VICTORY DAY IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 253, 21 July 1919, Page 8

VICTORY DAY IN BRITAIN

MEMORABLE PAGEANT IN LONDON PROCESSION TROOPS (Bee. July 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 19. Victory Day was celebrated by all classes in Britain in bright weather, which ensured the success of the longprepared festivities. Joy hells heralded the marshalling of the pageant at Knigktsbridge. Relays of ringers continued all day long. A procession of 18.000 troops, covering a length of seven miles, (representing twelve victorious nations, defiled through the Albert Gato at 10 o'clock, marched through Sloano Street, over Vauxhill Bridge, and traversed South London, returning via Westr minster Bridge. The%iil of the procession left Albert Gate as the head entered Hyde Park corner. , Every yard 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 proceseion with 3209 Americans brought, from the Rhine. Marshal Focli, who was continuously cheered, headed 1200 French, including picturesque Zouaves, and Tirailleurs. Detachments of (Japanese, Belgian, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Greek, • Czecho-Slovak, Rumanian, and Siamese troop? followed. The only disappointment was the noji-ftrrival of Indians in time to participate owing to an outbreak of influenza on a troopship. After.the Allies came Sir David Beatty and Admirals of the Grand Fleet, including Admiral King-Hall and Vice-Admiral Patey, heading 1000 naval .men, each squadron having a band. Dame Furse headed the Wrens, who were in smart blue uniforms and white hats Sir Douglas JTnig led the Army Staff, including Generals Birdwood, Monash, • and Russell, and detachments of. all branches of the regiments of the British Armv, ending with four tanks. An Australian hand led the Australians and New Zealanders, each with detachmente of nurses, and wore everywhere received with cheers and coo-ees from thousands of comrades in the crowd. Detachments of •'doctors, chaplains, women's legions, nursing services, and massage corps followed, nineteen squadrons of the Air Force closing the procession. The route was brilliantly decorated, the Houses of Parliament flying specially presented Dominions' flags. N Apart from the salute taken by the King, the most memorable episode was the passage of troops through Whitehall, where a cenotaph at the end of Downing Street 33 feet high was inscrib- , ed in letters of gold "The Glorious • Dead." On the top was an altar covered with a Union Jack and a laurel wreath. A Guardsman with bowed head ' and rifle reversed, stood rotionless at each comer of the base. The procession broke into two columns and marched six abreast on either side of the cenotaph, saluting the heroic ..The bands were 'sileut. A pleasing touch was that Kitchener's' bust on a pedestal outside the entrance of the War Office and Nelson's Column' were festooned with laurel tronhies and flags. The Mall was a brilliant spectacle. Fifty' pylons, 23 feet high, inscribed with the names of famous battles, and surmounted by golden glo'bes; were intended to he illuminated at night, hut the electricians struck. The Mall and Constitution Hill were lined with stands for members of tho House of Lords and House of Commons, Chelsea pensioners, and thousands of widows and orphans qf6oldiers and sail- . ors. . . • The procession took two hours to pass the King, whom Mr. Lloyd. George attended. The Royal party were stationed on the eastern side of the Victoria Memorial, in a pavilion draped and canopied with royal purple, with the marble memorial as a setting, and the facade of the Palace as a background. The arcs of the crescent on either side of the pavilion were filled with ten thousand disabled soldiers and sailors, of whom many were from the Dominions. The. Kinir/ entertained British and Allied Generals and Admirals at lunch. The afternoon's festivities in Hyde Park included folk dances and Maypole dances in, most picturesque, gailydecorated marquees, under national flags. Kitchens in all the parks provided food for hurfdreds of thousands of visitors. The fireworks at night were on a record scale. Portraits (ft the King and Queen, the Princess, and generals and statesmen were rapturously applauded, the climax being a colossal device in letters of fire reading '"'Victory, Thanks to the Boys." Then a huge bonfire was lighted, -and was the signal for bonfires throughout the Kingdom, recalling the Armada and Trafalgar. There wore similar festivities everywhere in Britain, features being welcome • homo dinners to all returned soldiers and sailors, and salutation of the Allied flags on village greens. There were fancy dress carnivals at spas and seaside re-Krts.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. twenty-ninthmSon and the ANZACS ; GENEROUS TRIBUTE FROM GENERAL GOTJRAUD. (Rec. July 18, 5.15 p.m.) Paris, July 17. . General Gouraud, in an interview, . snid: "I adore mv poilus, but I say 'Hats ; off to the British'23th Division and. ; Birdwood's Anzacs on the 19th.' They ; are. magnificent-the best soldiers any r war produced."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ . CELEBRATJONSJN CAIRO • ■ (Rec. July 19, 9.20 a.m.) ' Cairo, July 18. ( ? -There are enthusiastic peace celebra- • tions bv all sections of the population. ' Sixty thousand attended the various 1 fetes—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ass'i. ' EVENING JUBILATIONS MARRED; ' BY RAIN. (Rec. July 21, 0.10 a.m.) London, July 19. • , 1 Rain marred the evening jubilations in , T,ondon.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . Ireland" lukewarm. (Rec. July 20, 0.10 a.m.) ' 1 __ London, July 19. ' Pence was celebrated half-heartedly in 5 tha-West and South of Ireland, where, as i a protest against the. non-settlement of v the Irish question, business was carried " on as usual. Many houses flew the j black ilaK.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ; KING StIMMONSWAND PERSHING ' CROWD ACCLAIMS THEIR [ MAJESTIES. . (Rec. July 21. 1.45 a.m.) ; London, July 20. When the peace procession was Hearing the Royal pavilihn the King sent for Marshal Foch, who dismounted, walked to the dais, saluted the King and kissed the Queen's • hands with quick, virile gracefulness. The King similarly summoned General Pershing. Sir David Beatty, Sir Douglas Hiiig, and other war leaders joined the King and watched the ' men they had led to victory file pa6t. During the evening, in response to an i enthusiastic call from an immense crowd i outside Buckingham Palace, Their Majess tics appeared* on a balcony and bowed their acknowledgments.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 1 Assn.