Silenced Guns

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 197, 9 November 1927, Page 15

Silenced Guns

Three Famous Orders

NOVEMBER 1918 LAST ARMY INSTRUCTIONS STAGE directions for the ringingdown of the curtain on the battlefield of Europe nine years ago make vivid reading now. Copies of three army instructions which brought the Great "War to a dramatic close have been brought to THE SUN office. The first, received by the New Zealand Division from 4th Army Corps Headquarters at 11.12 a.m. on November 7. 191 S, gives instructions for the detaining of “an officer bearing a flag of truce,” who might present himself at any part of the British front. The fact was to be notified by urgent “priority” telegram. ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE The second, received at 11.33 a.m. on the same date reads, “The enemy appear ! to be retreating on whole army front. In continuation of G. 13 of 6th inst., ! Corps Commander wishes Divl. ComI manders to carry out following instruc- ‘ tions. j “ ’42 Div. to gain high ground west of Hautmont and endeavour to capture i Hautmont. Should direct advance on j Hautmont be opposed, the stli Div. will i co-operate by encircling Hautmont • from the south, and cutting off enemy’s line of retreat eastwards. Ultimate objective of both Divisions the Alaubeuge Avesnes Road.’ ” The final message, intense in its brevity, is simply, “Following from IV. Corps. Hostilities will cease at 11.00 hours to-day, 11th November.” AUCKLAND COMMEMORATION Armistice Day” will be commemorated by two-minutes’ silence at 11 o’clock on Friday. The City Council has ordered that all trams shall be stopped and that all work shall cease in its departments for that period. St. Matthew’s Church will hold a communion service at 10.30 a.m. and at 12.15 p.m. the “Dead March” will be 1 played to be followed by the sounding ! of "The Last Post.” At 2.30 p.m. an ! intercession service will be held.

The King’s College Old Boys will hold a special service in the college chapel at 7.30 p.m. and Archbishop AveriH will preach. The Auckland Education Board has asked that the two-minutes’ silence shall be observed in the schools and a short address on the League of Nations shall be given by teachers.