ARMISTICE DAY

Evening Star, Issue 23422, 13 November 1939, Page 5

ARMISTICE DAY

COMMEMORATION IN LONDON WREATHS ON SANDBAGGED CENOTAPH CUSTOMARY CEREMONY ABANDONED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 11. The past and the present were linked with tlie deepest significance in Britain’s first wartime observance of Armistice Day-. The first wreaths and posies were placed on the sandbagged base of the • Cenotaph long before the late autumn dawn relieved the blackout. The two minutes’ silence in the Cenotaph ceremony was abandoned, but there were ' numerous church services throughout Britain. The King’s equerry (Commander Campbell) drove to the Cenotaph at 9.30 a.m., and placed a wreath on behalf of their Majesties. Mr W. J. Jordan deposited a wreath on behalf of New Zealand'. Traffic which swept up and down Whitehall during the day, a constant stream of flower-bearers, and also hundreds of sellers of Flanders poppies throughout London for war charities, -were among the few signs of a day of remembrance. Crowds at the Cenotaph were startled by a woman rushing along the road shouting: “ Hypocrites 20 years after. A constable led her away. “ Somewhere in France * participation of New Zealanders and Australians among the British Expeditionary Force and Air Force gave an Empire significance to the simple ceremonies of laying poppies on the graves of war dead in 2 000 British cemeteries m France. French, New Zealand, and Australian cemeteries were places of pilgrimage during the day. , • ~ Lord Gort, in the presence of the Duke of Gloucester, a company of troops in battle dross, 16 buglers and four civilians in deep mourning, placed a wreath at the Ossuary, the famous cemetery, where lie 40,000 Frenchmen killed in the great battle during the last war. Anti-aircraft guns were mounted round the cemetery in order to prevent a surprise aerial attack. French troops observed no Armistice Day ceremonies in the Maginot Line. A Berlin message states that flags were flown at half-mast throughout Germany for Armistice Day. which was officially designated as a day of sorrow., EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES KING AND FRENCH PRESIDENT i (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 11. An exchange of Armistice Day telegrams has been made between the King and the President of the French

Bepublie. M Le Brun, after expressing the feeling of comradeship and confidence of the French for the British people, said; “Side by side, with many veterans of the Great War, tha young men of France and the Britisn. Empire are once more fighting in. defence of the inalienable rights of mankind. The same ideal inspires and guides them. It gives them the strength necessary to pursue to its ends this sacred struggle, oh’ which depends the establishment of order in Europe on the foundations of liberty, justice,;and security.” His Majesty replied, recalling the fine collaboration of the French and \ the British in the last war, and,said: “The bonds which unite the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Franco in confidence and collaboration are hallowed and. strengthened by these memories and l by the. common, sacrifices now ’ being; so freely, kifiered in. the- cause to which they ,_a£e unshakeably committed. We have good reason, to be assured that their united endeavour will be crowned with success and that Europe will be secured from brutal violence and from constant threat of force, and that peace will be established on the sure foundation, of liberty and justice.” SIMPLE SERVICE BIG GATHERING IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, November 12. Armistice Day ceremonies in Australia took the customary forms in m spirit of remembrance. The mam gathering in Sydney was at the Cenotaph, where , 10,000 took part in a simple, dignified service at which all arms of the national defence were represented. Official wreaths placed on the Cenotaph included one from th# New Zealand Government. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTS MESSAGE STILL SEEKING PEACE WASHINGTON, November 11. In an Armistice Day message Pra» sident Roosevelt declared: ‘ We work, pray, and arm for peace, seeking * peace better than that which ended the Great War.” . The message was delivered by telephone in connection with the_ centenary celebrations of the Virginia Military Institute. He said there was nothing inconsistent in talking peaca at a school of arms. Americans never had any illusion that peace and free- > dom could he based on .weakness, how-.. ever. The only legitimate aim of armed forces was the restoration of civil rights. . ■ ■ • Referring to the Armistice of 1918,he said: “ Now we need a better peace, a peace which will cause men at to lay down weapons and hatred; ’end forgo purposeless ambitions which have created fear. We seek a language in which neighbour can talk to neighbour, wherby the common homely instincts found everywhere _ may _ reach expression through the elimination of fear. I have sought and, I still seek the road towards this peace. It must be the goal of all of us whose dearest desire is quiet peace under liberty.” POPULAR EMBLEMS ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE (British Official Wireless.).,' . RUGBY, November 19. (Received November 13,; at 8 a.m.) Popular enthusiasm for the AngloFrench alliance was strikingly illustrated by an immense demand ■, iop emblems on sale in London streets, n which cornflowers, the symbol Of * ia French Association of Ancient Combatants, were entwined with the Flanders poppy of the British Legion of Ex-servicemen. The number available in London was limited and high prices were asked. All were fiold out Wore 11 o’clock.