Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-26
honored and beloved of all France.
Nurses Pay Tribute.

|
honored and beloved of all France.
Nurses Pay Tribute.
A row of dark CARRIED nurses, with
one white costume among them. every
one rich with honors gained upon the
field on their breast, followed. One
white-haired nurse, who is active still,
had 20 decorations, most of them for
heroic conduct under fire. At her side
was a priest. evidently from a poor
parish. his robe most modest, but his
chest bright with ribbon and medals.
There was lighter touch in dou-
BILE rank of whitehead Basques, wearing
berets we'll down over their left ears
were all war veterans and gave bit
| Of cheer to the solemn procession.
A dark-printed deaths head came
| into view on banner of the "Croix de
Ecu" or Gross of Fire" organization
| of veterans who won their crosses of
| the Legion of Honor at the front at the
risk of death. This is the group
| formed as a protest against the award
of Napoleon's military ribbons to
profiteers and civil celebrities.
Then came large delegations from
each house of Parliament led by the
presidents and vice presidents, frock-
coated and with silk hats. Judges of all
| the courts followed with the chief pub
lie prosecutor alone wearing his robes.
Then veterans association groups from
every walk of life, including bus con-
ductOrs and drivers who left their We
hicles to come in their leather coats to
honor the marshal for whom they had
fought.
Alsace Represented.
Alsace was represented with mixed
ranks of uniforms and civil attire, led
by rows of Alsatian nurses all in black
with great bows of foot-wide ribbons
forming a characteristic headdress.
Those who have been mentioned
formed but bare fourth Of probably
SO, 900 people who marched as mourn
ers behind the body of the marshal
There were hundreds of groups, most
Of them civil organizations, but nearly
all composed of veterans.
There were tens of thousands Of these
marching 10 abreast, sometimes 20
abreast, passing along sometimes at the
rate of / 900 a minute. However, when
the head of the procession reached Les
Invalides there was delay that caused
the massive formation to halt and pile
up for two-thirds of mile along the
Rue de Rivoli. The street was solid
humanity as far as the eye could see
until the cortege moved again and the
groups once more spread out.
The cathedral was filled with the
notes of the funeral march from
Beethoyen's "Eroica Benedictus" of F.
Cosset. The Abbey vendris, priest of
Sainte Clotilde, the parish in the
French capital where the marshal at
tended mass daily. appeared deeply
moved as. under. the eye of Cardinal
,hair l,a AIAl fh4 or ~ flHn
altar to recite the last funeral rites over
the body of his friend.
Bugler Sounds OF.
Outside the AUX Champs" C'To the
Fields') was Sounded by a lone bugler
and 'unconsciouSly most of those inside
the famous old cathedral stiffened, even
came to attention. The habit of war
days, when Marshal Foch was general
issimo. was too strong.
Meanwhile, outside the streets were
solid mass of people. At the Place de
la Hotel De vile on the Rue de Rivoli
they were packed 10 deep. The tall,
freshly blackened electroliers which
lined the Rue de Rivoli. their lamps
draped black, gave the impression, as
they shone down on the crowd. even in
the bright daylight. of two rows of gi-
The streets were newly sanded and
the traffic islands in their center re-
moved for the passage of the cortege
to Les Invalides when the religious
service was over. There were Red Cross
stations all along the route to care for
any sudden illness or accidents
Long lines of infantry in horizon blue
were stationed to maintain order and
keep the too eager watchers-who paid
as much as $50 for points of vantage
from which to watch the procession |
from crowding the cortege and imped- !
ing its progress. Detachments of the |
republican guard were stationed at i'm
portant points.
heavy haze obscured the sun and
mist appeared over gray old Notre
Dame. Gradually it spread westward
like an enormous pail and in the dark
ened atmosphere the lighted street
lamps seemed more than ever like
funeral torches.
All Church Bells Toll.
At 1905 am. the cortege formed
outside Notre Dame and began moving
toward Les Invalides. While all the
church bells in Paris tolled 1t turned
into the long broad ribbon of the Rue
de Rivoli behind an automobile filled
with police officials which cleared the
way and two mounted patrols Of the
republican guard preceded by buglers.
The mounted guards filled the street
from side to SIDE Behind them came
the horizon blue uniforms of French
infantry, led by Gen. Simon, military
commander of Paris. The mounted
trumpeters also played aux Champs"
and along the line of march two ranks
of helmeted soldiers presented arms.
Then came battery Of field artillery,
four caissons, drawn by six horses each.
and four 75-millimeter guns. pride of
the French artillery. Behind marched
a color bearer with a regimental flag
draped in crepe.
AS the cortege proceeded up the street
the mist that was everywhere grew even
thicker and. more than ever like an
eery funeral hall The sky grew darker
and it seemed as If rain would come
before the cortege had concluded its
mile-and-a half march.