Moving Scenes Along Route Of 30 Miles

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1948, Page 5

Moving Scenes Along Route Of 30 Miles

(N.Z.P.A,

—Reuterj

Copyriaht)

Reeeived Sunday, 7.30 p,im. PRAGBB, MareR 13. Policenten •sfcoc.d lpO yai'ds apart along almost fhe Whore 30-miie foute oi" ivir. 3an Masaryk'.s funerai from ; •t&e Pantiteon \yhere the -ceremony :in -jvrague was jreld to Jiis gfave dug at the right his -father'a ip. the . viilage of Lahy. Ohurch peiis tolled throughout Prague and cfpwds packed -the . streets. Some people wept softly and there was a strange hnsn as the gun eafriage hore the cohin- past the mourners. T,any had an influx of tens of thc'usands of visitors for the 'burial eereiniony. Xearly every home in the viilage dis; phtyed a blacK-banded pliotograph of xlr. Masaryk. ' People standing bdhind their fences threw tlowers at the passHig cortege. The finai rites at tho gravoside were held at dusk. \ The Deputy Foreign Minister (Mr. Glementis) said at the burial that Air, Masaryk knew how to coinbine servine to the fatherland with servico to mankind. "He left us in times not exaetly joyful for such heralds of international understanding. lie was a born eonciliator and a tireless seeker of agreement. ' ' Thirty minutes after the eoffin, whieh which was carried 011 a -horse-drawn* hearse, left the Pantlieon marchers were still lined far up the hill waiting to join tlie procession. The crowds in the streets easily reached a luillion. There were liundreds of wreaths ir- ; the Pantlieon. ■ A •wreath. from Dr, Benes was laid at the catafalque. A national ilag topped with fiowers from Air. Masar.vK's sister Aiice covered tliecotfin. Tlie Pantlieon hall was draped ' in lilaclc, hung with fiags and lit by six ilnnipc

! Botdiers, waf veterans and iiiembers of Bokol (tlie Cominunist-coiitrdlled gyninascies organisation) stood guard. Dr. Benes, who was making iiis first puhlic appearance since the Govermnent crisis on Pehruary 21, maintained his composure with his head hunched down in the fur collar of his overccat till the children 's choir sang the favourite folk song of the old President Masaryk when he broke into tears. After the cereiuony the Goinmunist Prime Minister Gottwald liesitatingly extended his iiand and Dr. BeneS'Mook it ili a briefGjiandshake.. . Dr:. Benes then-.turned to the Bpeaker of Pailialuent (doSef- David) and gripped his 11 and ltruily.' : > Mr. iGottwaid, ih a personal tribnte tbesi'de'Mit; SlasaTyk 's bier said: 'd i eabx plove it iny'self 'that •from the iii'st days of tlie Government crisis Mr; Masarjik kCpt away fronl -those who plotted tlfe crisis. The press* of t.lie west began ap. organised canipaign against Mr. Masaryk. Wlfdeddf knevv his '^llkrap'ter Jvhe'w'iiow senuifive he was towarU pers'oiial • attaeks' and must understaiicl hd\Y ..diflicuJt t'his concentrated a(tack 1 onr his deepest feelings inust have .been. These attaeks to'gether with Matea'ryk jjs lllness pro.vided the cireumstances that .drove him to his tragic end. , '' I can prove that. Mr. Masaryk clearlv and- witliout compromise agreed with, the action -qf the new Governm*ent and already . begah' to fulfil this programme witliin his sphere of influenee. L can prove that Mr. IMasaryk, who decided to go with the people when he stood on- tlie crossroads of our nation 's fate, meant what he said. We who are slaying here have taken a lesson from your bequest — that one sliould always go with tlie people! W,e, Dear Honza. Aiasai'Yk's njck/iaiiie), shall always be with the peopje and go foyward with the people. This is our, promise to 'VOU. "