CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12698, 21 July 1919, Page 5

CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON.

AN IMPRESSIVE DAY.

CELEBATIONS IN THE EMPIRE’S CAPITAL.

LONDON. J;,ly 19. Victory Day was celebrated by all classes in Britain in bright weather, which ensured the success of the lojlgprepared festivities. Joy-bells heralded the marshalling of the pageant at Knightsbridge, and relays or ringers continued all day long.' The head of the procession of 18,090 troops, coveriug a length of seven miles and representing twelve victorious nations, defiled through tlio Albert Gate at ten o’clock, marched through Sloane Street and over Vauxhall Bridge and traversed South London, returning via Westminster Bridge. The tail left the Albert Gate as the head entered Hyde* Park corner. Every yard of the route was crowded with cheering onlookers, many camping along the route at daybreak. Every train, 'bus and tram from the suburbs was packed to its utmost capacity. General Pershing headed the proces- ’ sion with 3200 Americans brought from ' the Rhino. Marshal Foch was continuously cheered, heading 1200 French troops, including the picturesque Zou- ’ ayes and Tirailleurs. A feature was the 1 display of fifty-one French regimental flags, each an emblem of victory, I)e- ---' tachments of Japanese, Belgian, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Greek. Czecho-Slo-vak. Rumanian and Siamese troops followed. The only disappointment was the non-arrival of Indians in time to participate owing to an outbreak of influenza on their troopship. After the Allies came Admiral Beatty and the admirals of the Grand Fleet, including Admirals King, Hall and Patey, head* ing 4000 naval men, each : squadron having a hand. Dame Furse hoadea the “ Wrens ” in smart blue uniforms with white' hts. Sir Douglas Haig Jed the Army Staff, including Generals Eirdwood, Monash. and Russell. There wore detachments from all branches and regiments of the 1 British Army, ending

Su 1 ! 1 ; tanks. The Australia’s band led the Australians and New Zealanders. each with detachments o. nurses, and they were everywhere received with cheers and “ Coo-ees ’’.from thousands of comrades in the crowd. Detachments of doctors, chaplains women s legions, nursing services and’mas Mge corps followed. Nineteen squadrons of- the Air Force closed the procession. l The route was brilliantly decorated, tho Houses of Parliament fly nip; specially presented dominion flagsApart from the salute token by the King tue most memorable episode was Wio passage of the troops through Whitehall where there was .% cenotaph at the end of Downing Street 33ft Inch inscribed in letters of gold, “ The .dorious dead.” On the top there was an altar covered with a Union .Tack and a laurel wreath. A Guardsman, with bowed head and rifle reversed stood motionless at each corner of the base. The procession here broke into tiro columns and six abreast on cither side of the cenotaph, saluting the heroic dead. The hands were silent. A pleasing touch was that Lord Kitchener's bust on the pedestal outside the entrance of the War Office, and Nelson's Column, were festooned with laurel trophies and flags- Pall Mall was a brilliant spectacle, fiftv pylons 23ft high being inscribed with the names of famous battles surmounted by golden globes. These were intended t ho illuminated at night, but the electricians struck. Pall Mall ; ud Constitution Hill were lined with stands including those reserved for Lords and Commoners, Chelsea pensioners and thousands of widows and o ’phans ot soldiers and sailors. The procession took two, hours to pass the King, whom Mr Lloyd George attended. The royal u.utv sta- , tioned on the eastern side of the Victoria Memorial in a oavilion draped and canopied with royal ' purple, with the marble memorial as a setting. Each side of the pavilion was filled with 10,000 disabled soldiers and sailors, o. whom many were from the dominions. The King entertained the British ano ( Allied generals and admirals at lunch in the afternoon. Fesbivitives in.Hyde Park followed on linos .previously announced .with folk dances and maypoles and gaily decorated marquehs under i-, national Hags. . Kitchens in all the L parks provided food for thousands of-, (

visitors. Tho fireworks nt night wore ou a record scale, portraits of the King and Queen, Princess, generals and statesmen were rapturously applauded, the climax being a colossal device in letters of fire reading, “Victory, thanks to the boys--'’ Then camo a huge bonfire, which was a signal for bonfires throughout tho Kingdom, recalling the Armada and Trafalgar. There were similar festivities everywhere in Britain, a feature beine “ welcome home ’■ dinners to all returned soldiers and sail, ors, the salutation of the Allied flags on village greens, fancy dress carnivals, and water galas at tho seaside resorts. WELCOME TO MARSHAL FOCH. LONDON, Jiily 18. Field-Marshal Sir Dougins Haig and General Wilson welcomed Marshal Foch at Victoria Station. lie had a great ovation. KING GREETS ALLIED LEADERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Ai.Siralian and JT.Z. Cubic Association. , LONDON, June 20. . When the peace procession was aoaring tne pavilion the. King sent for Marshal Toch, who dismounting, walked to the dais, saluted the King, and kissed the Queen’s hands with quick, virile gracefulness. The King also summoned General Pershing, Admiral Beatty, Sir .Douglas Haig, and other war leaders, who joined the King and watched the men thev had led to victory file past During the evening, in response to an enthusiastic call from the immense crowd outside Buckingham Palace, tjicir Majesties appeared on the balcony and bowed their acknowledgments. FESTIVITIES IN SYDNEY. I SYDNEY, July 20. Tile weather was fine yesterday [or the Pence Day celebrations. An imposing procession of all units of tho Australian naval and military forces marched through tho city, which was en fete. Tho troops had a rousing' reception. Ihe march halted at noon tor three minutes while the “Last Post” was sounded by buglers stationed nlotm the route. A party of Now Zealand ers marching in the procession attracted special attention. Although there was nothing approaching the spontaneous, outburst of enthusiasm, seen, on Armistice Day,' the city was thronged with ploaspre-seekers. Crowds witnessed the regatta, gvmkhana. sports and races. Peals of hells and salutes from the warships at noon proclaimed .1 oaoe* Tho street decorations wore of unprecedented brilliance, noble triumphal arches and Venetian' masts festooned with flags lined the route of the military pageant. At night the whole city was ablaze with illnmina.J’ls- - T^ IU buildings were decked with electric lights and others flooded, magnificent Pence emblems with a powerful wmte light. In.tho harbour, winch was picked out with a chain of bonfires. _the fleet, including the Australm. New Zealand and Sydney, was outlined in fire. Rockets and searchlights assisted the effect. There arc similar reports of Peace Peace Banquet at the Town Hall. In the regatta service races the Now Zealand s crews wore third in. the service cutters race, second in the whalers' race, first and second in the officers’ race, and second in the allcomers' service boats race. Thee r_ are similar renorts of Pence celebrations in other States, although tiio festivities wore somewhat maned m Melbourne owing to bleak, windr weather and the fact that the illuminations were curtailed through the coal snort-age was another unfortunate instance. A gang of soldiers and sailors Indulged m horseplay. lifted trams from die lines and rushed theatres. The pended' n ° !ty eVen^’lia^ 5 ’ S11S " ENTHUSIASM .IN CAIRO. CAIRO, July 18. There are enthusiastic Peace celebrations by all sections of tho population. Sixty thousand attended the various fetes.