ARMISTICE DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16981, 14 November 1919, Page 7

ARMISTICE DAY

LONDON CELEBRATIONS,

THE DAY'S PROGRAMME.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable A'ssn. LONDON, November 11.

Parties of Australian end New Zealand veterans will take part -in the tribute of remembrance to-day. Following Bolemn ceremonials in ,the morning, the evening will be devoted to rejoicings.

.'. Every theatre in tbe West End has already sold out all seats', and restaurants have been booked. There will be a great victory ball at the Albert Hall. There will be many regimental gatherings, and also reunions of Waacs, Wrens, land girls, and other war workers. - : ..: SCENES DURING THE DAY. LONDON, Nov. 12. Whitehall was impassable all day. There was an amazing crowd at the Cenotaph. Many hearing wreaths were compelled to pass the flowers over the heads of those intervening.. Lord Curzon, Mr Churchill and many generals, admirals and other notables stood bareheaded beside the Cenotaph during the interval of silence.' Fifty thousand participated in the Salvation Army's simple service before the Mansion House.

Preceding the silence the vast crowd on St. Paul's s4eps sang "0, God Our Help" and the National Anthem. The silence was impressively observed at the* Australian Headquarters. Four buglers on the steps of the main entrance sounded attention, everybody halted and 1 stood at attention until the buglers' "all clear" broke the .silence. Flags on public buildings were halfmasted and the "Last Post" was sounded at ithe steps of the Royal Exchange. A great assemblage in front of the Mansion House sang the Doxology.

The stafli at the New Zealand House assembled in the main hall, while Captain Donne read the King's message. Two minutes of silence followed. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, as a member of the War Graves Commission, attended. At the placing of a wreath by President Poincare on the Whitehall Cenotaph there was no ceremony beyond the cessation of work.

Immediately tthe maroons were fired, the roar of traffic subsided into a great silence. pedestrians remained standing bareheaded through the solemn, impressive interval.

There was an enormous crowd at Whitehall round the Cenotaph, which was the Mecca of the day's ceremony. The base of the monument was surrounded by beautiful wreaths. M. Poincare, a few moments before 11, placed a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph in the presence of members of the "War Graves.' Committee and a of honour, with arms reversed.

Mr Lloyd George, bareheaded, walked aci'oss from Downing Street, and also deposited a wreath inscribed "To' the Glorious Dead."

The business of the Courts of Justice ' - was • suspended, , lights were lowered;' and' 'the.-. Chief Justice (Lord Reading),' rising from the Bench, said "Let us ' stand in memory of the glorious dead."

■ WASHINGTON, November 11. President . Wilson on Armistice Day issued a message to the Allies:—

"For more than 4 years the Allies upheld the barriers of civilisation against the aggression of armed forces. "We were also the decisive factor in the victory, and from victory arose economic concert and political freedom. The world to-day is filled with pride for ns, because opportunity has been given to America, to show her sympathy with peace and justice ib the Council of the Nations."

Mr Wilson was permitted to sit vm in an invalid chair for an hour ito see the Armistice Day celebrations.

THE KING'S "WREATH,

Received. 9 p.m., Nov. 13th. '" LONDON, Nor. 11

In connection with the .great silence, the King sent a wreath to the cento-' tapli made of laurel leaves and yellow immortelles, on which his Majesty wrote:' "In memory of the glorious dead, from the King and Queen." • Magistrates discharged many culprits who stood in the docks during the silence.