GEN. MARGIN’S SECRET

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1925, Page 4

GEN. MARGIN’S SECRET

- Ilfs STt )R Y t)F DISMISSAL BY M. CLKMKXCEAU. RARIS, May 10. Tliousands of alisahied anal woniuled sohlia'is who hail fouglil uniter his command fail I* iw cal ta tbeir la-t ra-hting-phn-a' tlii- uiormiig l 1m- ivniaio. ul (I* ■i a - a-ral Alaiigin. J mnia'ilia Lola hehinal the coffin walka'd ill.' willow anal their eight ciiilalri'ii (the fwai youngest being eseol'led hy their nurse), marsiials of Eraina'. gt'iiI'rals. Ministers of Stall', am! title strange figure aliv.-seal in nomhre civilian attire v, hit li eoiilrasleil slntngeIv with the uniforms ol the high Army officers. This was the late general’s Moorish batman, a tribesman from the slopes ul tin 1 Allas mountains, who luul followed his master through all his colonial campaigns anal had attciuh'il him faithfully through tire years of the Cleat War. The dramatic account of how General Mangin was dismissed from I,is a iniiiii:iml oil the Rliiiia l (heeause ol his political activities, which hail oll'Mi Fal Rresiah'iil Wilson), is given in the “Matin" to-alav hy a friend to whom the genera! tolal the aireiim-taiH-.'s. “I saw M. Clemeneeau,” said General Mangin. “lie made me sii down in the arm-chair to tin- left of his alesk, ami asked how [ was. and for news of my lamilv.”

‘‘l am quite well.” I replied, ‘‘lull I would like to know what truth there i.s in the rumours I have heard.” •‘Vos, yes,” M. Clemenreau replied.

“\\'e are going to call you hack, and the other two generals as well, and name somebody in your place. You cannot complain. Tl is merely a military change.” “'Why am 1 being relieved ?” I asked. “J should like to ho able to tell you. T asked leave to do so. hut T cannot say a word.” was the reply. “But.” 1 said, “you have always approved of my actions. Why. only the other day I sent you a long report through M. Mnndel. and Heaven only knows 1 did not like doing that.” T rose to my feet, looking Clemeneeati straight in the eyes, and pointing my linger to him I said in a determined voice. ‘-Von. you cannot do it ! Do you dare ro .say that! Am I to he sirangled bv the eunuchs ol the harem with a sack over my head:” Clemencoau. who tried to stand up, sank into his chair and muttered: “I cannot! T cannot tell you! And after what you have done with your army what a temptation fo plunge into puli lb. s.” .“You are doing vour best.” 1 retorted. “to force me into polities, hut I will have nothing to do with that sort of work. It i- too dirty for me.” We carted without another word.