FOCH’S TRIBUTE TO THE DOVER PATROL.

Western Star, 9 April 1920, Page 3

FOCH’S TRIBUTE TO THE DOVER PATROL.

In the presence of a largo and distinguished company of British and French naval and military officers, Marshal Foeh recently laid the foundation stone of the Dover patrol memorial obelisk, which is to be erected at Capo Blanc Nez, near Calais. Tho sailors and troops formed! guards of honour at the memorial site, where guards were also' supplied by French cavalry, infantry, and marines. Marshal Foeh was enthusiastically received on arriving. The ceremony of laying the foundation, stone was a cpiiet and brief one. 1 Sir Edwin Farley presented the Marshal with an ivory mallet and silver trowel, with which the ceremony was performed. Subsequently the party returned to Calais, and a luncheon took place at the Terminus Hotel, the men who figured in the Zeebrugge operations being also entertained. An address from the Dover Patrol Memorial Committee was presented by Lord Northbourno to Marshal Foch, and the health of the Marshal was proposed in felicitous terms by Sir Edwin Farley. In acknowledging the address and tho toast. Marshal Foeh expressed himself as particularly happy and proud to have laid the first stone of the Dover Patrol Memorial at Oape Blanc Nez. He had opportunities of witnessing the valour of the English troops on the battlefields of France every day frohn 1914 to 1918, and ho greatly appreciated that valour. As to the crews of the vessels of the Dover Patrol, they also hadl to fight continuously against a stubborn enemy, with his submarines and mines, by day and by night; and they showed a valour which compared well with the bravery of the troops on the battlefields. He was in a position, to be able to appreciate more than anybody the valuable work the Patrol did. ' By their bravery and by their energy they maintained sea communications between Great Britain and France, and /maintained the supplies to tho armies, and thus brought about the final victory. The monument of which the foundation stone had been, laid that day was a. great symbol of the victory gained through unity of action between our two countries, and he hoped this unity would be continued. A companion obelisk i N s to be created at Dover, just opposite Cape Blanc Nez; and the Marshal likened tho two to> the posts of a gate which should form a barrier in future against the barbarians. If future, generations should be inclined to forget the lesson of tho great war, let them listen to the voices in the wind of those who are resting under the sea and calling upon them to do their duty. In conclusion, Marshal Foeh raised his glass to the co-operation of the British and French navies and the British and French armies, and to the continued glory and unity of the two nations. “ The immortal memory of the Dover Patrol ” was the toast proposed by Dr lan Howden, coupled with the names of Admiral Cecil Dampier, who was formerly in command of the Dover Patrol, and Admiral Ronarch, who commanded the French patrol on the other side of the Channel.