Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-16

as you like. M ore cases Will De pu
Of more than four years. In that
spirit the entire population threw
itself heart and soul into a delirium
Of rejoicing such as this city never
before witnessed in its long annals,
and will never again be witnessed
in the coming years. Promptly at
II o'clock, when the hostilities
ceased on all fronts, a battery of
guns officially gave the glad-tidings.
Immediately the guns at the big fort
took up the signal by booming
forth salvo after salvo. Then the
bells of all churches joined in the
paean of triumph and it was only
then, after more than four years,
that the city stirred itself into its
radiant outbursts of jubilance.
Crowds Throng Streets.
"In what seemed to be less than
the twinkling of an eye, flags in pro-
fusion appeared in avenues and boul-
evards. Big and little, old and new,
i'll all the varied galaxy of the al
lied colors and of the United States.
The emblems draped the walls of
private and public buildings The
tri-color of France predominating
and next the Stars and Stripes.
Within ten minutes after the great
news was officially announced by the
booming of cannon, the crowds be-
gan to pour into the thoroughfares.
Factory workers, men and women,
all either young or old, came out
in countless thousands. These were
joined by eager children in pictur-
esque colored paper hats and be-
decked with dainty emblems of VIC
tory in the shape of buttonhole flags
and ribbons. The growing throngs
slowly made their way toward the
central squares of the city where
they joined the masses already cele-
brating in full swing.
Soldiers of all the allied nations
and of the United States joined ir
the festivities which followed each
other i'll spontaneous succession ali
day and all night. All traffic and
business was suspended. Among the
earliest manifestations were five
American soldiers, one with fiddle
and another with a fife. AT each
corner they were stopped by the
gathering multitudes who demanded
performances. Each time the crowd
was rewarded by music and fancy
| jigging to its accompaniment. At
one corner they struck up the Mar.
sellaise." Instantly the hymn was
caught by thousands of threats.
| Women in crepe stood looking on.
mute. Other women sang Justify.
One of them suddenly broke down
i'll tears and had to be taken away
by friends. She lost four sons in
the war. On Our avenue were a
number of crippled and wounded
soldiers. They were embraced at
every step, it seemed. 1t was COM
mon to see men embrace each other
and it seemed that every soldier
was embraced and kissed on each
cheek. | was standing on a stand
with other officers and it seemed
as though all the women were weep
ing.
City Illuminated for FirstTime.
Throughout the afternoon and
evening the throngs were so dense
that movement in any direction was
impossible. In the afternoon between
two and three o'clock. the enthusi-
asm grew intensely when the guns
again fred salvos and the battle
ships and destroyers in the harbor
joined in. All the dirigible bal
looms and aircraft took part and
flew close over the city, dropping
confetti. More than $500 shells
were fired. Large electric signs
glared forth and for the first time
in four years the city was illumi,
mated.
"Warmest comradeship reighed
among the men and women who
played all sorts of games and who
spoke all sorts of language. One
heard the 'Marsellaise,' the most
but right next was Americas col
lege song, Cheer, cheer, the gangs
all here-what the h do we care.
Americas Star Spangled Banner
4 was not forgotten either.
"A number of Americans and poi
lus dragged some German gun:
from the Palace de la Concorde ant
paraded them along the boulevard:
to the delight of the crowds. Other:
jocularly put up 'abre' signs on the
taxicabs which they had com
Wandered for the occasion. An in
cident which brought forth >un
bounded enthusiasm was when thu
u. S. Marines marched through thu
avenue to the Court of Honor with
the well-known and distinguished
General Butler at their head. 4
number were decorated for bravery
in action. In this demonstration
General Harries of Omaha. Neb.
was a prominent figure. As they
passed through the main thorough
fare, their path was literally strewt
with flowers. On either side womel
stood with huge baskets filled will
blossoms and they covered the road
way with flowers. Nearly all thes,
women were in mourning and man,
were weeping. The same was so o
all the windows along the line o
march-everywhere these brave mel
were cheered and bedecked witt
flowers.
Words Cannot Describe Scenes.
words are totally inadequat
means of conveying any idea of tn
manifestations of joy and l ca,
only badly tell of seething multi
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