FRENCH NATIONAL FETE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14140, 17 July 1916, Page 6

FRENCH NATIONAL FETE.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE STORMING

OF THE BASTILLE,

REMARKABLE SCENES' IN PARIS

HONOURING THE FALLEN

BRITISH TROOPS ACCLAIMED.

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT

POINCARE,

Paris, July 14. The boulevards were thronged, and monuments were decorated with flowers. British^, French, Canadian, Indian, and Australian troops paraded at the Hotel dcs Invalides. There .was. a medley of martial music. Belgian bnimpets sounded together--with the bagpipes and melodious Russian milifcarv bands.

President Poincare reviewed the troops before the Petit Palais. Amid soul-stirring scenes M. Poincare handed certificates of national appreciation to the relatives of 500 fallen soldiers. The names were called out, and during a momentary silence an officer solemnly announced, "He died for his country."

The procession marched to the Champs Elysees by way of the Royal and Grand Boulevards. The British were warmly cheered, and women threw flowers to the Anzacs.

President Poincaire stirringly addressed the troops. He said: "You know how during interminable weeks, under concentrated artillery fire, heedless of the rain of shells, our battalions have defended Verdun. Their endurance and heroism have facilitated elsewhere the combined operations of the Allies. It is a spectacle .whose epic I grandeur surpasses anything humanity. . has hitherto known. Verdun is now | little more than a, heap of ruins, but j over the blackened stones of its houses - the German v army sees from afar I'FranceV^ictoTy.' Our enemies do not retain illusions regarding the possibility of bringing the Allies to their mercy and drawing from their weariness a peace which would enable militarism to mask preparations for a fresh aggressive. We would not weaken if we were fighting for honour alone, but we are also fighting for Jife and conscience. The European nations must face the poignant problem of a free demoLcracy and not submit to an existence ; simply vegetating in the stifling and unhealthy shadow of a German empire strong enough to spread over the whole lof Europe a heavy hegemony."

I " General Sir Douglas Haig sent a j message to M. Poincare stating that, participating with the valiant French in a struggle which has now become desperate, the British Army expresses its admiration of the results the French have obtained, and. its unfaltering confidence'in a prompt realisation of their common aims. . M. Poineare replied: "Convey to the gallant British my keen admiration of their splendid successes so brilliantly developed. Your troops in Paris today have received thrilling evidence of

CABLE ■ NEWS.

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