ARMISTICE DAY

Southland Times, Issue 20641, 13 November 1928, Page 5

ARMISTICE DAY

LONDON'S HOMAGE IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT CENOTAPH MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN (United Pres* Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, November 11. From the heart of the Empire there has just radiated a mighty wave of homage to the immortal dead. The King again in dull fine weather led the great service at the Cenotaph, but this time the congregation was Empire-wide, for the ceremony for the first time was broadcasted and heard by means of special installations in churches throughout Britain and even by little groups gathered round a simple village cross. While the Guards’ bands played detachments from the services, ex-servicemen, and men and women of the choir from the Chappl Royal supplemented by the Westminster Abbey choristers took up their positions in Whitehall; then solemnly the King placed a wreath on the Cenotaph followed by the Duke of York and representatives of the services and the British and Dominions Governments. Among the last named was Sir James Parr on behalf of New Zealand. On the first stroke of Big Ben the firing of a gun marked the beginning of the two minutes' silence; then trumpeters from the Royal Air Force sounded the Last Post. The hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past” was sung and the service, conducted by the Bishop of London, followed, ending with the Reveille and National Anthem. It is estimated that the crowd was greater than ever due to the cermony falling on a Sunday. Then followed 3 great pilgrimage past the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, culminating at seven in the evening with a remembrance festival in the Albert Hall organized by the British Legion which the King and Queen attended. Thousands of ex-service men and thousands of widows and other women in deep mourning attended the remembrance festival and gave an ovation to their Majesties when a fanfare by State trumpeters announced the arrival of the King and Queen accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of York. A trench ran down the centre of the hall and the stage was fashioned to represent a dugout giving a point to the community singing of such war-time favourites as ‘ Tipperary,” ‘‘Keep the Home Fires Burning” and old time catch words which were shouted across the hall such as “Are we downhearted?” and the thunderous answer “No!” These were the lighter episodes, but deeper emotions were stirred when the lights were dimmed and such memorial music as Chopin’s Funeral March was played by the mussed Guards bands and the hymns “O God Our Help” and “Abide With Me” were sung. The Prince of Wales contributes a signed article to The Times’ special war graves number commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Armistice. He extols the work of the War Graves Commission and says: “It is not easy to grasp the meaning of the words ‘a million dead’ but when one remembers what splendid fellows they were and what hopes and affections clung to each one begins to get some conception of the sacrifice the Empire made. We can feel no other sentiment than gratitude and pride. All o\er the world our dead lie but whether they lie solitary or in company and regardless of their rank or what portion of the Empire they came from, all are treated with the same reverence and tender care and the same type of headstone is over them. They gave their lives in the service of the Empire. In that, as in death, all are equal. It is impossible not to be especially touched by the thought of the missing. It is almost extra patent of gallantry to be among the missing. The race has not weakened. These million dead are silent witnesses so that in honouring the dead let us not forget the living. We do not yet do justice to Earl Haigh’s greatness. He gave all his heart to the welfare of the men who fought with him in his name and in the name of these million dead I appeal for help to make the lot of all soldiers richer in things worth while.” The Evening Standard publishes the following Armistice Day message from the Queen to the women of the Empire: “All who visited the war cemeteries must have been moved to the heart, as I was, by the solemn beauty and revered care with which they are tended. We know, too, that the ar Graves Commission surrounds them with the same care wherever they be. In these cemeteries rest many of the fearless devoted women who gave their -lives while serving as army volunteers and territorial nurses, and in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps and Queen Man’s Corps. Yet those who fell are not alone in having sacrificed all life has to offer. Every man of our 1.000.000 dead may have been dearer than anything on earth to some woman, and in every part of the Empire to-day are women who go on living with wounds in their hearts that time canont heal. I wish my voice could reach each one with a w’ord of loving sympathy.”—Australian Press Association. GERMANY DISINTERESTED. NOT DAY ON WHICH WAR WAS ENDED. BERLIN IN MERRY MOOD. London, November 10. The tenth anniversary of the signing of the Armistice finds Germany totally disinterested. The day Germans remember as marking the end of the war is not November 11, 1928, but November 9, when the old order was swept away and the Kaiser disapi>eared to Holland. To a few disgruntled Nationalists it is the most ignominous day of German history, but for the remainder it signals an opportunity to work out their own salvation with no further assistance or divine grace. Thus to-day Berlin is brilliantly aglow and proceeds with merriment, rivalling the carefreeness of London before the war. A decade after the war the old forgotten memory of glittering Imperial parades have been replaced with a desire for new commerce and finance and new uses for machinery with all the modern ways of making the land prosperous, Wise Germany would rather be second at the Olympic Games than first in another armament race. She got all wrought up by defeating the Australians at tennis, but talk 10 them about a new'gigantic army and they give a disgusted look and go on singing and drinking good beer. They neither drink or sing to forget sorrow, but rather from sheer love of music. When a band plays “Deutschland Über Alles” they do not rise and yell, but let the band play the song. In Germany now the people of political power in the last two elections indicate their unanimous view that war is down and out. For this amazing change they look to President Hindenburg, the most ardent advocate of the republic. Look at the trouble the Atlantic flyer Baron Huenefeld got himself into by a visit to the ex-Kaiser. He had to make open reparation to the workers and social Democrats. Everywhere Germans declare:—“By winning the war you broke up Prussianism, destroyed soldier education and gave Germans a chance to discover the rottenness of military glory.” The same spirit exists in the younger generation. They are not dreaming secret dreams of glory. Instead they are playing games. The whole of Germany is a vast national playing ground organized even better than the United States. Young Germans are mad with a desire for sport. TTiere are still embittered Monarchists and now and again they are allowed to parade but it is no* more than a parade of wooden soldiers. Everywhere to-day, a decade after the armistice, there is growing prosparity and complete absorption of all the

