FRENCH VISITORS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9717, 20 July 1917, Page 3

FRENCH VISITORS

RECEPTION AT RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB.

Last, night, tho French soldiers' at pr* sent visiting Wellington were the guest* of honour at the Returned Soldiers’ Club on Lambton quay. The committee of the Sydney street Soldiers’. Club joined with the returned soldier.-t in welcoming the guests, and Mrs C'oloridge and Mrs C. Earle received on behalf of the combined clubs. There was a very largo attendance of soldiers and their friends. Mrs W. F. Massey and Miss Massey were present, also Sir Robert and Lady Stout, General Sir Alfred Robin, General Henderson, Mr Wilford, Sir James Carroll, Dr. Thacker, and Mr Vigor Brown M-F-’s, Mrs Salmond and other members-of the 1 Sydney street Club, and a number of, memos:.of the French Club.

Apologies were sent bv flic Prime Min. isier, the Hon. A- L. Herdman, and tne Hon. G. W. .RubsoU,-and-several memoeiv ol Parliament. Mr A. S. Biss, -chairman- of the Returned Soldiers’ Club House 1.-omiiiit ’■* r. presided, and welcomed the Fie.ier guests. , , General .Robin expressed his plea-ure at greeting comrades who had done titer duty nobly. He constantly passed then quarters ii) Buckle street, and was to have heard, on inquiring that morn■ng that they were well satisfied with their treatment. Being mostly, colonialborn. New Zealanders were especially glad to welcome these colonials of r ranee. General Robin said he had seen something of French Army manoeuvres ii> 19 m when he had met Generals Joftrc, Castelnau and Pau‘. and a& an instance of their careful attention to. detail, said he had (with Colonel Legge. of Australia) followed a sham attack) on a Tull. Although thousands of troops were engaged they only found in the rear of the advance a'wooden stopper and one cart-ridge-case. This showed how the Frenchmen obeyed Hie orders to nick uo mcry thing and not to waste. General Henderson added his He, too, often passed their gu-sts qnor. ters, but being a medical man he was «ure they did not want anv official -next* from him- In conclusion General Henderson said that Mre Massey ’"ished to invite tho French and the New s£aW returned soldiers to a dance in Sydney street Club on Saturday - Mr Wilford was the last speaker, and after extending a welcome, Defer., him had done, » * speak of the exploits of the irench an various of the war. By .that even .ng's paVr he saw the Gc« Still at Mort Homme, and tho *Tencn were Still holding them, waiting tor thgreat advance. -He congratulated; the ■me-ts on the marvellous gam of ter Hj torv by the French last week, and eaxd hTfelt sure that in the near future the whole German Army, would bo ]? ntreul. He spoke of visiting the 1 rench Army in IDKi and the'flying schools and assured those present that New Zealand realised wlia-t sacrifices the people had made in the cause of humanity and justice. The hospitality of Now Zealand was willingly and generously civcii to thtun. _ ~ , » Later in tue evening Mr For* the clufc manager, said how pleased the commit. ~.. w - a „ to welcome such a repiescntalive gathering. It had taken * year to break down the prejudice against the Returned (Soldiers’ Club, but-they toll that bad been done. The membership was growing, and he hoped that the people of Wellington would some day -give the returned soldiers a club bouse of their own. On ben ah Ol New ZtaUud returned soldiers he welcomed Ue Froueli soldiers, and extended to them all the privileges of the club. Some of the guests had expressed a wish to retain the hospitality received, and a concert had been sugg.T*tod whicii Would to given soon in the down Hall by uie. visitors and the Returned Soldiers C.uo- . The sergeant in 'charge of the I rcncomen expressed in a few words , their thanks tor ’he reception, and their interpreter also voiced their thanks, saving that the evening's entertainment was the best they had hud during their stayl'h"V had been called heroes, but the' wore only doing their dutv . .ami were glad to fight shoulder to ehoul-er ,T 1“ -he English in the cause of humanity and justice. _ . . Mr Wilson and Madame Dccleene. in terpreted the various speeches into French for the benefit of the guc=ts of honour. - During the evening songs were „ivon bv Miss Nottingham, Mr E. Musso Mr McKellur. and Mrs J. Huggins, citations by Mr Munro and AH Bus=elL The "Marseillaise was sung, and the oonrert ended with ‘‘God .Save the Afterwards all. went to tne supp'-w-rooim and the guests enjoyed a talk with many who could speak their language. AU then adjourned to tue . ballroom, and dancing ended the evening very plea* antlv. '