'RELIEF AT THE END, OF IT ALL."

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16411, 3 January 1919, Page 9

'RELIEF AT THE END, OF IT ALL."

Writing to his father (Mr J. V. Arrait, of Wellington) from France on November 11th, Lieutenant Edward Armifc, of tho Australian Forces, who was a member of the literary staff of the Wellington "Evening Tost" some years ago, and was on the staff of tta "Sydnev Daily Telegraph" when he enlisted, says: "These are great, historic moments. The 1< renck people are almost delirious with 303*. Outside my billet, the French boys are throwing miniature bombs, putting up a barrage round tho venerable cathedral. tho bells of -which are pealing, and massed bands are inarchin ß through the streets. Everywhere are the liags of tho Allies, and people go about excitedly, saying: 'La guerre fini; felicitations, monsieur 1' One can hardly express one's emotions in these times:, the news that hostilities have ceased as from 11 a.m. to-day, officially from Marshal Foch. can hardly be realised in all its implications and meaning. One looks back over strenuous weeks and months; _ moments of agonising uncertainty; nights of fearsome anxiety; when one was rushing round in a barrdge of shell fire, gas, and machine-gun bullets, not knowing whether in another five seconds one would bo blown into eternity, lying as a mangled wreck over the grave on which fellow-soldiers -would erect a wooden cross. ' It is great and wonderful to think that all this is over, and we become free citizens onco more. Free to dispose our time at our own inclination; free to go here or there without consulting a superior officer for permission; free to choose and determine one's own activities. I hope j that Foch has made the conditions so drastic that the Huns will i.ovor 1 again in our timo be able to open hostilities, and that the Jefoafc of militarism is absolutely final and complete. For it is a hateful and detestable thing, and it was our o<id luok to have the smashing of it. Why suuu'tl 1 5,000,000 (more or los£) Mien be hilled? Surely to God men wore not I<ji n to smash and slay one another; ami I hope tho authors of this bloody weiter are all made to feel some ot the pain i and misery they have caused. "Everyone -will heave a. sign of relief at the end of it all. L we shall be ia France for some time yet, even if not another shot be fired. There are great areas in Fiance and Belgium to be cleared jf b.-.ttie ciebr»s and made fit again for the rational labours of man. There will bo numvous reviews ana massed p.-jatio.s and marches-past, to the arcompaniniont oi flaring music and Hag-waving. No celebration can )>e 100 gr'-'at t-<r such deliverance. We arc having nice weather, though early winter. To-day we had a solemn thanksgiving in the Cathedral, about 2300 troops, the organ rolling out 'La Marseillaise' and 'God Save the King.' The walls were hung with the tricolour of France, and altogether the service was very fine."