The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-12
AN EMPIRE HONORS
HER UNKNOWN DEAD
Vast Throngs in Whitehall
and Westminster Abbey.
Bp the Assoctated pres.

LONDON, Nov. lin historic White
hall tonight Great Britain's newly I'M
veiied monument to her glorious dead"
stood half buried beneath hundreds OF
flower tokens OF the nations sorrowing
appreciation of their sacrifices.
few hundred yards away. In West
minister Abbey. amid the tombs OF the
realms great men reposed the body Of
the empires newest immortar'-an I'M
known comrade of those whose deeds
the cenotaph memoriallzes.
Every part of the empire, oil classes
of its citizens, from the King to be-
renved relatives of the humblest private.
participated IN the impressive unwilling
ceremonies and the subsequent burial
rites in the Abbey. During the cere-
monies Whitehall and the streets ad-
jacent TO the Abbey were damned with
people, most Of whose faces mutely told
the tale OF lost loved ones. The two
minutes silence which fell over THE old
concourse as big Ben" Numbered the
hour of II seemed to vibrate with tho
repressed emotions.
1t was silence broken only by the
hysterical Shrek OF woman, who coll
lapsed from the Intensity of Its SPELL
on the tenth stroke OF the great gong
the King pulled the cord unwilling the
imposing monument and, with the
others. stood uncovered and with
bowed head. Then. after his wreath
and those OF the Prince OF Wa'es and
the official colonial representatives had
ioii he In
Of the cenotaph the field marshal pail
bearers with their hallowed burden
moved off to the Abbey, the King fol-
lowing the flag-draped coffin.
At the conclusion of the services In
the Abbey the sound Of muffied drums
rumbled through the ancient edifice:
buglers sounded reyeille and the King
and members of the royal party filed
slowly out. Throughou the afternoon
great lines extended from the cenotaph
through the length Of Whitehall across
Trafalgar Square waiting TO swell the
accumulation OF flowers about the
monument.
Tho immediate guard which escorted
the body through the crowded and
silent streets was composed OF 100 men
of all services who won the Victoria
Crosa. The pail bearers were Field
Marshals and Admirals OF the fleet,
including viscount Douglas Haig. Earl
Beatty. Admiral OF the Grand Fleet,
and Major General Sir Hugh Trench
ard, commander OF British air forces.
King George walked behind the coffin
from the cenotaph to the Abbey. ac-
companied b. the royal princes.
Aside from members OF the royal fam
lily, who included three Queens-Queen
Mary, Queen Mother Alexandra and
Queen Maud OF Norway--King Alfonso
OF Spain, Queen Victoria and few
officials, the only witnesses TO either
ceremony were persons who lost rela-
lives in the great war.
During the brief service In the nave
OF the Abbey, the King stood at the foot
OF the grave, the royal ladies and
princes ranging themselves on either
side. OF all the witnesses that packed
Whitehall or crowded the Abbey. little
band of approximately 100 women In
the Abbey received the most reverend
attention. They had been selected for
the seats of honor because each had
lost her husband and all her sons.
After the 100 had been seated, the
next 10 be considered were those moth
ers who lost their only sons. or all their
sons, and then came women who lost
their husbands only. They were given
positions In accordance with the price
they had paid during the war. A girl
who wrote she had lost nine brothers
killed or missing was given a ticket. as
also was twelve-year-old boy who
wrote "Tho man In the coffin might
he my daddy" In all 5000 tickets were
issued.
John W. Davis. the American AM
bassador, after The ceremonies In
Westminster Abbey were completed,
placed wreath on the grave OF the
unknown soldier. II bore tho words.
America will not forget"