The opening ceremony of the day took place in the Cercle Francais in Rue clu Consular at 11.45 a.m, when Marshal Joffre was received by the Committee and members. Speaking on behalf of the Cercle, M. Pernot said that the Cercle could receive no greater honour than the visit of the Marshal. In that modest but ardent home of French solidarity all hopes had been centred on the Marshal from the moment when the enemy invaded their dearly beloved country, and in no place was recognition more complete of the immortal victor of the Marne. He asked the members to drink to the first Marsha) of France and to express their sentiments of joy and patriotic pride in the ery of "Vive Joffre."
At the request of the Chairman, Marshal Joffre then signed a large photograph of himself which will in future be exhibited in the club and he also appended his name to the visitors' book.
Marshal Joffre briefly thanked the members for their kind reception. He was glad to see such an example of French solidarity, and wished every success to the Cercle and its members.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.