The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-22

Who won the Great War?@sWas 1t the British.
the French the Americans? Was 1t Jofre le-
tain, Pershing. Focha Was it sailor, airman'
artiilerist? isat5
All helped. No need to make comparisons.
For 1t was the man in the ranks who won the
Great War. And that is what Great Britain ard
France are proclaiming to the world by thus
honoring the 'Unknown Dead"
Fer unknown Dead" is merely symbol. For
Unknown Dead" read Man in the Ranks
the common man who did his duty, offered his all.
won his fight or gave up his life and is unknown,
unhonored and unsung No citation contains his
name No decoration is his. This Is the man
who won the war and 1t is in his honor that the
aUnknown Dead" are buried with the pomp and
circumstance of state display
Nor need this man of the rank and file ever
have reached the firing line Many potential
hero never got to the 'front.' Nor need this man
thus honored ever have got into the fighting
ranks Many a patriot who did his bit most
Loyalty was rejected by the recruiting officer. II
he gave his country the best he had, he shares
the honoys of Armistice Day.
In honoring the Unknown Dead the British and
French give utterance to their recognitions
that democracy of service and of sacrifice which
is the foundation of society and the salvation OF
nations The ceremony is for the living even
more than for the dead.
Great Britain buried her unknown Dead"
with the h0nors of field marshal's funeral. TIE
body was that of soldier. name and rank pm
known selected at random from tho silent hosts
at Ypres-whether English, Irfsh Scotch. Welsh.
Canadian or Australian Is not known. II was
received at Bouogne with the highest honors by
French and British soldiers.
The -casket was carried through lanes OF sol
diers at spresent arms" to the British DESTROYER
verdun Thanked by four French and six British
destroyers, the funeral ship steamed across the
channel to Dover, passing into the harbor as can
nssod flaoir M
| guns. Other honors to which a field marshal Is
entitled were paid as the casket was carried from
the destroyer to the special train for London.
4 The historic "Padres flag" used at fnnumerable
funerals after the fighting at Ypres, covered the
CONN whose plate was inscribed;
i "A British Warrior Who Fell In the Great War.
1914-191S for King and Country"
The Immediate guard which escorted the body
i n its trip through the crowded and silent streets
! from the station to whitehall was composed OF
J 100 rnef, Of all services who won the Victoria
cross. The pallbearers were field marshas and
| admirals Of the feet including Viscount Douglas
Haig Earl Beatty, admiral Of the grand feet, and
! Nal Cen Sir Hugh Trenchard commander Of
| British air forces Battali0ns Of guards. with
| their bands. and few officials made up the rest
| Of the escort.
King George was chief mourner. army officers
az tl1e highest rank pallbearers and the high
4 est oficars of the church assigned the warriors
| body to Its final rest.
In addition. the entire empire sent representa-
dives 10 attend the services, and thousands upon
thousands rnassed into the streets to glimpse the
| plain oaken casket. swayng on its caisson as 1t
/ proceeded from railway station to abbey.
Aside from members of the royal family. WHO
] included Queen Mary Queen Mother Alexandra
lsand Queen Mnnd of Norway and few officials,
the only witnesses to either ceremony were per-
sOns who lost relatives in the great war.
OF ali the witnesses that packed Whitehall or
| crowded the abbey. little band Of approximate
II 100 women in the abbey received me most rev
| erent attention They had been selected for the
seats Of honor because each had lost her hus-
Aand and all her sons Every woman In Eng