GREAT SOLDIER PASSES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 64, 21 March 1929, Page 6

GREAT SOLDIER PASSES

. ■> —— DEATH OF MARSHAL FOCH

THE MAN WHO SAVED FRANCE

DIED WITHOUT PAIN.

(Received 12.50 p.m.) PARIS, March 20

Marshal Each died in the evening of o, lovely Spring day in the presence of Ids wife and di fighter. He hadl had surmounted so many crises recently that the final collapse left a sense of stupefaction. He. ‘had a r 10lent attack and "’as breathless at live o’clock and doctors and a Priest weto summoned. The latter rdnumstcred Extreme Unction while Mar-gnu Fcch was unconscious. He died apparently without pain. The closing of the shutters was the first, intimation that the long struggle had ended and the nows of his death spread most 'rapidly. Callers and flowers began to arrive in a few minutes. M. Briandl was speaking in the Chamber when the news was received. M. Poincare announced the event in a few heartfelt words, which were supported by the President. The Chamber immediately adjourned.

Marshal Foch died in a simple bedroom not more luxuriously furnished than a barrack room and the only relief of the plain walls was the combined flags of the Allied Nations worked into a banner.

Occasionally during his last hours the Marshal raised his arm and lovingly caressed the Banner. F'och’s only son was killed in the war . lOf two married; daughters ■cue lost her husband on the same day as Foch’s son. The ether is the wife of Col. Fournier and has two sons and two daughteiS. The eldest son received the right to chahge his name to Fournier Foci in order to perpetuate Foch’s name At the end of the war the Marshal was financially poorer than at the beginning. He did not own the house wherein he spent his last years. This belongs to the French Government and will be the home of succeeding array chiefs. While other Allied Nations award ed titles lands and money to their leading Generals, F'och’s only compensation was the knowledge that France was saved. His country home was bought out of his wife’s dowry. Australian Press Assn.

THE GREATEST QUALITY. LONDON, March 20. The Prince of Wales has send a telegram of. sympathy to Madame Foch. Mr Lloyd George declared “Our victory could he attributed to Foch s genius, more than to any others. My greatest pride is that I divined his supreme gifts and tohk a leading part in making him commander in chief. He was a man of vision immaginaticn and courage, and above all had the quality appertaining to true greatness. He had simplicity.” Sir Austen Chamberlain states “I cannot help feeling that in future years the memory of great soldiers of whatever side, will link us •all in a common .admiration of noble men. If bitterness remains it will not be among those who were the stoutest fighters. Lord Beatty in a tribute to Marshal Foch says: “His loss is irreparable. He was the greatest man in flic greatest war the world had ever seen. PUs services were services not only to France but to the whole 'world.” Mr Baldwin states “In the years since the war there has been nobody in the world who has not recognised Foch as one of the greatest soldiers of all time. What is even '■ more important, he was one of the world’s great souls. So long as [ Foch is remembered as a soldier he will he remembered as a great Christian, a great gentleman and a great 1 man.”

A national funeral. PARIS, March 20. There was a memorable scene in the Chamber- of Deputies when M. Poincare announced the /death ! Of Marshal Foch. Every deputy except the Communists and a few Socialists immediately rose and after a few moments silence M. Poincaiie said: “He was net only a great 1 soldier but 1 a great citizen. I am sure the Chamber will associate itself with the national mourning.” Subsequently M. Poincare announ ced that Marshal Foch would be accorded a national funeral.