Imperial Valley press., 1931-01-03
French Hero Is
Dead In Paris
CONTINUED from page ~

luton from Monsignor BelleSouer ;
few minutes before he died.
Plans For Funeral
The premier, Theodore Steeg, an
nounced that France desired t
give the marshal a funeral express
ing the love of nation for one O.
its greatest heroes. Final plan.
will be made after Joffre's last
testament is opened later today.
The aged soldier lowered between
life and death in a comastose state
for As hours. He had been con.
sciouS only at bare intervals of 6
few minutes each since s D. m
Friday. The final crisis began al
s a. m. when his pulse was scarce.
ly perceptible.
Joffre's left leg had been ampu.
tated above the knee just is days
before his death. He did not allow
news of his operation to be made
public for eight days because he
did not wish to cause a fuss" dur
ing the holidays. He selected the
Monks hospital because he believed
they could be trusted to remain
silent.
The marshalS last words, so
far as could be ascertained,
were, II am going. This fight
is all lost" He knew that he
was dying, but continued the
struggle that had thrilled all
France and brought him back
to consciousness after he had
been given up for lost.
Madame Joffre remained weep
ing in the room where her husband
died. Fatigued by a Is day vigil,
she was given a soporific later and
went to sleep. During the mar
shal's illness she was absent from
the hospital only on two occasions,
for two or three hours.
Occasionally she was seen pass
ing through the hospital corridors
by the thousands of sympathetic
and patient Frenchmen who waited
outside. Madame Joffre said re-
peatedly, ''he is fighting and we
must fight with him." Her courage.
to the end, appeared to be as great
as that of her husband.
United States Ambassador Wal
ter E. Edge, who returned to Paris
from the United States yesterday.
was one of the first callers at the
hospital after Joffre's death. His
condolences to Madame Joffre con-
stituted his first official act since
his return.
Other visitors included Marshal
Henri Petain, General Gouraud.
Minister of War Louis Barthou, and
President CASTOR Doumergue. The
president embraced Madame Joffre
affectionately.
Premier Steeg expressed the ma
TONS condolences to the widow,
and the gratitude of France for his
years of service.
The marshars face does not
show his suffering" Cardinal Ver-
dier told the United Press, but
only the nobility of ten million
prayers offered for him through
out France this morning"
In 1914 when the city of Paris
was menaced by "a grey-clad in
vading army, Joseph Jacques Ces-
are Joffre was called upon for the
second time to face German at
tack from the east.
AS an 18-year-old student at the
Ecole Polytechnique in 1870, he had
fought against the armies of Bis
mark in the Franco-Prussian war.
The second conflict early in the
World War found his command
backed almost to the walls of Paris:
Thirty miles outside the capital
Joffre ended his retreat and start
ed an offensive which halted the
onrushing foe and with General
Gallieni's troops, drove back Won
kluck's army.
1t was the first battle of the
Marne.
The decisive victory brought
Joffre the title of Marshal of
France, bestowed for the first
time since the Franco -Prussian
war. And his World War lead
ership brought him another til
tie which meant much to the
little soldier whose white mus
tachc and CHEEKY face made
him a familiar figure in Eur
opc and America. To millions
he was known as Papa" JOf-
free.
Joffrc was born at Riversaltes
-OrientaleS, on January
! IL, 1852. Deciding on a military
career, he received an appointment
to the Ecole Polytechnique, 1.-The
West Point of France" When the
Franco German war broke out, he
won a temporary appointment as
a lieutenant in artillery corps
engaged in the defense of Paris.
After the war, he returned tC
complete his course at the Poly
=, technique and matriculated as a
lieutenant in the engineers. Foul
years later he became a captain
and for three years following was
engaged in construction of defense
works for Paris.
Returns To Duty
In 1879 he returned to regimen
tai duty and six years later played
a prominent part in an expedition
to Formosa. For his services there
he was made a chevalier of the
Legion of Honor on September Z
1885. A long tour of colonial serv.
ice then claimed him before he
returned to France