Home Celebrations.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14169, 21 July 1919, Page 5

Home Celebrations.

ON A COLOSSAL SCALE.

FESTIVITIES THROUGHOUT

BRITAIN.

[By Electric Cable—Copyright.]

[Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Ecccivcd Sunday, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 19

Victory Hay was celebrated by all classes in Britain in bright weather, which ensured the success of the longprepared festivities. Joy-bells heralded the marshalling of the pageant at Knlghtsbridge (and relays of ringers continued all day long), at the head of a procession of 18,000 troops, covering a length of seven miles, representing 12 victorious nations. The troops denied through the Albert Gate at 10 o’clock, and marched through Sloane Street, over Yauxhall Bridge, traversed South Loudon, returning via Westminster Bridge. The tail left Albert Gate as the head entered Hyde Park Corner, every yard being crowded with cheering onlookers, many camping along the route at daybreak. Every train, bus and tram from the suburbs was packed to the utmost capacity. General Pershing headed the procession with 3200 Americans brought from the Rhine. Marshal Foch was continuously cheeredf heading 1200 French, including the picturesque Zouaves and Tirailleurs. A feature was the display of 51 French regimentals, each an emblem of victory. Detachments of Japanese, Belgian, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Greek, Czechoslovak, Rumanian and Siamese troops followed. The only disappointment tvas the non-arrival of the Indians in time to participate, owing to an outbreak of influenza on the troopship. After the Allies came. Admiral Beatty and the Admirals of the Qrand Fleet, including Admirals King, Hall, and Patey, heading 4000 naval men, each squadron having a band. Dame Furse headed the W.R.E.N.’s, in smart blue uniforms and -white hats.

Sir Douglas Haig led the Army Staff, including Generals Birdwood, Monash, and Russell, and detachments of all branches an dregiments of the British Army, ending with four tanks. An Australian band led the Australians and New Zealanders, each with detachments of nurses, who Avere everyAvhere received with cheers and eooees from thousands of comrades in tho crowd; detachments of doctors, chaplains, Women’s Legions, Nursing Services and Massage Corps following. Nineteen squadrons of the Air Force closed the procession. The route was brilliantly decorated, the Houses of Parliament flying specially presented Dominion flags. Apart from the salute taken by tho King, the most memorable episode was the passage of the troops through Whitehall, where a cenotaph at the end of Downing Street stood 33 feet high, inscribed in letters of gold, "The Glorious Dead,” and on the top was an altar covered with a Union Jack and laurel wreath. A Guardsman, with bowed head and rifle reversed stood motionless at each corner of the base. The procession broke into two columns and marched six abreast on either side of the cenotaph, saluting the heroic dead. The bands were silent. A pleasing touch was that Lord Kitchener’s bust on a pedestal outside the entrance to the War Office, and Lord Nelson’s column, were festooned with laurel trophies and flags. The Mall was a brillian spectacle, fifty pylons, tAventy-threo feet high, were inscribed with the names of famous battles, surmounted by golden globes. It was intended to illuminate these at night, but the electricians struck. The Mall and Constitution Hill were lined with including the Lords and Commoners, Chelsea Pensioners, and thousands of widoAvs and orphans of soldiers and sailors.

The procession took tAvo hours to pass the King, who was attended by Mr Lloyd George. The Royal Party wore stationed on the eastern side of the Victoria Memorial, in a pavilion draped and canopied with Royal purple, Avith a marble memorial as a setting, Avith the facade of the palace for background, and ares of the crescent on cither side. The pa\ r ilion was filled Avith 10,000 disabled soldiers and sailors, of whom many were present from tho Dominions.

The King entertained the British and Allied Generals and Admirals at lunch.

The afternoon’s festivities in Hyde Park included folkdanccs and Maypoles, which were most picturesque. In gaily decorated marquees under national flags, kitchens in all the parks proA'ided food for hundreds of thousands of visitors. The fireworks at night were on a record scale. Portraits of the King and Queen, Princess Mary,, generals and statesmen Avere rapturously applauded, the climax being a colossal device in letters of fire reading: "Victory, thanks to the boys. ’ ’ Then folloAved a huge bonfire, which Avas a signal for bonfires throughout the Kingdom, recalling the Armada and Traflalgar.

There were similar festivities everywhere in Britain, a feature being we 1 comc-homc dinners to all returned soldiers and sailors, the salutation of Allied flags on village greens, faney dress carnivals, and water galas at seaside resorts. ROYAL TRIBUTE TO BATTUE LEADERS. fAust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Mondav, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 20.

