A NATION’S TRIBUTE

Wairarapa Age, 23 March 1929, Page 5

A NATION’S TRIBUTE

MARSHAL FOCH TO BE BURIED BESIDE NAPOLEON. LONG PROCESSION FILES PAST 8188. FUNERAL ON TUESDAY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, March 21. The late Marshal Foch will be huried on Tuesday in Les Invalides, next to the Tomb of Napoleon. France can pay no greater tribute to his memory. To-day, a long' procession of war veterans, many blinded, war widows, and orphans filed past the bier at Foch’s home. There was a ceaseless stream of ambassadors, politicians, marshals and generals, and then towards the end all Paris was admitted to file past. There were bare-headed girls direct from work, men in caps, others welldressed. Many dropped simple tributes of flowers, unable to resist the expression of grief, despite Madame Foeh’s wish that there should be no flowers. Even men could not restrain their tears. Old soldier- comrades failed to recognise the strangely altered features. They were saddened by the obvious signs of suffering in the face, and sobbed audibly. Later came M. Clemenceau, who, in taking leave of Madame Foch, said: "How unjust it is. He is younger than me. It is I who come to salute him on his death bed.” Other visitors were Marshal Petain and General Pershing. The stream continued until nightfall, when the doors were closed. The vigil was taken up by three nuns. The body will remain in the house until Sunday. It will then be moved to the Are de Triomphe for a day and a night beside the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. From thence he will be taken to the Notre Dame on Tuesday, when there will be a religious service, after which there will be a procession in the streets to the Invalides, where the only speech will be that by M. Poincare on behalf of the Government. Marshal Foch confides to G'enerai Weygand his military testament. This is regarded as a most important document, and is not likely to be published. It will probably be kept in the War Ministry’s archives. It contains Foeh’s suggestions and ideas on military matters, specially concerning the execution of the Versailles Treaty.—(Australian Press Association.)

KING GEORGE’S MESSAGE. RUGBY, March 21. The King has sent the following telegram to the French President: “With heartfelt sorrow I refer to you, Monsieur le President of the French Nation my deep sympathy in the death of Marshal Foch. France mourns her greatest soldier, and my country the loss of one whose name is honoured on the roll of British Field Marshals. For all time he will be remembered as the distinguished Chief who led the. Allied armies to victory, while his memory will be cherished by all ranks of the Empire’s forces who served in the World War.’’—(British Official Wireless.) AN IRREPARABLE LOSS. EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY FROM BRITAIN. RUGBY, March 21. The British Prime Minister has sent the following message to the French Prime Minister: “I have learnt with profound sorrow of the death of Marshal Foch. I am deeply conscious of the irreparable loss which France has suffered. This great soldier and patriot epitomises in British eyes the military genius of France, and I am certain the. British people will sincerely mourn one whose services to the Allied cause are fresh in every memory and whose distinguished and inspiring personality has won the affection’and profound esteem both of every Brtish soldier that served under him and of the British nation as a whole.’’ The British Government has also addressed a message of sympathy to the French Government: “The unforgettable services rendered by the late Marshal to the Allied cause, and his pre-eminence as a soldier, have assured him of a noble place in history. His impressive personality and knightly character have endeared him to the people of this country, and his loss will be mourned in every British home.” Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Secretary for War, in a telegram to M. Painleve, the French Minister of War, says: “The British Army shares to the full the sorrow of their comrades-in-arms at the passing of Marshal Foch. They mourn one who was not only a great soldier and their former Generalissimo, but also, as they are proud to reflect, a British field-marshal, whose name and achievements as the architect of victory are. inextricably woven into the fabric of our military history.”— (British Official Wireless.)