ACUTE ANTI-CLIMAX

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 7

ACUTE ANTI-CLIMAX

DISAPPOINTED CROWDS CELEBRATIONS BEGUN (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.10 a.ui.) LONDON, May 7. Britain tonight is suffering from an acute feeling of anti-climax. The country has been keyed up all day expecting great news iroin the Government and began to celebrate the peace after the announcement of the German capitulation, but the complete absence of any word from Mr Clnuehill left everybody by the evening with a sense of bewilderment akin to frustration. A great stream began converging on the heart of London early in the alter, noon and by 4 p.m. it was packed with a cosmopolitan mass. The flags of the United Nations unfurled, on buildings, planes ctossod and ' recrosseil London performing victory rolls, and people rushed for the evening papers but found no news from Government sources even an explanation of what the Daily Mail was later to describe as “the great surrender muddle.” Shortly before G p.m. -the 8.8.C.’s news bulletin hour—Piccadilly was as crowded as on Armistice Day, 1918, 'with the multitude eager to'rejoice and only waiting for the expected words from Sir Churchill. Tens of thousands of pconle, waving flags and talking excitedly, blocked every inch of the pavements leading into the Circus and were fast spreading into the roadway. “Tt must surely be in the 6 o’cloek news,” Everybody was saying as they waited. There was _ no singing; nil were saving their voices for the gicat moment, but Air Churchill’s announcement never mine. Instead at 6.1 o p.m. police officers gave the order: “Move along. It’s all off.” MR CHURCHTLL SEEN.

Tt was the same outside Buckingham Palace, where a crowd waited vainly until it was learned that no announcement was being made. A great crowd .also waited outside the Mansion House in the city, hoping to hear the Lord Mayor read the peace declaration. But when the G o’clock bulletin relaved through loudspeakers, told them that there was no news they mournfully made their way home. Thousands, who lingered late in Whitehall caught a glimpse of Mr Churelull smoking his usual cigar when, after a Cabinet meeting, lie was seen in Jus car in which he left No. 10 Downing Street. The crowd surged forward, waving and cheering. jVlr Churchill smiled broadly, raised his hat and ga\e the V-sign. The evening brought new crowds into Piccadilly and the whole area broke out in festivity. Tt seemed that London was determined to celebrate without encouragement. Some the scenes wore fantastic. It vns thy C oconation. the Jubilee, the liberation ( of Brussels and Paris, a Wembley Cup finnt and every other wild ‘assembly rolled into one, with flags and paper lints over all.

Traffic in Piccadilly was brought to jl standstill about 9 p.m. when a New Zealand sailor climbed on to the bonnet of a bus and thence, amid a wild tumult of cheering, to the top of the Inis itself.