When the Peace procession, was ncarj ing the Royal pavilion, the King sent i for Marshal Foch, who, dismounting, I walked to the dais and saluted the | King, and kissed the Queen’s hands ■; with quick, virile gracefulness, j The King similarly summoned Geni oral Pershing, Admiral Beatty and Sir \ Douglas Haigh. Other war loaders f joined the King and watched the men | they had led to victory file post. | During the evening, in response to an i enthusiastic call from an immense | crowd outside Buckingham Palace,

| town in which there was a fair display of bunting. • In the evening there was a. torchlight I procession through the main streets to 'the Domain, where there was a nre- ! works display and an effigy of, the Kai- * gor was burned. I Aiwgethei U was a. '•-< -u ■■ t k- I id J a m 3 jovial? time for the > 'J s' da v ! here will he a log procession 'followed by a fete m the Showgrounds.

their Majesties appeared on the balcony and bo-ned acknoAvlcdgments. Rain marred the evening jubilations in London. GRIEVANCES CAUSE RIOT. [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 19. The ex-service men ’s grievances at Luton, regarding pensions, culminated in an' interruption of the Peace celebrations sympathisers storming the Town Hall, smashing the furniture and pulling doAcn the decorations. Order is gradually being restored. IRELAND HALF-HEARTED. r nud N*.Z. Cable Association, j (Received Monday, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 19. Peace Avas celebrated half-heartedly in the West and South of Ireland, where as a protest against the nonsettlement of the Irish question, business was carried on as usual. Many houses fICAA' a black flag. SYDNEY CELEBRATIONS. HORSEPLAY IN MELBOURNE. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Last Night. The weather was fine yesterday for the Peace Day celebrations. An imposing procession marched through the city, which was cn fete. The troops had a rousing reception. The inarch halted at noon for three minutes, while the Last Post was sounded by buglers stationed along the. route. A party of New Zealanders marching attracted special attention. Although there was nothing approaching the spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm seen on Armistice Day, the city was thronged Avith pleasure seekers. Crowds witnessed the regatta, sports and (races. Peals of bells and salutes from the warships at noon proclaimed peace. The street decorations were of unprecedented brilliance, and noble triumphal arches, and Venetian masts festooned with flags lined the route of the military pageant. At nivht the Avholo city was ablaze with illuminations. The public buildings were decked with electric lights. Others,, with magnificent peace 'emblems, were flooded with a powerful white’ light. The harbour was picked out by a chain of bonfires. The fleet, including the Australia, New Zealand and Sydney, were outlined in fire rockets, and searchlights played. There was a brilliant gathering at the Peace banquet at the Town Hall. In the regatta service races the New Zealand crews were third, in the service cutters’ race second, in the whalers’ race first, second in the officers galleys’ race, and second i#x the all-comers service boats’ race. There are similar reports of Peace celebrations in other States, although someAvhat marred in Melbourne, owing to bleak and windy weather, and the fact that illuminations had been curtailed through coal shortage. Another unfortunate incident occurred when a gang of soldiers and sailors indulged in horseplay, and lifted tho trams from the lines, and rushed the theatres. Trams in the city were eventually suspended.

AUCKLAND ENTHUSIASTIC.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night

Groat enthusiasm prevailed in Auckland yesterday. The procession in the morning was one of the largest hold in the city. In the evening the illuminations were a feature of the festivities, and great crowds thronged Queen Street.

WELLINGTON’S GREATEST PROCESSION.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night

The weather was fine for yesterday’s celebrations. The city bore a festive appearance, buildings being gaily decorated with flags, streamers and greenery. In the morning the greatest procession over seen in Wellington marched through the city to Newtown Park, a prominent feature being the captured German guns. At the park military events and sports were held. At night a torchlight procession marched to Oriental Bay, where a fine pyrotechnic display Avas made. At several points on tho hills bonfires were lit. The streets Avere crowded to see the processions. On Sunday a Peace thanksgiving service was hold at the different churches, and a special service was held in the Town Hall this afternoon, many people being unable to gain admission. On Friday it was feared that the tram service would be stopped during the Peace holidays, owing to a dispute with the employees in the powerhouse. The Council had offered time and ahalf rate of Avagos, and three extra days to their annual leave, but the men demanded double rates, as well as the extra days. However, the Conciliation Commissioner effected a settlement of the dispute.

