FOOTS TOMB TO BE NEXT TO NAPOLEON’S

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 7

FOOTS TOMB TO BE NEXT TO NAPOLEON’S

Country’s Greatest Tribute COMRADES UNABLE TO RESTRAIN GRIEF AJUL PARIS DOES HIM HONOUR. United Press Association —By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 7 p.ni. PARIS, March 21. Marshal Foch will be buried cn Tuesday at the Invalides, next to the tomb of Napoleon. France can pay no greater tribute to his memory. To-day, a long procession of war veterans, many blinded, war widows and orphans, filed past the bier. At Foch’s home, there was a ceaseless stream ot ambassadors, politicians, marshals and generals, then towards the end, all Paris was admitted to file past. Thero were bareheaded girls direct from work, men in caps and others well-dressed. Many dropped simple tributes of flowers and were unable to resist an expression of grief, despite Madame Focli’s wish that there should be no flowers. Even men could not restrain their tears. Old soldier comrades failed to recognise the strangely altered features. They were saddened by the obvious signs of suffering on his face and sSbbed audibly. Later, M. Clemcnceau, when taking leave of Madamo Foch, remarked: “How unjust it is; he being younger than I, that it is I who come to salute the deathbed.” Others among visitors were Marshal Petain and General Pershing. The stream continued until nightfall, when the doors were closed and the vigil taken up by three nuns. The body will remain in the house until Sunday, then It will be taken to the Are de Triompho for a day and night beside the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, thence to Notre Dame on Tuesday for the religious service, after which there will be a procession through the streets to the Invalides, where the only speech will be delivered by M. Poincare on behalf of the Government.

-"Held all Tramps" GERMAN PRESS COMMENT ON ALLIED GENERALISSIMO. Received Friday, 7 p.m. BERLIN, March 21. Press discussions on Marshal Foch as a soldier are dispassionate in tone. He is- univerally credited with abounding energy, unconquerable tenacity and an unflagging impulse to assume the offensive. Many papers admit his appointment as Allied Generalissimo denoted the turning point. “But for him,” says the Boersen Zoitung, “the Germans would have broken through.' ’ Despite these admissions, none of the critics agrees with the Allied view that Foch may bo regarded as one of the greatest generals of all time. They state that although Foch achieved victory, he held all tfcc trumps—unity of command, unlimited resources, swarms of Americans, the British blockado and Germany’s material and moral exhaustion. Leading German war-time commanders refuse to offer any comment. King of Belgians Salutes Dead Marshal SAVIOUR OF HIS COUNTRY. Received Friday, 7 p.m. PARIS, March 21. The ceaseless stream of Visitors was interrupted by the King of the Belgians who arrived without ceremony and went direct to Foch’s home, where ho met thewidow. The King, beading low, spoke words of comfort to the white-haired, frail woman, then approached the bier, standing stiffly at attention at its fo?t, gazing with visible emotion at the commander' who was the saviour of his own country as well as of France. One of the aides had to touch the King’s arm gently to recall him from far-off memories, then handed him holy water, which the King sprinkled at the foot of the bier. Ho returned to the antechamber and spent several minutes in conversation in low tones with Madame Foch. Thence he returned direct to Brussels. President Doumergue also arrived and left in tears. The Chamber voted without discussion £2500 for a national funeral for Foch. Military Testament NOT LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE PUBLISHED. PARIS, March 21. Marshal Foch on March 10 confided to General Weygand his military testament. This is regarded as a most important document and it is very unlikely that it will be published. It will probably be kept in the War Ministry archives. It contains Marshal Foch’s suggestions and ideas on military matters, specially concerning the execution of the Versailles Treaty. The King’s Message “MEMORY WILL BE CHERISHED BY ALL RANKS.” British Official Wireless. >UGBY, March 21. The King has sent the following telegram to the French President: “With heartfelt sorrow I refer to you, Mon- ' sieur le President of the French nation, my deep sympathy in the death of Marshal Foch. France mourns her greatest soldier, and my country the loss of ono .whose name, is honoured on the roll of

British Field Marshals. For all time he will be remembered as the distil* guished Chief who led the Allied armies to victory, while his memory will be cherished by all ranks of the Empire’s [forces who served in tho World War.”