TRIBUTES TO FOCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16908, 23 March 1929, Page 5

TRIBUTES TO FOCH

BELGIAN KING’S VISIT

AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE • (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) PARTS, March 21. The ceaseless stream of visitors to view the body of Marshal Foch was interrupted 1o admit the King of the Belgians, who arrived without ceremony, and went, direct to Marshal Foch’s home, where he met the widow. The King, bending low, spoke words of comfort to the white-haired woman. His Majesty then approached the bier, standing stiffly at attention at its foot, gazing with, visible emotion at the commander, saviour of his own country as well as France. One of the aides bad to-touch the King’s arm gently to recall him from far-off memories:

The King was then handed holy water, which he sprinkled at the tool of the bier and returned to the antechamber, where he again spent several minutes in conversation in low tones with Madame Foch.

The King then returned direct to Brussels.

The Chamber, without discus soon, voted £2.700 for a national funeral for Marshal Foch.

BERLIN DISCUSSIONS LOST GERMANY THE WAR (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) BERLIN, March 21. The press discussions on Marshal Foch as a soldier are dispassionate in tone. He is universally credited with abounding energy, unconquerable tenacity, and an unflagging impulse to assume the offensive. Many papers admit that his appointment as Allied generalissimo denoted the turning point of the war. “But for him,” says the Boersen Zeitung, “the Germans would have broken through.” Despite these admissions none _ of the-critics agreed with the Allied view that Marshal Foch may be regarded as one of the greatest generals of all time. They state that although Mar shal Foch achieved victory he held all the trumps —unity of command, unlimited resources,'and swarms of Americans, tin 1 British blockade, and Germany’s material and moral exhaustion.

Leading German wartime com manders refuse to offer any comment.

SERVICE

OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES

(British Official Wireless.) Ree. noon. .Rl)GB\ , March 22. The Prince of Wales will represent the King at the memorial service at Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral lor Marshal Foch to-morrow. Prince Arthur of Connaught will also attend. Iho Prime Minister, with Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, and Sir Laming Wortnington-Evans, Secretary for War, will represent tho Government. Earl .Jellicoe will be there for the British Legion.