CHRISTCHURCH DEEPLY MOVED

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last night. Whole-heartedly and enthusiastically Christchurch city celebrated peace. The weather was perfect, warm and windless, and the city was beflagged and decorated everywhere. In the morning a welcome was tendered to the returned soldiers in the King Edward Barracks, the gathering being impressive and inspiring. Perhaps the two most impressive portions of the function were when, at the Mayor’s invitation, the huge assemblage stood while he read with much impressiveness, an extract from a letter from a British woman, who wrote of her feelings when she saw a held of ''The wooden crosses of Christ” in Prance. Another period highly charged with emotion, almost as if the concourse sobbed, was when the Hon G-. W. Russell spoke of the number of gallant New Zealanders who had given their lives, so that the dawn of a happier era ndght be made possible. At noon Cathedral Square, was a mass or people, and they stood silently for a minute in honour of the heroic dead. Prom the steps of the cathedral a bugle sounded the "Last Post,” breaking the period of tense, absorbed stillness. In the afternoon n great military procession passed through the city to llaglcy Park, where a parade was hqld. Too v.!inh route was d( u.-Mv thronged with ,l. The evening saw the centre of ibe'f ty absolutely crowded with people viewing the illuminations, which were

on a magnificant scale. Never before has the city been so brilliantly illuminated, the effect of the coloured electric light schemes on various arches -was very line. Many business premises gave splendidly designed displays. There was a particularly lino showing at the railway station. Thanksgiving services to-day Everywhere w r erc crowded, and the weather again was almost summerlike. DUNEDIN DOINGS. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Last night. Peace Celebrations yesterday were most enthusiastic. In the afternoon one of the finest processions ever seen in Dunedin took place. At the Oval the flags of the Allies were “broken” amidst cheering. The city was brilliantly illuminated at night, and a torchlight procession led to the Drill Hall, where Sir James Allen distributed decorations to the soldiers. MASTERTON KNOWS HOW. (Per Press Association.) MASTERTON, Last night. The Peace Celebrations in Masterton on Saturday were of a brilliant and enthusiastic character. The town was gorgeously dressed in bunting and evergreens, and business premises w T ere brilliantly illuminated. The procession, over a mile long, was headed by Briga-dier-General Hart, and 200 returned soldiers, with three bands, and a magnificent display of battleships, minesweepers, tanks and other original devices. The router'was through the chief thoroughfares to the public park, and in the presence of 10,000 people, the Mayor read the King’s proclamation and patriotic speeches were delivered. In the evening there were beautiful fircw’orks, al fresco concerts, and dancing in the street till after midnight. The weather was glorious.

HAWERA’S DEMONSTRATION.

(Per Press Association.) HAWERA, East niglit

A great procession of motors, decorated vehicles, school children, soldiers, veterans, territorials, scouts and nurses marked the Peace Celebrations. Addresses were given by Mr Pearce, M.P., and Mr W. R. Haselden. Business places were gaily decorated, and three arches spanned the main street. There were illuminations and a torchlight procession at night. Great crowds thronged the streets. The Mayor made a presentation from the citizens of a gold watch and chain to Lieut. Laurent, Y.C. The crowd enthusiastically applauded the recipient and several returned soldiers wearing decorations. After the presentation, the Mayor and Lieut. Laurent each planted an oak tree in the Tower gardens in memory of the coming of peace. Children’s Day will be celebrated on Monday. NAPIER’S CONTRIBUTION. (Per Press Association.) NAPIER, Last night. Napier’s Peace Celebrations were favoured with glorious weather, and a most successful procession was watched by many thousands of people, and in the afternoon a children’s sports meeting attracted a very large assembly. General Sir Andrew Russell delivered an address. In the evening a torchlight procession paraded the town, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. On the Marine Parade fireworks, bonfire, marine display and alfresco dancing were continued till a late hour. IN WANGANUI. WANGANUI, Last night. Peace Celebrations were held on Saturday. The weather was unsettled. There was a military review in the morning, after which the returned soldiers were entertained at lunch. [Telegrams from other centres show that the demonstrations were universal and similar.] SERVICE OF PRAISE. The programme for the services of praise to be held at the Opera House to-morrow and Wednesday nights, by the combined choirs assisted by members of the Orchestral and Orpheus Societies, is published in this issue. The soloists engaged are Mrs E. L. Broad, Misses Drew and Taylor, and Messrs J. Rogers and J. Holmes Runnicles; the conductors are Messrs J. Holmes Runnicles and A. J. Graham. Mr Phil Larcomb will lead the orchestra and Biss Ganstad will play the accompaniments. Mr Thos. P. Henderson is acting as secretary to the function and reports that some very successful rehearsals have been held, and that the public are promised a rare musical treat. The first item will be_ given promptly at 8 p.m., by which time the audience are specially requested to be in their seats.