THE LAST SCENES.
A GREAT SILENCE. The Fittis-h at ft/lons. Celebrations of Victory. Some Touching Seeiws.
&3«eive4 Sbt, 'l2l, 10.50 pan. < London. Nov, 12. Mr", Hafokson writes that a great siteiwe descended at 11 o'clock on the historic scene of Mobs, when the "cease firing'' sounded. A greater Power than ours willed that we should finish the War there.
The British and Canadian troops solemnly paraded at 11 o'clock, when the civic authorities addressed them. The military bands played "La Brabanconne" and "God Save the King." Then followed a moving scene of mutual congratulations and rejoicings. There was no precise moment when hostilities ceased. The Germans fled so completely that our infantry were not in touch with them, and our jguns were silent all the morning. A pathetic memory of the war was the last stories told by the Mons people of horrible German brutality to the residents.
British prisoners, returning to the villages, kept flocking to our car, cheering, laughing and crying, asking: "Is it really true?" Elsewhere on the British front the tidings were taken calmly. Bugles were sounded and the troops paraded. The British did not attempt fraternisation with the Germans, who made jome demonstrations, throwing away and breaking their rifles. Mr. Campbell writes that uncanny silence on the French front was the most striking feature of the cessation of hostilities, which stopped punctually at 11 o'clock. A thick white mist enshrouded the battlefield when the last German shots were fired into the air., and it seemed incredible to stand there in etrange dead silence after four years, The troops felt the solemn moment, and just stopped firing. There was no cheering and no excitement—nothing to do except to be glad, bnt a joy too deep for noisy demonstrations was written on every-battle-worn face. Though the armistice "was arranged, the huge war machine worked steadily all day long, infantry, artillery, and engineers coming away from ■uoe front and the reliefs going back. "It was a wonderful sight and a marvellous memory; and, oh, we were glad!" Mr. Thomas writes that the enemy remained Huns to the end, mamtaining a semblance of clever retreat and getting away large quantities of guns and munitions, destroying Toads, river banks, bridges and houses, and commandeering furniture. They kept up their brutality, stealing, bullying, and requisitioning till the cars and 3ioTses took them away.
Tho soldiers acted differently. A fair number went into hiding, and are now appearing furtively from cellars and dug-outs, crying "Kameradl" On the whole the troops were well picked, the machine-gunners sticking to their posts, and 'the military machine hung together.—Times Service.
THE NEW ERA.
A CUET ARMY ORDER. BRITISH FIGHT TO THE END. Received Nov. 13,10.50 p.m. Paris, Nov. 12. Peace came to the Australian and other armies in the field in this form: "At eleven o'clock to-day (November 11) the troops will stand fast on the positions reached at the hour named. A line of outposte will be established, and will be reported to headquarters. All military precautions will be preserved, and there will be no communication with the enemy." This curt message, on a pink slip, sufficed to end the fighting. It was sent out at 7.36, and was known throughout the front within an hour.
Among the foremost troops were King Edward's Horse, who reached the outskirts of Ath. The Germans had scurried away without even blowing up the bridges. The British troops took no chances, but continued fighting to the very end,—Aus. and NJS. Cable Assoc.
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Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 5
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583THE LAST SCENES. Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 5
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