GRATITUDE OF FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 13

GRATITUDE OF FRANCE.

NEW ZEAL,ANDERS IN WAR. CAPTAIN DECOUX'S TRIBUTE. "PEOPLE AFTER HIS OWN HEART" _____ A tribute to the bravery of New Zealand soldiers at the front and their conduct behind the line was paid yesterday by Captain J. Decoux, of the French sloop Cassiopes. " Many thousands of French? people who had never heard of New Zealand before/' he said, " came to love the Dominion and her soldiers during those terrible years of war." The men of the Casaiopee were pleased to find how well the war was rcmembered in New Zealand, for it was an event | they could never forget. They had con- j stantly been reminded of their debt to us j by meeting men who had been disabled in i their own country, fighting beside their j own men. The captain had seen most of the different branches of the Anglo-Saxon race, and noticed they were developing along different lines. Ho found, for instance, a noticeable difference between New Zealanders and Australians. The Australians were gayer and mors demonstrative than New Zealanders, bat the latter were a people move after his own heart. He felt the welcomes they received here was none the less genuine for being quiet. Captain Decoux said he had met the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in Wellington, and thought very highly of him. He was sure New Zealand should prosper under his able leadership. He was glad to find men who had distinguished themselves on the Somme taking leading parts in the government of their country. On behalf of the ship the captain wished to express the gratitude felt for the welcome they had received at the hands of the Government and people of New Zealand. He hoped the acqaintances they had made in New Zealand would strengthen the tie between France and the British Empire.