LATE MARSHAL JOFFRE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1931, Page 5

LATE MARSHAL JOFFRE

FUNERAL OBSEQUIES.

AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE.

(United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright > (Received this day at 10 a.m.) .[’AIMS, January 7. Before daylight mouuers commenced to line the route for Marshal Joffre’s luneral between Notre Dame and the Invalides. Tim .Marshal’s flag draped coffin, which lay on a, high black pedestal in the centre of the magnificent nave, was decorated with black and silver and the French and Allied Wags.

Cardinal Vernier read the Absolution and the coffin was lowered from the pedestal to Lhe accompaniment of bugles and carried to a gun carriage to which six black horses were harnessed. Brilliantly unifoimed French and Allied soldiers, and ex-soldiers formed an advance guard of the procession. Then came red robed Cardinals and purple clad Bishops. Joffre’s bay charger and the gun carriage was escorted by a company of infaiitiy on eitVer side. It was an impressive spectacle as the long cortege traversed the Rue de R.iuole, ordinarily noisy and hustling,. but now packed with a silent, motionless crowd. The coffin was placed in the chapel of the Hotel tics Invalided until the burial in the garden at Louvceinnos, overlooking the capital which he saved from capture in 1914.

Madame Joffre said that the sole object of her life now would be to collect all of her husband’s military belongings and souvenirs and assemble them at the Louvecines Home, which will be converted into the Joffre Museum and be left to the Nation.