MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10640, 13 July 1920, Page 3

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR

M. DESGHANEL’S ACCIDENT FRENCH PRESIDENT’S FALL FROM TRAIN. ADDITIONAL DETAILS BY MAIL. Details of the extraordinary accident to M. Deschanel, the President of the French Republic, referred to in the cable columns of the “Times” on May 28th, reached New Zealand by the last English mail. From these it would appear that the accident was a moat peculiar one, and naturally it occasioned much comment. It was while travelling to Montbrfson in the Loire, where he was to have unveiled a monument to M. Raymond, a Senator killed in an aeroplane accident at the beginning of the war. he fell from the Presidensidential train.”

Ho owes his life, to two facts —first, that the train was travelling at only about 28 miles an hour, and secondly, that he fell not on the line but- on the slope beside it.

The President was far from well when he left Paris. He had developed a slight attack of influenza, and there was a suggestion that the ceremony at Monlbrison should he postponed. Of this, however, he would not hear, and he loft Paris at 9.20 p.m. Those who accompanied him remarked i hat ho looked very tired and no surprise was felt when at 10 o’clock he went to bed; and gave instructions to his valot not to call him before 7 in the morning. HEAD-FIRST THROUGH WINDOW. The night was very warm and not being able to sleep, M. Deschanel rose at 11 o’clock just as the train was ap. preaching Montargis, ,nnd attempted to open the of his sleeping carriage. Apparently the fresh air caused him to feel suddenly faint, with the result that ho staggered and fell through the window head foremost. Fortunately, the window overlooked an embankment, where there was a considerable depth of sand ballast. The train, too, had slowed down , before reaching some points—a- few moments later it had increased its speed to 45 miles an hour. M. Deschanel was stunned by the fall, hut ho soon recovered and walked along the line for a distance of about a mile to the nearest level crossing. The crossing-keeper was astonished to see a man approaching in the moonlight clad in.pyjamas and sleeping socks. His first supposition was that tbe ufilooked-for visitant was an escaped lunatic, and his feelings may be imagined when the President set about correcting that impression. ‘T AM THE PRESIDENT.” “It is very simple,” he said, with a smile. “It is only natural that you should be surprised to see a man walking along the line in his pyjamas, and doubtless you will be more surprised when you know 1 am the President of the Republic. I have met with an accident. I have fallen out of the Presidential train.

The crossing-keeper had never seen M. Deschanel before, but recognised him from his photographs. He promptly got into comsiunication with Montargis; the Sub-Prefect was awakened, and his motor-car was ■- sent to the rescue. In it the President, wearing a hat belonging to the Sub-Prefect and a pair of trousers borrowed from the crossing-keeper, was conveyed to the Sub-Prefecture at Montargis, where ho received medical attention from a woman doctor, Mme. Deebonis. He was found to be bruised about tho face and legs, but not seriously injured, and he made, light of his hurts. His first thought was to telegraph to the Elysee, and inform Mme. Deschanel of what had occurred, adding that he would return to Paris as soon as possible, . It was the President’s desire to start at once, but as a measure of precaution the doctors decided to make an injection of anti-tetanus serum, and ordered their patient to keep perfectly quiet. VALETS DISCOVERY.

Meanwhile the special train Tiad continued on its way, and it was not until it reached . Roanne_ that the President was missed. ilk valet entered the sleeping compartment, and was astounded to find it empty. Tho alarm was at once given, and urgent telephone were sent back along the line. When it had been ascertained that M. Dcschanel had suffered no serious injury, the Minister of the Interior, M. Steeg, who was travelling by the same train, decided to proceed to Montbrison, and there read the speech that the President should have delivered. ( Mme. Deschanel, accompanied by her eldest son and M. Millerand, ,journeyed to Montargis by an afternoon express. She found her husband in excellent spirits, and he narrated his experiences to her with much amusement. v There' were numerous callers at tho Elysee, one of the first to sign the visitors’ book being Dr Mayer, the German Charge d’Affaires.