UNITED NATIONS REJOICE

Southland Times, Issue 25668, 10 May 1945, Page 7

UNITED NATIONS REJOICE

World-Wide Peace , Celebrations r (P.A.) LONDON, May 8. » VE Day was celebrated by more than .• 100,000 British troops in Germany with ; bonfires, Verey lights of a dozen colours t and festivities. In every mess and billet • from the Rhine to the Elbe, from the I Baltic to Brussels, reports Reuter’s ■ correspondent with the 2nd Army, r toasts were drunk to those who had > fallen and to a lasting peace. There • were prayers in stables, fields, tents and ! German homes. ■ Some men sang popular songs, ac--1 companied by mouth-organs, bagpipes ; and accordeons. Others speculated about Japan. There was no general VE Day ‘ holiday for the troops. Reveille sounded ’ at 6.30 a.m. as usual. Everyone was conscious that 60,000,000 Germans ' cooped in compounds, waiting in bread queues and wandering about aimlessly must be controlled. The French Press greeted VE Day with photographs of the late President Roosevelt, Mr Churchill, M. Stalin, President Truman and General de Gaulle. Russian newspapers gave no hint of any special announcement being expected but, overnight, the shops were crowded with people buying extra stocks for victory parties. SUBDUED REJOICING News of the capitulation of Germany was announced throughout Greece at 6 a.m. today. From then on sirens sounded, church bells tolled and salutes were fired, but, although thousands thronged the streets of Athens, they were surprisingly quiet and subdued. Anglo-Allied troops and Egyptians celebrated Germany’s surrender by dancing through the streets of Cairo. The announcement coincided with Egypt’s national holiday. In Jerusalem services were held in synagogues throughout the country. Children in the beflagged streets of Tel-Aviv and Haifa collected funds for the victory forest to be planted in honour of Jewish soldiers. Apart from a spontaneous native war dance from South African troops the victory news did not create much enthusiasm among servicemen in Ceylon, who realize that their job is not yet over, but civilians gave themselves up to rejoicing and sang marching songs until late at night. The news was hailed with joy and enthusiasm throughout India, where two days’ holiday will be observed. In the United Kingdom people let themselves go to celebrate the victory in 'Europe- and only those men and women in essential services went to work. LONDON BEFLAGGED London, after last night’s premature celebrations, awoke early for the genuine proceedings. Happy sightseers arrived from the suburbs and excitedly began to tour the beflagged capital. There were early indications that Bucki ingham Palace would be the principal centre of attraction all day long. Groups of people arrived there before 6 a.m. Downing Street was deserted because barriers prevented the crowds from flowing from Whitehall to the little street, where Mr Churchill lives and works. Union Jacks flew from two masts over No. 10, which still bore signs of bomb blast. Only a few people attended the morning service at St. Paul’s. A violent thunderstorm over London heralded the .war’s end. At 1 a.m., I while Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and other parts of the West End were still stronged by excited crowds, the first rumblings and flashes warned merrymakers who, at first, took no notice of the storm. But a terrific downpour of rain caused them to dash to shelter. The rain teemed down for half-an-hour, with heavy peals of thunder and vivid lightning. Today dawned symbolically, with a clear sky and bright sunshine to herald the victory celebrations. His Majesty the King held an investiture at Buckingham Palace. This is the first time since the outbreak of the war . that it has been possible to report an investiture the same day it was held. The King’s ceremonial standard flew over the Palace. This was much larger than ' the one which is normally flown when the King is in residence. Relations and . friends of officers and men being de- ‘ corated at the investiture swelled the , crowds around the palace and, at 11.30 j a.m., several thousands of people were | gathered there. There were a few solemn notes in the j midst of the merrymaking. Many per- ( sons bowed in thanksigiving at West- j minster Abbey where the pilgrimage to . the Unknown Warrior’s tomb was end- j less. A thanksgiving service was held in £ St. Paul’s, where the Lord Mayor, liverymen, aidermen and sheriffs from the City of London, without wearing j their robes of office, attended. The cathedral was packed with hundreds of f businessmen and office workers. t