"NEVER DIE"

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1920, Page 5

"NEVER DIE"

MEMORY OF AUSRALIANS.

Beroism of somme recalled.

A TRIBUTE FROM FRANCE,

tj Telegraph.—press Asm.—CcpyrljhtJ

Received Not. 8, 5.5 p.m,

Paris, Nov 8. There wa« a touching and pathetio ceremony at Amiens, and future Australian pilgrims will find in the Cathedral choir a pious monument illustrating a battlefield grave, ffhich was consecrated to-day. It is a whit? marble tablet at the tttraaee, and to-day it was decorated With sprigs of wattle and wreaths, with many touching inscriptions written by wojn«n'» hands. Marshal Foch presided at the ceremonv, accompanied bv General Sackvifle West, military attache at Pariß. He was received at the station by General Phillipot, representing the President, and M. Morin, Prefect of the Somme, representing the Premier. Australian representatives, and Also members of the Amiens Municipality, and a .Vast crowd, at the station gave an ovation to Marshal Foch, who proceeded through a troop-lined »tr«et to the hotel Durham, where a reception was held.

AUSTRALIAN SACRIFICE. Monsignor Delaville', Bishop of Amiens, received Marshal Foch at the the entrance to the Cathedral. As an imposing procession made its way to its places, he delivered a patriotic address, and his ringing voice was heard in every part of the building. He described in language which strongly moved the vast congregation, the decisive operations in •which the Australians prominently and successfully participated," their prowess at Villers Bretonneux, and elsewhere in the vicinity, and their tremendous scarifices as shown by the thousands of graves strewn over the Somme plains. He said the memory of the Australian troops would never die in the land they watered with their blood. Though they came from a country far away, thev were now re-united "with their dead* French comrades in paradise, where there were no frontiers. The peoples also of France and Australia would be united for evermore through that sacrifice. Citizens of Aniens would guard the memory of the Australian dead who had fallen on the soil" of France, and the French nation, which was one great family, when it gathered round its altars would evoke the image of those valiant Australian soldiers who had fallen with the sons of France in defence of liberty, humanity, and' civilisation. He concluded with an- eloquent tribute to Marshal Foeb. A MOVING SPECTACLE.

Two empty graves had been built with .sodß of turf side by side before the steps leading to the altar, and the graves were flanked by bayonetted rifles stacked in military fashion on cither side. A cross on one grave was cunnounted by an Australian steel helmet, and below it was the inscription, in one word, "Australia." The crossj on the other grave bore a French helmet, and alio the French tricolor and cockade/ ■ Both /gTaves were covered with fresh flowers of roses and carnations. A card on the Australian wreath, in a woman's handwriting read, "In ever loving memory of all our dear Australians who so nobly made the sacrifice. From an Australian." A card on the French grave, in the same handwriting read, "Deepest sympathy with the Frjtaeh who nobly made the Mcriflce,"

At the elo9c oi the Bishop's address, fc procession was formed of Australian soldiers, who lined the flower wreathed pilfers. The Bishop unvealed the tablet on which is an inscription, both in Trench and English. All eyes weT» now fixed on the simple white Unlet decorated with palms, and when Marshal Foch unveiled it there were a few minutes of lilettee. v Then the "Last Post" of the buglesA staccato} blasts r«ng through .the Cathedral, accenthatfng the pathos and emotion shown in toe faces of the congregation, which included many British and Australian soldiers working on the war graves on the Somme, ! MARSHAL FOOTS GRATITUDE. At a subsequent luncheon, over which Mr. Andrew Fisher presided, Marshal Foch expressed profound gratitude to the Australian troops* In Australia's Mrourees of men, and material, the French command always found strength. The. Australians, by their wonderful attack on Tillers Brettoneux, and their valor afterwards made the task of the high command very easy. General West proposed the spilit of France, paying an (-b'|uent fcilote to the French troops, and also to the work of the women ard children In wartime. All the French guests were small Australian flags 'n their buttonholes. The Cathdval ceremon'es created a most profound impression of sincerity, and the spectacle of small French childten laying fresh flowers and green turf on the Australian grave, and keeling and praying beside it was inexpressibly touching. Many people were affected to tears. Among those welcoming Foch, were General Wyatt, representing the King, Mr. Andrew Fisher (the High Commissioner for Australia), Colonel Desatge, representing the Colonial Office, Lords Middleton and Biddell, General Macdonagh, and the Agents-General. Mr. Fisher gave a reception at the Hotel du Shin.—Aus.-KZ. Cable Assn.