FRENCH CRUISER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1929, Page 5

FRENCH CRUISER

SLR J. WARD’S TRIBUTE. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 9. F Sir Joseph Ward, in proposing the toast of the French Naval Visitors at • the luncheon tendered them to-day, 1 said that lie was convinced that he was expressing tiie sentiments of the entire Dominion when lie said the welcome which he had the honour to extend was characterised by very special spontaneity, sincerity, and warmth of feeling. Bound together for'more than a decade by ties of friendship and mutual respect, which were none the less effective for their lack of formal and precise definition, the two nations found themselves in 1914 obliged to defnd by sea and land the honour of their countries and the liberty (if mankind. Brotherhood in arms bad given way to brotherhood in peace, and the two countries, still in the closest co-operation, were engaged in an endeavour to guarantee the liberties of the nations, and to build the future of the world on a permanent foundation of security and justice. > WELLINGTON, August 9. Replying, in French, to Sir Joseph Ward at the luncheon tendered the French Navals at Parliament House to-day, Captain Abrial, the Commander of the French cruiser “ Tourville said that France would always remem- ( her the comradeship of the New Zealand soldiers with tlieir own men and the sacrifices made on the battlefield. He said that only yesterday he had 1 had a touching interview with one New Zealand lady, whose two children had ] perished in the war. This had furnish ] ed by one illustration of the links which - united France with New Zealand. The 1 friendship of France and New Zealand had been cemented to a lasting degree 1 in the war. Of their visit to New Zea- £ land, they would cherish the happiest i recollections, as it had brought theiii J into closer touch with the race which s produced the comrades of 1914-18 . t Captain Abrial concluded by asking r his officers to rise and drink the toast e “Long Life to the British Empire.” 5