EMPIRE MOURNS HER DEAD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 13 November 1930, Page 11

EMPIRE MOURNS HER DEAD.

SERVICE AT CENOTAPH.

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. (raiTUB OWICIVI. wibslebs) RUGBY, November 11. Throughout the British Empire and the British communities iu foreign countries the anniversary of the Armistice, which 12 years ago brought the hostilities in the Great War to an end, was commemorated with the customary services in churches of a U denominations, and before the memorials to the fallen.

The two minutes' silence at 11 the hour at which the Armistice took effect, was a feature common to all the services, and was universally observed also by those who were unable to attend the public services. The great central ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall was more than usually representative of the Enjpire, for the King, who was unable to attend last year's service, was present, and the Empire Prime Ministers, and their colleagues, who are in London for the Imperial Conference, attended, with the British Prime Minister and other members of the Government. The Indian Princes attending the Round-Table Conference were also presentj as well as other distinguished delegates to that conference. Never before had India been so fully represented. Crowds Throng Whitehall.

Immense crowds thronged Whitehall, and a solid mass of people had flocked Into the Square and streets in the neighbourhood. Detachments representative of; the Services, with those from the merchant, navy, and fishing fleets, and a contingent of es-mvice-men and women, formed a hollow square about the Cenotaph, upon the base of which, shortly before 11, the King, who was accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and Prince Arthur of Connaught, placed a wreath. Wreaths were also deposited on behalf of other members of the Royal Family, his Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom, and the overseas Dominions, Colonies, and _ Protectorates, and by the defence services.

Royal Family Present. The Queen, with Princess thq Duchess of York, and others, occupied a window overlooking the scene, and took part in the simple ceremony, which, as in former years, opened with the firing of guns as a signal for the silence, which waß ended by the sounding of Last Post. The crowds, led by choirs, then joined in a service conducted by the Bishop of London (Dr. A. P. Winnington-Ingrain), at the close of which Beveille was sounded by the buglers, and a verse of the National Anthem sung. Then followed the pilgrimage to the Cenotaph, which will probably continue throughout the day and late into the night, of thousands of mourners, who laid wreaths at the base of the monument in memory of fallen relatives and friends.

MR FORBES PLACES A

WREATH.

SCENE AT THE CENOTAPH.

LONDON, November 11

While the military bands played Chopin's ''Funeral March," the King, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and the. Dominion Prime Ministers, members of the Cabinet, and the Indian Princes, advanced to the Cenotaph, on which he placed a wreath of Flanders poppies. He stepped back and saluted, and tho others followed, Mr J. H. Scullin advancing after Mr Mac Donald, bringing a wreath of yellow chrysanthemums and white lilies, and Mr G. W. Forbes a wreath of bronse chrysanthemums, with white lilies and carnations.

Big Ben boomed out the hour, upon which a great hush fell on the enormous crowd, which stood bareheaded and motionless. Suddenly the silver trumpets flashed in the sunlight and the lonely notes of Last Post broke the silence.

War Veterans Parade.

The Bishop of London raised his hand in a blessing, and the King saluted and turned away. As soon as he departed the Services marched past singing war songs, followed by a great column of war veterans, headed by Lord Jellicoe, among whom immaculate men walked sida by side with cloth-capped workmen. The citizens of Portsmouth placed flowers, and the local branch of tlje British Legion deposited a wreath inscribed "To the Glory of God, and in IJndying Memory of our Copirades of the A.1.F.," on the graves of eig£t Australian soldiers who died in the wo rti rue and were buried in Portsmouth cemetery. Five steeplejacks stood at attention at the summit of the Joftv flour mill tower at St. Neot's during the silence.

OBSERVANCE AT GENEVA.

SOME GERMAN CRITICISM

BERLIN, Novetnber 11

At the instance of Jonkheer Dr. John Loudon (Netherlands) the delegates to the Preparatory Disarmament Com mission at Geneva, including the Germans, Turks, and Bulgarians, observed the two minutes' silence. The Berlin newspapers make no comment, except the "Tages Zeitung and the "Kruez Zeitung," whose Geneva correspondents indignantly refer to ''tactlessness." They assert that the German delegates, following the example of several 'German journflUste, should withdraw. The "Kreuzi Zeitung" declares that the victors celebrate Armistice Day not as an anniversary of the advent of peace, but of Germany s surrender. The "Vossische Zeitung" admits that England undoubtedly observes it as a day bringing peace to humanity.

OCCASION NOT MARKED IN AMERICA.

NEW YORK, November 11. Armistice Day passed without a single drum beat or bugle note. Hundreds of war medals can be found in the second-hand shops, lite D.S.O. brings the highest price—from 10s to one guinea. Others range down tp two shillings.