20 APRIL 1912, Page 2

Two graceful and impressive fetes, which will live long in

the memory of the British and French nations, were hold on Friday and Saturday week at Nice and Cannes respectively. The first was the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of Queen Victoria at Citniez, outside Nice, and the second the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of King Edward VII. at Cannes. The first part of the Nice fete took place at a spot overlooking the bay. French men-of-war steamed past in the deep water quite close to tho land, and mean- while there were exhibitions of flying overhead by sonic of the consummate French airmen. Next there was a match past of the troops, among them a large detach- ment of British bluejackets, who marched to "A Life on the Ocean Wave," played by a French naval band. The British detachment was a larger armed force than is often landed on foreign soil. At the unveiling of Queen Victoria's statue—the sculptor is M. Louis Maubert—the chief speech was made by M. Poincar4, the French Premier, and Sir Francis Bertie, the British Ambassador, represented the King. We wish we could quote the whole of M. Poincare's review of Queen Victoria's life as it is translated in the Times. Frenchmen are supreme at this kind of memorial tribute, but for dignity, sympathy, and insight we can remember nothing better than hi. Pohnntres Slogs.