THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 41, 12 November 1920, Page 7

THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR

« HONOURED BY FRANCE FOCH'S TRIBUTE TO VALOUR OF CON.TEMPTIBLES, IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT BOULOGNE a By Teleerarli-.Preai Association-Oocyrlih' Boulogne, November 10. -I ho body of .-the unknown warrior lay Unough the night guarded by poilns in the historic thirteenth century chateau near Notro Dainc. The Boulogne chapel fas a bower of llowera, the walls masked oy roses, lilies, and carnations, the floor deeply strewn wii% petals of flowers and laurel leaves. At 10 o'clock this morning i, French Arrav Service wagon drove up, and the trumpets of. the cavalry and the bugles of the infantry blew the "Aux Champs." After the coffin had been placed on tho wagon the trumpets and bugles announced Marshal loch's coming. The Marshal tooK. up a position with Admiral Grusset and General MacDonagh (representing ihu King), ami marched directly after the cidhn, which was draped by a torn, and stained Union Jack, beneath wnich could jyst ba see.n tho outline of the sw<vd which the King; sent to honour the unknown. A body of veterans of the IiVO campaign and soldiers wounded in vlio great war followed Marshal Foch, also h'tVy soldiers' orphan?, whom the Fwwh,' call "wards of the nation." The route of a milo and a half wiin crowded throughout, particularly nuticeabe being widows and hnreivcd'mothers. The catafalque s"oppe3 'at the quay besido the Verdun, and' tho procession was grouped in ihroo sides of a square. Mftfshal Foch advanced- an 3, gpeaßng with tho deepest eiu jti'jti, paid tri'ir.te to the valour, which was without equal, of "tho contemptible little British Army of 1914. ' General MacDonagh expressed the British nation' 9. gratitude to France for tho way she had honoured t'he unknown warrior. j Eight big-built British warriors, including an Australian and a Canadian, raised tho coffin and moved up tho gangway. The deep hush was only broken by the bo'sun's pipe from tho Verdun. Three times tho weird noto sounded, being the honour usually gjantod admirals and captains. Wreaths trom tho French Army and Navy and other trophies were placed on fhe colliu on the open deck, and four "bluejackets took up their positions with arms reversed and heads bowed. Marshal Foch advanced alone to tho water's edgo and stood at the salute as tho Verdun steamed out of the harbour. Tho destroyer was jolnocl by hor escort, a French flotilla, which greoied her with a ficld-nioishal'B salute of wnotcen guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . THE ARRIVAITIN ENGLAND • (Rec. November 11, 5.5 (p.m.) London, November 10. During Hie cross-Channel passage the coffin ot Uic unknown- soldier rested mi (ho deck guarded by a solitary naval sen try. Three destrnyors were on the right of tho Verdun, threo on tho left, and chrae astern. All had v/nite ensigns at half-mast. Tho warrior was greeted in England by a salute of nineteen gun? fired from 'Dover Castle. Tho collin was carried to a train by six warrant officers of all son-ices, six senior officers acting as pall-bearers. Tho special coach which had carried tho bodies of Nurse C'avell ami Captain Fryatt was adorned with white flowers and had tho Toof puiuted white in order that the waiting crowds at each station and along tho line would bo able to identify it and make sad obeisance as the trnin passed tt renched Victoria Station at 8.30 p.m., where it remained during ,the night, guarded by .Grenadiers. Marshal Foch's message ftf- Marshal Wilson yesterday specially mentioned.the Australians, New Zoalanders, and other overseas British troops who came to the French battlefields regardless nf sacrifices, and shed their blood to ei'suro victory. In the unknown wnvrior tlic British Empire was honouring all its heroes. Marshal Wilson's reply was couched on behalf of -he soldiers of 'he* British Empire.—Aus.-N.Z. Table Assn.