The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-05
THOUSANDS FILE
PAST BIER OF
HERO OF Marine
Weeping Veterans of War
Await Their Turns to
Enter Chapel.
LAST RITES PREPARED
Nations Will Pay Homage
at Funeral Services
on Wednesday.
BY RICHARD MCMILLAN
United Press stan Correspondent

PARIS, Jan. 5.-The body of
Marshal Joseph Joffre lay in state
on a simple military camp cot at
the chapel Of Saint Louis today,
while thousands of Frenchmen,
many Of them weeping, filed rever-
emily past the bier.
Joffre's head rested on a white
cushion. His face, followed and
worn by suffering, hardly was recog-
1lizable. A blue tunic covered his
legs, hiding the amputation above
his left knee, which was kept secret
at the marshars wish for eight days,
while he fought against the poison
Of gangrene.
Many of his countrymen had
waited outside the chapel since day
light to pay homage to the great
soldier of France.
In the marshaFs crossed hands
rested silver crucifix. A military
medal was the only decoration on
the famous black tunic he wore at
the battle Of the Marine, when he
gained the nations acclaim and love
as the hero of decisive battle.
Chapel Draped in Black
Joffre's flag, which was carried
behind him by a flag bearer
throughout the World war, was
placed at his head. At the foot of
his simple. cot, on nineteen black
silk cushions, glittered the forty
military decorations given him by
the nations of the world.
Also at the foot of the cot, on a
separate cushion, lay the marShals
baton. The chapel walls we're
draped in black, and bore the battle
torn flags of regiments which were
wiped out in the World war, or dis
banded after the armistice.
French war veterans, many of
them blind, legless, or crippled,
awaited their turn to enter the
chapel. Some had seen Joffre in
action when he won the titles given
him by the people Of France, the
saviour of Paris and the hero of the
Marine.
Eight trench guns encircled the
old soldier as he lay in death.
Giant Candles Lighted
The light of four giant candles,
held in immense golden candelabrae
flickered over his shrunken form
like the rays of a soldiers camp
fire.
Joffres body arrived at the chapel
of Saint Louis at tbs a. m, trans
ferred from the hospital of Saint
Jean de Dieu by automobile. General
Henri Gouraud, military governor of
Paris, and officers of Joffre's staff
accompanied the body on the short
journey through the streets of
Paris.
The marshal's officers placed the
body on the bier and lighted four
giant candles at the corners of his
bed.
Four officers of the Polytechnic
school mounted guard, and the first
of thousands of Joffre's countrymen
to pay their homage to the great
soldier were admitted to the chapel.
American decorations given
Joffre included the distinguished
service medal, combatants' cross,
commemorative medal, and the
American Legion medal.
Ambassador to Attend
The United States will be repre-
sented at the funeral Wednesday at
Notre Dame cathedral by AmbasSa-
dor Walter E. Edge and the entire
staff of the American embassy.
Britain will send fifty of his
majesty's guards and a band of
twenty-five pieces from the royal
air force. Lord Tyrrell, British am
bassador, will represent King
George.
Representation from Germany
turned back by Joffre when her inn
periel armies threatened the gates
of Paris, had not been announced
The German ambassador, DR.. Leo
pold Won Hoesch, however, called at
the. hospital to extend condolences
to Madame Joffre the day after the
marshal died.
Joffres widow and his daughter
\ kept vigil beside his deathbed Sun
day night.