ARMISTICE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

ARMISTICE DAY.

BV SIEHVI'N NIXON*. It is the clovcnth day of November. Tho boom of the gun has just died away and a deep silence rests on tho world —on town and country, on sea and land, in factory and home. All feel its influence. It seems to be speaking to us all, telling us tho inefesage of Armistice Day. Just nine yours ago to-day tho earth was in tho grip" of War. Human lives were of no more value than the fallen autumn leaves. The War. was then in its worst stages. Thousands of men died daily for that nebulous thing we call Glory and for their loved ones—wives and children. Aeroplanes and zeppelins, carrying destruction and death, made nightly raids 011 unprotected towns and delonceless ports. People far away from the firing-lines of blood-sodden France lived in dread and fear. Death threatened combatant and non-com-batant alike. War was striking at everything tho human race had toiled for since tho world began; wealth, comfort and even civilisation had been almost irretrievably lost in War. Wholesale murder and destruction, terrible pain, heart-breaking sorrow—all those are products of War. Just eight years ago, all was changed. True, the battlefields, the dead, the wounded and tho shattered cities were still there but tho progress of tho War was stayed. A strange and unusual peace rested over all tho world. Joy and thanksgiving were in every heart. Songs of gladness wero on eveiy tongue, Great celebrations were held throughout tho world. Ships went unmolested into every sea. Trade prospered. Shattered cities were rebuilt. Happiness replaced sorrow. Peace, prosperity and happiness—these are tho products when War does not rage. Is not the message of Armistice Day plain to us all? Does it not say: "May tho demon of War never again "slaughter our men, murder our women and children, or destroy our cities. May we have Peace for evermore "

"LEST WE FORGET." , BY MAItGABET DAVIS. " With a proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across tho

sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallon in the cause of the Free."

On November 11 the Allied Nations will observe the most solemn anniversary in tho four years' history of the Great .War, 1914-1918. On that day our hearts will go back to the time when the Great War was raging. We will think of those who have been robbed of devoted fathers, sons and brothers Truly, it is a sad day for many of us! hh^

At' the eleventh hour of the eleventh month we will reverently stand for two minutes' silence to think of those dear ones who laid down their lives for our freedom in that great struggle. Their duty came first, their lives came next.

Wo must not lorgefc the heroic valour of those men who fought on the Uallipoli Peninsula, nor the bfavery of those gallant nurses who died tending tho wounded. Edith Cavell's name must be honoured for all time.

Deeds o! undying lame were being performed day by day. Many were the young lives laid down in the grim struggle'for victory.

Armistice Day carries a message to the heart of every man, woman and child of the Empire. It brings back sweet but sad memories of those loved one 3 who departed this life fighting for their King and their Country.

The battlefields of Franco are hallowed by their blood. They did not think of Death. They came at the Nations' bidding. At that time England was a nation in distress and they came in teeming millions from all parts of the Empire. New Zealand gave of her best.

It is with both prido and sorrow that we honour tho memory of such men. They willingly suffered pain and misery and even death itself in order to save their country. Their glory will never be dimmed, and for all time—- " At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, Wo will remember them."