Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-10
ARNIsTICE DAY.

A proclamation setting aside No
yember H. Armistiee Day. as a legal
holiday. "as mark OF respect 10 the
memory Of those who gave their. lives
IN the late rNorld War. as typlhed by
the unknown and unidentified Ameri-
can soldier who is to be buried in
Arlington National cemetery on that
day" was issued saturday night by
President Harding.
Doubts and fears and controversies
respecting the future OF world peace
will not obscure the tremendous
significance OF the day of which this
Is the third anniversary. The signing
Of the srmistice which ended hostili-
ties with Germany on November IL.
1915, signalircd definite and irrev-
ocable change in human affairs
Back of that event lay more than four
years Of horror. struggle beyond
comprehension. even now. in its de
structiveness and ferocity; before it
opened a new age. in which there
might be strife. but never, conceiv-
ably. for the same cause.
Autocracy. which for SO long had
stretched its menacing shadow over
the path of mankind. had been cast
down and swept away. That evil, at
least. would trouble the world no more.
and 80 monstrous had ! zen its power
for evil that It's passing seemed for
the moment 20 be equivalent 10 the
abolition of war itself Thus the de-
iiveranee was hailed with unparalleled
outhursts OF emotion and thanks
wlv,ng. Sc universal and so deep was
the feeling Of relief that even a pre-
mature celebration did not exhaust
humanity's response. but was followed
by an even greater demonstration
when the roar q the battlefields at
last was silenced.
II is were possible to close the mind
sgainst present conditions. and to
contemplate merely the relation Of
this country 10 the epoch making
event q three years ago tomorrow
the anniversary would be one Of the
most satisfying. as II is one Of the
most glorious. in all our history. For
while FUN Justice can never be done
O. the salor and tenacity and sac. l.
fetal devotion ot the other peoples.
who bore Infinitely the greater burden.
Americas part In the victory was
Dramatically vital and her response
tnity superbly FULFILLED.
In the Meuse-Argonne battle Of No
ncmber i-e it was the honor Of United
States troops TO provide the climax
the war. During the six days they
fought their way for twenty-five miles
through the most formidable defenses
tho enemy had been able 10 construct,
and planted the battle standard of the
Republic on the west bank Of the
Meuse opposite Sedan. The terse re-
port q General Pershing told Of the
hnality uf this blow at Germany's
military power:
"The strategicai goal which was
our highest hope was gained. We
had cut the enemys main line of
communications. and nothing but
surrender or an armistioe could
save his army from complete dis
astcr."
Marshal Foch. before the American
Legion convention in Kansas City.
Nc. on November ]. said:
1T IL you who have made these
sacrihces More than "a. 900 Of
your countrymen were buried in
the sof ~ France. May they rest
IN peace. Your French brothers
IN arms watch over them.
GLORY 10 you who survive them
and who enjoy victorious peace.
You may well be proud Of your
past exploits
Your codntry had asked Of YOU
20 lay low redoubtable enemy.
You have placed him at your
mercy and, after having assured
every guarantee for the liberty
OF our peoples. you have imposed
upon him the peace which our
governments have dictated Has
not your task been completely
fuinled,
AS for me. the great honor Of