benefits of peace. Germans freed from military tyranny find the pipe of peace pleasant to smoke as they drink their munchene. “Little Willie,” now grey haired approaching 50, is a figure of tragedy to-day. The man who spent his impressionable years expecting to rule a vast Empire was suddenly turned without warning into a very ordinary citizen whose main recreation is driving a sports car at 170 kilometres an hour. The Crown Prince and Princess maintain a miniature court room at Potsdam with two equerries and four servants, the Prince spending the day reading, chiefly English military and political history, such as Viscount Curzon, Lord Birkenhead and Mr. Wineton Churchill. The completeness of the fall was shown recently when he and the Princess were attending an opera. In pouring rain they had to stand aside while Frau Stresemann’s car was brought to the door of the opera house whereas the prince and princess were obliged to walk in search of a car in the downpour. The Crown Prince treated the matter as a joke but the Crown Princess was deeply resentful— Germany doesn’t- care how resentful or how wet.—Australian Press Association. IRISH CELEBRATIONS. BOMB OUTRAGES IN DUBLIN. EXTREMIST REPUBLICANS BLAMED. London, November 11. Bomb explosions before dawn awoke Dublin to the fact that Armistice Day had arrived and that there was still a dangerous section of extremist Republicans abroad. During the night explosives were placed at the base on the King William equestrian monument in College Green. The explosion damaged the pedestal and the bronze horse and shattered the window’s of the banks and offices in the vicinity. Simultaneously a bomb exploded at the base of the bronze statue of King George 11. on Saint Stephen’s Green, damaging the stonework. Both explosions were heard for miles. Police rushed to the vicinity but marie no arrests. It was feared further outrages would interfere with the procession, but nevertheless thousands of bemedalled and poppied ex-service men. accompanied by the black shirted British Fascisti and women relatives of the fallen, despite the pelting rain, marched to the Cenotaph in Phoenix Park on which Deputy Shaw placed a wreath on behalf of the Free State. The crowd after the silence sang “God Save the King.” The return march was marred by several scuffles with youths who were attempting to break the procession’s ranks and seize the Union Jacks. They were roughly handled and were rescued with difficulty by the civic guard. Excited crowds thronged the principal streets with expectation of further disturbances. The police discovered a dump of arms and ammunition in good condition at Inchicore, including three machine guns and many hand grenades. Simultaneously with the other attempts there was a violent explosion at Balls Bridge, where an attempt was made to blow up a fountain commemorating King Edward’s visit to open the international exhibition. The damage was slight.—Australian Press Association. AMERICA PAYS TRIBUTE. (Rec. 7.50 p.m.) Washington, November 11. Armistice Day observations throughout the United States concentrated at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier here. The National Cemetery was crowded throughout the day by visitors bearing floral offerings from the President and other officials to ordinary citizens. The American Legion and other organizations held services in the principal cities. President Coolidge, Mr Kellogg and others addressed audiences on the preservation of peace. Two minutes’ silence was observed throughout South America, where Frenchmen, Britishers and Americans gathered to pay respects at 11 o’clock, as did practically all the countries whether directly engaged in the war or not.—Australian Press Association. OBSERVANCE IN SYDNEY. Sydney, November 12. Armistice Day was officially observed this morning. There were large crowds in Martin Place, where the Cenotaph is situated, and upon which wreaths were placed by the Returned Soldiers’ organization and the Government. The Army, Navy, and the Air Force were represented at subsequent commemorations, wreaths being placed on the Cenotaph by Lieut. Governor Cullen and the State Premier, Mr T. R. Bavin, and representatives of the services. A two minutes’ silence was observed at eleven o’clock throughout the city, when there was a sudden cessation of all activities, producing an impressive calm. The great bell at the University tolled for 15 minutes from 10.30. The weather was fine.—Australian Press Association.