ARMISTICE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 12 November 1930, Page 16

ARMISTICE DAY.

COMMEMORATION SERVICE. CEREMONY AT CATHEDRAL. Since November 11th, 1918, when the greatest of wars was ended by the feigning or the Armistice, the nations of British Empire have held two jminntes in each yea.'v sacred to the ►memory of their ' sacrifice and their triumph. That day was a day of joy <and thanksgiving alone; but since then, each year increasingly, November 11th Sias become a day of memory, and its (two hushed minutes the epitome of all •the tragedy of four long year?. As the bustle of the City was stilled at the stroke of eleven, the thoughts of those who stood before the Cathedral yesterday were indeed written oil their faces. The heavy clang of the clock, *he sudden, universal silence with neither speech nor motion, may bring some momentary exaltation, but old memories crowd thickly and the xeaJisalion grows that there is even now a generation of men who never knew the war. Most of the people were women ?md men of middle age; there were a few tears and many sad eyes. The service was simple and impressive. Except for a brief prayer, no word was spoken; nnd no word should have been spoken. 'Bishop West-Watson, the Mayur (Mr J. K. Archer), and Mrs Archer, the Town t 'lerk (Mr J. S. Neville), Cr. C. E. •lones, Canon Staples Hamilton, and the Rev. F. R. Rawle, carrying the Bishop's pastoral staff, came to the s'tcps of the western door of the Cathedral and watched over the motionless Square. Flags were lowered to heads ■were bared; trams and cars were stopped. Advancing before the others the Bishop prayed: — "O, Eternal Father, in :ili humility we dedicate to Thy great g»ory the memorj of our dear brothers and fallen in the war. "We bless *J hee tor their matchless courage, and wu beseech Thee crown with Thy loving mercy the offering of their lives. Grant them eternal peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them through Him who died and rose again for us all, Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Another moment's silence, deep and humble, and buglers sounded ''Last Post" and "Reveille." The noise of the City burst in again. The crowd went wav, laughing and shouting; cars and trams clanked through the streets; there was the yell of newsboys and the scrape and drag of feet. In some, memories were stirred that could not so easily be forgotten; some sad eyes remained, and some few tears, but not many. Unfortunately, the sounding of the ifire sirens, which was intended as a ■warning to traffic, was not synchronised ■with the town, clock. The first siren went about 30 seconds after the last stroke of the clock, and a second in the middle of "Last Post." Except for a rowdy jnotor-eyelist, traffic in the Square was well controlled throughout ti -5 service. The president (Mr (i. A. Hayden) and ;th.e secretary (Mr E. F. Willcox) represented the Christcliurch branch of the 1 Returned Soldiers' Association at the ► service.. RANGIORA. ■ ,t. . nistico Day was quietly observed $- -'day morning, when the Mayor, several Councillors, and a number of citizens met at the cSoldiers' Memorial and stood in silence for two minutes, after which ".Last Post" was sounded by Bugler L. A. Reid. TEMUKA. Armistice Day was reverently observed in Temuka yesterday. Punctually at 11 o'clock about 50 citizens, beaded by his Worship the Mayor and several Borough Councillors and returned soldiers assembled at the Post Office, where the Mayor called for two minutes' ' silence. This having been observed, the "Last Post" was sounded by Mr' Stan. Cross. . In the Courthouse, where the usual fortnightly sitting was in progress, the Magistrate, iMr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., members of the Bar, and also the large number of people who were present observed ■the two minutes' silence. WELLINGTON. ,„»SS 4SSOCIATIOH HUOBUI i WELLINGTON, November 11. - Armistice Day was celebrated bv a tnro-minutes' silence, the firing of a gun announcing the hour. Two brief services were held, one in the Town Hall, bv tht> Returned Soldiers' Association, and the other at the Farmers' Institute, by the English-Speaking Union. ARMISTICE EVE IN LONDON. i CROWDS AT THE CENOTAPH. (Received November 11th. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. November 10. A continuous stream of people was passing the Cenotaph long after midnight, many bringing wreaths in readiness for to-day's ceremony. Already it is evident that the efforts some pacifists to discountenance the Armistice Day celebrations are contrary to public sentiment. British Legionaries and other ex-Servicemen particularly resent the suggestion that the time has come to forget the war sacrifices. PATRIOTISM AND PEACE. MR SCULLIN'S MESSAGE. a WXTE3 p4*ss ASSOCIATION —BT GLEC'THiO TELBORAPH—COPTBIGHT.I LONDON, November 10. J Mr J. H. Scullin. Prime Minister of Australia, in an Armistice Day message, stated: "We should not forget our duty of ensuring that those who died did not die in vain. The people of all countries are -turning from the barbarities of and are looking forward to years of. place at prosperity. If we want peace we must bo prepared, to work for it earnestly and

