ARMISTICE SCENES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 118, 12 February 1919, Page 3

ARMISTICE SCENES

PUN, IN LONDON. ' An English lady, writing from London to a Wellington! an, on November 16, gives a rather interesting account of what happened in London when the great news of the armistice was received. In. her letter 6he states: "I didn't think it possible for: people to go so mad, although Lex•pect its not to ■he wondered at after such a sad time. . "On Monday, November 11, we received the.great news at 11 o'clock. Everyone went'out into the 'streets.. It was a memorable sight. Some crying, some laughing, and others shouting. Flags were waving in every, direction. Loud cheers went up whenever a soldier came in sight. In the> evening London ..was packed l . Wo were going to celebrate, but every place.was crowded, .so we!just walked siong the..(streets and watched (he crowd. I shall never forget it as long ag I live. But on the whole things were much more -orderly than was expected that night. Bpople' were dancing in the roads, processions were going up.and down the principal streets, singing, banging tins, biowiilg. trumpets, and whistles, and waving flags. I saw one procession which consisted mostly of New Zealand boys. "Most of the streetlights wore up, snd theatres looked .very gay ..with their brilliant entrances. What a scene of transformation! Fireworks wero coming, out of the windows,at tho Criterion. Everywhere 'was the 'same. "Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly ; Circus, Leicester Square, TrafnJgnr Square, and _ the Strand were a nover-to-be-forgotten eight. One could hardly move for people. Celebrations were carried on till about 1 a.m. "On Tuesday night there was a huge i bonfire in Trafalgar Square. Hoardingsthe wii)4he-war styles, which decorated the Square—were pulled down from Nelson's Column to feed the flames. A contractor's wooden hut, and a barrel of tar also helped to make it more of a success. The crowd then obtained one of Fritz's guns from the Mall (they were on show there) and heaped it'on the flames.- In the end two fire engines were culled out.' and to get at the fire they had to fight the crowd with their liosps. "Taxi-cabs and buses were running round and round crowded with people on topand underneath, nobody eaid or know where they were going. Lorries ww tearing up and down -.the streets crowded with soldiers and munition girls ahoutinir and singing. "The Alliambra show was it night, on Monday night. Evoryono was jn a; celebrating mond. Gooiyo Eobey was kicking someone's top hat nbont, and tho audience was danciptr on the stage with Hie chorus girls. The King wpnt to 'The Ping Boys' on Thursday night, so guess there was more fun .again . *'I came through Picondilly and Trafalgar Square last night f November 15). Tt was just tho fame. The Square was ti marvellous sight-one, huge eea of facos. and fireworks going up from tho old column,"