LAST TRIBUTE

Evening Star, Issue 20135, 27 March 1929, Page 8

LAST TRIBUTE

BURIAL OF MARSHAL FOCH PARIS STREETS THRONGED MANY MOVING SCENES These Association —By Telegraph—Copyright* PARIS, March 26. (Received March 27, at 10 a.m.)' The world to-day paid its last tribute to the man who led the Allied soldier? to victory in the Great War. Every ally of France was represented at Notre Dame and tiie Invalides. Not since the Peace Conference has there been such a gathering in Paris. Rooms overlooking the route of the procession were rented for an equivalent of £ls each. At least 1,000,000 mourners thronged the streets, many kneeling in prayer from time to time, particularly soldiers honouring their well-loved marshal. Men who were disabled in the war gathered in the Jardin Des Tuileries to escape the crush of the crowds. Elsewhere fashionable women rubbed shoulders with market women, and smart' men about town with workers.—Australian Press Association-United Service. AT NOTRE DAME A SOLEMN SERVICE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, PARIS, March 26. (Received March 27, at 10.35 a.m,)’ Th Prince of Wales, in the uniform of a colonel of the Welsh Guards, accompanied President Doumergue to Notre Dame, where he sat at the head l of the nave, with Marshal Foch’s family’ and representatives of the Allied Powers. The cathedral's dull, vast interior was draped throughout with heavy black hangings, relieved by tricolours. The coffin was draped with black and! silver, and was covered with the Ficnch colours. The great bell of Notre Dame, tolling above, led a chorus of the bells of the churches throughout the city. Cardinal Dubois and two bishops wore enthroned in the choir, but the actual mass was said by Abbe Verdrie, curate of Marshal Foch’s parish. Cardinal Dubois led the procession of bishops and priests to the bier, where they encircled the coffin, the cardinal pronouncing the final absolution and ■sprinkling the holy water. Then the low chanting of the choir suddenly ceased, and the buglers sounded the Last Post, whereupon the eyes of many Britishers present sought the memorial to the Empire’s dead at Notre Dame. For a moment the Prince of Wales’s glance rested on the memorial, and ho then bowed his head. At the end of the service, the President, the Prince of Wales, and other distinguished representatives, including Sir James Parr, filed (mt the coffi n. TO THE RESTING PLACE A GREAT PROCESSION The procession loft at 10.15. The Marshal's charger was led by an orderly, and his decorations were carried on a cushion by :m office]-. Then followed a gun carriage, and next the family, President Doumergue (wearing a black coat), the Prince of Wales, the Ambassadors, M. Poincare, Senators, Officers of the Legion of Honour, and, finally, 40,000 war veterans. Overhead, aeroplanes dipped in salute. The crowds were so dense that hundreds of gendarmes were hurriedly collected to force a passage for the procession, which was two miles long. From lime to time the bands took up Hie .strains nf the 1 Marseillaise,’ and the crowds fervently sang the P.e•pnblican National Anthem. The procession slowed down as tho gates of the great courtyard opened to welcome the dead generalissimo to his resting place. PRIME MINISTER’S ORATION M. Poincare, in Ids funeral oration, said: “The traits of tho dead man’s character were valour, magnanimity, natural goodness, vivacity, penetration, grandeur, and sublime genius. To these were added tho inestimable gift of piety. He had no other ambition than to serve. Let us bow before tba sacred remains of a. man, who, in serving France, served humanity.” The final ceremony of laying tho great soldier near the tomb of Marshal Turenne, and the service at Notre Danis were wirelessed throughout Europe and even to America. They were heard in London plainly. A crowd of 50.000 gathered outside the Invalides. They also followed the service by means of amplifiers.—Australian Press Association.