support the cause of disarmament. Our patriotism must be merged into the wider ideal of world peace." NEW ZEALAND'S WAR EFFORT. TRIBUTE BY EARL JELLICOE. (Received November 11th, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON. November 10. Earl Jellicoe, speaking at the Armistice Day dinner of the Authors' Club, paid a glowing tribute to the work of the New Zealand Forces in the World War. He emphasised the fact that a bigger proportion of the male population joined the Colours there than in any other Dominion, and only 2 per cent, less than the Mother Country. In elan. the New Zealanders equalled the Australians, while their discipline was like the Englishmen s. ' Earl Jellicoe went on to review the various departments of New Zealand life —its climate, sports, pastoral pursuits, and education —emphasising each poinr with a reference to his own experiences as Governor-General of New Zealand. He only wished that Britain had utilised cadet training and membership of.the Navy League to the same extent as New Zealand, for the discipline inculcated thereby was certainly much needed in Britain. WESTMINSTER ABBEY SERVICE. BROADCAST PICKED UP IN CHRISTCHURCH.

A remarkably elear broadcast of the Armistice Day service in Westminster Abbey, from GSSW, the British Broadeasting' Corporation's short-wave station at Chelms'ford, was picked up by Mr L. P. Simpson, of 25 Gloucester street, on his short-wave receiver last evening. A reporter of The Press was informed by Mr Simpson that the clarity of the broadcast was extraordinary: in his opinion it was better than anything he had so far received from Chelmsford. Although certain details were blurred Mr Simpson was well able to pick up the outlines of the service. Just before 11 o'clock military orders to the troops were given, after which Chopin's Funeral March was played. Then, with astonishing resonance, Big Ben was heard chiming the hour of eleven. The silence was observed at the conclusion of the strokes, .and this was followed by the sounding of "Last-Post." Afterwards came the singing of the hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages Past"; an address was given; the Lord's Prayer was heard; and finally "Reveille." Military orders were then repeated, and the service concluded with "God Save the King." SYDNEY OBSERVANCE. WREATHS ON CENOTAPH. i.VNITKS PRESS' AB#OCIA.TIOK—M ELECTRIC TELECRirH—COPTBtaHT.) (Eeceived November 11th, 8.30 p.m.) SYONIOV, November ,11. The,, weather was overcast for the ( 12th anniversary of Armistice Day. The principal ceremony was at the Cenotaph, in Martin Place, at H o'clock, when, in the presence of the State Governor (Sir Philip Game), Federal and State Government representatives, and a huge concourse of people placed wreaths on the Cenotapa, and the two-minute silence was. j observed. | The New Zealand Trade Commissioner, Mr Li. A. Schmidt, placed New Zealand'* wreath in position. Armistice Day ceremonies were held in all the Australian cities, the Acting-Govcriior-Gewral being present at Canberra. The theatres iu Adelaide wili make a break in their' programmes, and a two-minutes" silence will be observed to-night. The annna! Coneress of Returned Soldiers and Sailors of Hobart rejected a motion that Armistice Day in future be known as Remembrance Daj,