THE FRENCH DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 24 May 1911, Page 5

THE FRENCH DISASTER.

OTIIER CATASTROPHES RECALLED. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. London, May 22, The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph recall the death of Mr. Iluskisson at the opening of the Manchester-to-Liver-pool railway in 1830, and also recall the six deaths in the Paris-Madrid motor •ace -on May 24, 1903. M. MONIS IMPROVING. Paris, May 22. M. Monis is making satisfactory progress. AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY. London, May 22. Mr. Fisher telegraphed to M. Monis his profound sorrow at General Berteaux's death and condolence with his relatives, and expressed the hope that M. Monis' recovery would be speedy. M. MONIS' CONDITION REASSURING. Received 23, 11.15 p.m. Paris, May 23. Mr. Monis' condition is reassuring. He is still unaware of General Berteaux death. SIMILAR ACCIDENT IN RUSSIA. St. Petersburg, May 22. An aeroplane fell among a crowd of spectators at Kursk, injuring many. It is feared that five will succumb. M. Monis succeeded to the Premier ship of France on March Ist, on the fall of the liriand Ministry, largely as a result of its uncompromising attitude over the railwaynien's strike. The Standard, writing of him at the time, described M. Monis as rather an unknown quantity, being essentially a man of the Senate and unknown to the electorate, but he held the post of Minister of Justice under M. WaldeckRousseau, very creditably. The Minister of Justice in France is generally considered the chief lieutenant of the Prime Minister, and this was the case with M. Monis, whose counsel in committee and experience in the Senate were of great help to M. WaldeekRousseau. lie has since been several times vice-president of the Senate, and he has frequently entered into debate with the Ministry on the question of naval armaments. Some time ago he was considered a Moderate Radical, aud his position in M. Waldeek-Rousseau's Cabinet should have given him some acquaintance with the value of tolerance and conciliation; nevertheless, he is accused of Combist leanings, and his inclusion of M. Berteaux, M. Steeg, M. Messimy, and one or two others seems to bear out this belief. M. Monis is a vine grower, but has studied law. He is, like the majority of the Ministers of the Third Republic, a southerner, and represents the Gironde in the Senate.

M. Berteaux, the Minister for War, was a millionaire financier and Independent Socialist. His personality made itself felt more in committee than in debate. He served as Reporter of innumerable committees, and through this he had earned a considerable acquaintance with many and various political questions. Tt was his connection with the War Office Budget debates that led M. Rouvier to choose him as Minister for War in succession to General Andre,