FRENCH MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 8

FRENCH MISSION

AJArUVAJL. IJN ISIDJYEY. t (Fbou Odr Own Cobbespoxdskt.j SYDNEY, September 11. The French Mission, led by the famous I one-armed warrior, General Pau, arrived by the Sonoma from San Francisco yesterday, and was most warmly welcomed. The' . Frenchmen have been carried off in a whirl of receptions, dinners, and entertainments —there is no doubt that Australians j arc delighted to do honour to gallant France tinough hor delegates. J The purpose* of the mission was thus ex- . pressed by General Pau yesterday: "We t come to express to you the profound grati- ■ tudo of the French nation and the French '. army for all that you havo done, not only by the valour of your army, but also for all the kindness and consideration shown to the unfortunate population of our in- ■ vaded provinces; and wo come to assure : you tliat victory is certain, that chastisement is sure for the enemy, and that they who have made to hang over us for 40 years a terrible nightmare shall bo punished as they deserve." 1 ' The old general, dignified, courteous, ' kindly, a typical soldier-gentlemen of ' France, has made an excellent impression, i For a man of 70 years he is wonderfully | s active and vivacious. He talks freely of , tlio war situation, and is full of hope regard- , ing the turn of events. The Allies must win now, he says, but their victory will not bo assured until the war is carried on to German soil, and there will bo a tremendous . amount of hard fighting before that. i A member of the mission who will interest New Zealanders is •Doctor Andre Siegfried, who published, in I€o4, that fascinating study of the social and political development of the dominion, " Democracy i in New Zealand." It will be remembered i that it was republished in English, with ■ a striking introduction by Mr W. Downie Stewart, just before the outbreak of war. Dr Siegfried has not been in those latitudes ' since, as a young man of 28, ho made the , visit which resulted in his book, and he is > eager to check the conclusions he then I reached regarding the development of New > Zealand and Australian affairs. If the mission goes to New Zealand, as is probable, lie will, ho says, renew some valued friendships. , The mission will spend some months > visiting 'the various States, and preparing the ground for closer commercial relations Itnfnxmn I?rn.iKY» anil Australia n.ftai- t:h«