The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-12
MEMORIAL FOR HEROES
KING GEORGE UNVEILS NEW
STATUE IN LONDON
People Stood Silent In Mute
: Tribute During Hour When
War Ended

London, November 11.-[Corre-
spondence of The United Pressl--
England celebrated the second ami
versary of the signing of the armis-
tice by an imressive demonstration.
In London and most big cities the old
ar raid maroon" warnings were fir
ed as the clocks struck the hour at
which hostilfties ceased on the west
ern front, and foot passengers came
to halt in the streets, standing with
bowed heads.
Londoners had a special and most
"maroons" doomed forth the hour.
King George unveiled the permanent
memorial to THE Glorious Dead"
known as the Cenotaph, on Whitehall
The monument Is the marble replica
OF the temporary Cenotaph erected
for the great Vicictory parade last
year, and which was saluted by the
troops Of the Allied nations. Orgini-
nany 1t was intended to erect much
larger memorial in one Of the parks
or big open spaces. but the plaster
cast Of Sir Edwin Lutyens' severely
plain yet weirdly and solemnly beau
tiful design caught the public imag-
nation and the spot where it was
originally erected, almost opposite
the Whitehall end of Downing street,
became national shrine hallowed
by the tears of countless pilgrims.
Demands OF Popuiaee.
Unimaginative officials wished to
remove the structure Immediately at
ter The Victory parade but there was
such a public outcry that 1t was al
lowed to remain until the plaster be-
gan to crumble. and the erection Of
more substantial memorial became
imperative Again officialdom wished
to erect the marble replica elsewhere,
but the British nation expressed its
wishes SO definitely that the officials
gave way and the permanent Ceno-
taph today rests on the original spot
in Whithall.
King George with Queen Mary, the
Prince OF Wales, Duke of York, and
Princess Mary drove from Bucking-
ham Palace attended by a brilliant
guards resplendant in pre-war scar
Let, gold and steel. Drawn up around
the yelled Cenotaph were detach-
ments rpresenting evry branch of the
army, navy, air force and services.
Allied diplomats and foreign naval
and military attaches were also pre-
sent, as were Premier Lloyd George
and the cabinet. A funeral party of
the guardS9 in pre-war crimson and
gold stood DIT each corner OF the mem
orial with heads bowed over their re-
versed rifles and guards OF honor Of the
Kings Company, Grenadier Guards
and the Royal Navy with standards
and bands, stood ready to render
honors.
The formerly dreaded AFRAID
warnings doomed out the hour. King
George, standing a little in from OF
the royal group, Immediately pulled
the silken cord releasing the drapery,
and stood at the salute. The guards
Of honor presented arms and the huge
concourse remained absolutely sta
tionary for the prescribed two min
utes.
! The silence was only broken when
the trumpets Of the Guards sounded
the Last Post" and "An Clear"
Before leaving the Cenotaph King
George placed large wreath at the
foo. of the plinth, an example which
was initiated by Leoyd George, and
other prominent British and Allied
representatives. The inscription,
"The Glorious Dead" caught the
popular imagination more than any
thing else. During the afternoon
floral tributes Of every description,
from hot house products to humble
punches of wild flowers, were piled
round the plinth.