MARSHAL JOFFRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 7

MARSHAL JOFFRE

Marshal Joffro was officially received into the French Academy recently, the Ptesidents of tho two Republics, M. Poincare and Mr." Wilson, asi members of the Institute, taking their seats among the members. Marshal Joffre in his address said"l think, gentlemen, that in conferring on me the honour of being received in your midst you desired to pay homage to that • glorious French! Army .which has so well deserved honour and love. However much gratitude and affection yon.may feel for it, you will pardon my attempting to-day to bi&kq you love it more. My own affection is infinite, and I cannot imagine the existence of 'finer' soldiers or greater heroos than thoso over whom I was placed three years by destiny." ... Marshal Joffro next paid a tribute to Franco's Allics/.-'Wo should be guilty of ingratitude if we did not pay homage also to the devotion and valour, of our Allies. On the twentieth day of tho war the British Army appeared in" the field of battle, still weak in numbers, but already strong in all tho qualities which made their reputation in the past—importurbaHo sangfroid, obstiimto courago, w'hich no evil fortune can destroy, which wins through ail obstacles. . . . Every reverse made this Array stronger, ana, thus, along a path full of it? has attained victory. The British Empire has realised that glorious joy of seeing her young legions at last after four years'.effort break through the.grip of Germany's hordes. The sacrifices by Russia, Rumania, Serbia, and Belgium were not in vain; for they had allowed time for tho development of the British forces, and permitted Italy, so short of material resources, also to equip herself." Marshal Joffre recalled the days v he spent in the United States when she entered tho war. History, he said, had not recorded a moro wonderful vision than tho millions of men leaving peaceful occupations to to givo their life for a noble cause.' "In a fraternal embrace France, and America have pledged their troth for the present and the fu-tuio.H