FRENCH PREMIER,

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1918, Page 3

FRENCH PREMIER,

THANKS AUSTRALIAN ARMY

REMARKABLE EPISODE IN FRANCE.

I (Official Commonwealth Corrcsponi dent.) LONDON, July 8. Yesterday there occurred nu episode which will ho described to Aus-

tmlin n chi Wren centuries nfter those who read it to-day are dead and gone. i It is one of those rare occasions where dramatic stories, which grow into a Jiutiords history, happen also to be literal’}' true. This was the warm-hoaru-•i, spontaneous, arid generous-minded visit of the Grand Old Man of France (M. CJcmenceau) to the Australians troops at tho front after their recent fighting. News of the Battle of Hamel happened to reach Paris just at the time when the Dominion Premiers visiting there were sitting round a table in co«•vd tat ion with if. Olemenceau and Mr Lloyd George. All sent, at once telegrams of warm congratulations to the Australian troops and commander. The venerable French Premier a man upon whose fiery courage and grand do- : termination, France hag depended j through this year of terrible trial, turning to his secretary said:—“Telegrap them my warmest congratulations.” Then “No.” I will go sec them and congratulate them myself.” The following Sunday he was true to his word. The Premier of France came from Paris in a motor-car to the Australians who were concerned in the Hamel fight. The little, white-haired Frenchman, with his genial, laughing face, humorous, kindly eyes, and chin

firmer than stool, wont- amongst our officers and men straightway, laughing and talking to them in English. It was not liard to helicvc that the crumpled grey felt hat, and strong good-humoured countenance covered a cheap and easy flattery. He simply, with quite obvious emotion, told them what he had come from Paris to. say on behalf of the French people. Speaking in English ho said: “I am glad to be able to speak at least this small amount of English,

| because it enables mo to tell yon what. , all the French think of you. They ex- ! pected a good deal of you, because ' they heard what you had accomplish- ; ed in the development of your own country. I should not like to say that they wore surprised. You have fulfilled their expectations, which shows the high standard by which they judge you nnd admire you. Hamel was m-’ a great battle, but in a battle of that scale the individual deeds show clearly, where in a great battle they would

nerforco pass unnoticed. In this battle i the Germans saw that they had ; against them men who came from far * away to attest that wherever a free people lived—in England, France, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada—they were not ready to make way for the rules of barbarity and brutality, which the Germans are trying to impose on civilisation. We have all beei i lighting the same battle for freedom. You have heard the names of these > old • battlefields, read them in history.' ; [t is a great wonder that you should be here fighting on these old battlefields, where wo never thought to see : you. But you came to protect the work of our fathers, which we wanted ; to hand down unharmed to our child- ' ron. These men tried to take it from ; us. They tried to rob us of all that 1 is dearest in modern human society. •But tho men are the same in Australia. England, France Italy, and all countries which are proud of being the home of a freepeople. That was what made you come—that was what made : us greet you when you came. “We knew you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning yon would astonish a whole continent by your valour. I have come here for the simple purpose of peeing the Australians, .and telling them this. I am going bade to-mor-rbw to say to my countrymen: ‘I have seen tho Australians. I looked into their faces. I know they are men who having fought great battles in the cause of freedom in the past, will fight alongside us again till the cause of freedom for which we are all lighting is guaranteed for us and our children. To tho people of Australia, M. Clem- ; eneeau sent the following messae: “I send my heartiest congratulations to the Australian people on the very fmo deeds their children have accomplished in this old land where we never expected to see them in war. but only as visitors, and friends in time of peace. We knew what they could do, in peace,. m their own country. In these dark days, in this old country, they have shown what they do in war. It 1 gives us great pleasure to- acknowledge what they have done. I congratulate them with all my heart on what rthey have accomplished . amongst U9.’’ y