayor then moved the following motion :— "That we, the citizens of Wellington, in meeting assembled, desire upon this, the national festival of our glorious Ally, to record our deep sense of ' the immeasurable • sacrifice made by the French people in withstanding the greatest menace to liberty that ever threatened civilisation ; our admiration for the matchless, valour of her armies, ' ' sind the irresistible determination of her civil population, which showß no sign of faltering after four years of the bloodiest war in history; and our profound conviction of the' ultimate success in. which the armies of the Allies will be crowned with.a glorious and imperishable victory, for ever removing the danger, of the free democracies being crushed by Prussian militarism."

SIR JAMES ALLEN'S ADDRESS. Sir James. Allen, Acting-Prime Minister, said that a few days ago the Stars and Stripes were floating alongside the British flag, and to-day our flag was fly- 1 jng alongside the French flag 1. He took it that those signs were emblematic of the fact that those three nations had joined together in the interests of justice and civilisation. The Acting-Prime Minister then dealt with the question of man-power and Now Zealand's-deter-mination to see the war. through to a victorious end. His remarks on ' this question are'reported under another heading Continuing, Sir James said he wanted to allude for a few moments to the French people and the part they had taker, in the great-campaign. We could not, he remarked, take any proper view of this war unless we looked back for a few years before the war, in the United Kingdom, at any rate, when, our people were warned of what might take place; when they were told that they did not realise the whole trouble with regard to Prussian aggression; and those warnings fell, to a very large extent, on deaf ears. So,, when the time came—when the climax - came—the- United Kingdom was not ready, as she ought to have been ready. We were tied in knots which kept our men bound, and our soldiers bound; and it took us a. .long time' to unloose those knots and prepare bur army, as he hoped it was now prepared, to see the struggle through to the final victory. But the French people,-though they might have been tied, and bound, undid the knots immediately, and went into the fray, and saved Europe. (Applause.) Colossal events had taken place since that time; and amidst " all those events, he thought one stood out with historic interest. He ■ alluded to the "battle of the M.arne. Those present that evening: bad. read a/bout the battle of the-Maine.' They had read about the part that the British soldiers took in it; but our British soldiers were few in number, and it might be safely said thatthe blow that was struck during that campaign, and very largely struck by •the French nation, caused'the enemy of civilisation to stagger back—and he did stagger back and pause. Many another blow would yet have to be struck. Wo did not yet know when the end would come; but we could take comfort in this thought: that the spirit and courage which led to that blow being struck during the Battle.of the Marne was with the French people to-day, and, he hoped, with all the Allies also. (Applause.) It was true that the war was not yet finished. It was also true that'we might have to soc many another blow struck ; but wo could take comfort from the fact that as time went on wo were getting more and more ready to strike the final blow. But we had no doubt what the end would be. The French nation had endured during all that time privations, difficeulties, and troubles which it was difficult to estimate. They had made sacrifices, perhaps greater than any of the other Allies. They had dene so becauso they were fighting for humanity and civilisation, and they were lighting for their own existence; and we were bound and pledged to stand by them, and protect them. The French flag had been flying that day, and we.knew what that meant to us. We knew what it meant to them. The time would come when the final fight would be fought; and it might bo that when that time did come we might find mostly British and American troopis there s but the world could

never forget the land upon which those troops had been fighting—the land of France. (Applause.) It was our solemn duty to free that land from tho oppressor. We were pledged to carry it .through, and we would carry it through —right to the end. The French people were fighting for their liberties, and it was our duty to stand by them, and see that those liberties w^ere secured. It was evident that great events had yet to take place. It was evident that very great .sacrifices had yet to be made; and he was sure that when the. end did come, and when Fraifce and the other Allies had gone through the troubles and trials that faced them, the great French nation would emerge from tho ordeals, strengthened in all those great ; virtues which were of most value. They would have gained, and would hold, not these virtues which you could count in terms of commerce or of territory, but that which made for the soul of man. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion which had, been moved. (Loud applause.)

"HEROIC ENDURANCE." Mr. J. P. Firth remarked that we could not fully realise the sufferings of the French people in the war zone. He urged all to do what they could in assisting the movement to send succour to the war orphans of France. When he thought of the abomination of desolation in the sunny land of France, when he thought of the unshaken and unshakable devotion of the French people, he prayed that proof of admiration for the heroism, sympathy with the suffering, loyalty to the friendship of the French nation might not, to our shame, be lacking in this fair country—so fortunate and 30 prosperous.

Mr. J. Hutchesou'referred to the provocative conduct of Germany on many occasions prior to the outbreak of the present war. Germany's purpose had for a long time been to find some pretext to jump upon Franca and "bleed her white." The hardships and sufferings of the people of France were sympathetically alluded to. He dwelt on the passionate attachment of the French peasant to his little plot of land. That attachmeut was such as to give rise to a love of country which we could hardly realise. The "Sacred Union" still existed in France, and it was that which enabled the people in all their sufferings to smile and talk of the time when the Boches would -be over the Rhine. The French people would continue in this war to the very end. The morale of the French people was to-day as strong, or stronger, than when the war broke out— (applause)—and when the millions of Americans, imbued with the same spirit of liberty, and anxious to pay a longowed debt to France, arrived, there would be the avalanche^ which would carry the German invader and barbarian back over the Ehine. (Applause.) He believed that the ordeal of this war would sb blend and amalgamate the essential qualities of the British and French people as to leave a leaven of good amongst them both.

In the course of bis address, Captain Barclay described in touching terms the heroic endurance of the French people in all their sufferings. The'call'at the heart of France, he said, was expressed in the little word "help." He pleaded in eloquent language for the cause of mercy, and for those in need. Hg said the French nation was absolutely determined not to yield to any pressure. The Germans thought that if they persisted.long enough they would break the heart of the French people. In that they were mistaktn". He mads a strong appeal for a sufferaig and afflicted people, and for the war orphans of France. The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr. Frank Charlton sang with much power and fervour the, French national hymn "The Marseillaise," Mrs. B. H. Qiiereo playing the pianoforte accompaniment in an artistic manner. The proceedings terminated by the singing of the National Anthem, Mr. Bernard F. Page supplying the accompaniment on the grand organ.