The Bolivar County Democrat., 1921-01-01

Who won the Great War? Was 1t the British.
the French, the Americans? Was 1t Joffre, fe-
tain Pershing Foch? Was 1t sailor. airmhn,
artillerist? I,
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 prOclaming to the world by thus
honoring the Unknown Dead"
For "UnknOwn Dead" is merely a symbol. For
Unknown Dead" read Man in the Hanks
the common man who did his duty, offered his all,
won his fight or gave up his life and is unknoW n.
unhonored and unsung. No citation contains his
name No decoration Is his This Is the man
who the war and 1t is in his honor that the
"Unknown Dead" 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 a potential
hero never got to the front. Nor need this man
thus honored ever have got into the fighting
ranks. Many patriot who did his bit most
Loyalty rejected by the recruiting officer II
he gave his country the best he had, he shares
the honOrs Of ArmStice Day. e
In honoring the "Unknown Dead" the British and
French give utternnce to their recOgnitiOns
that .emocracy 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"
Wit, the honors of a field marshals funeral. Tie
body was that OF soldier. name and rank un-
known selected at random from the silent hosts
at Ypres-whether English Irish, Scotch, Welsh.
Canadian or Australian is not known. 1t was
received at Boulogne with the highest honors by
French and British soldiers.
The casket was carried through lanes Of SOL
ders at present arms" to the British DESTROYER
Vertllin Thanked by four French and SIX British
destroyers, the funeral ship steamed across the
channel TO Dover, passing into the harbor as can
non from, the fort roared their salute of nineteen
tO Vhip m NrsI
entitled were paid as the casket carried from
the destroyer to the special train for London.
The historic "Padre's flag" used at innumerable
funerals after the fighting at Ypres, covered the
coffin whose plate was inscribed:
"A British Warrior Who Fell in the Great War,
1914-191S for King and Country.
The immediate guard which escorted the body
IN its trip through the crowded and silent streets
from the station to Whitehall was composed OF
100 men of all services who won the Victoria
cross The pallbearers were field marshais ana
admirals of the fleet, including Viscount Douglas
Haig Earl Beatty. admiral of the grand fleet, and
Mai Gen Sir Hugh Trenchard. commander of
British air forces. Batalions of guards, with
their bands and few officials made up the rest
of the escort
King George was chief mourner, army officers
of the highest rank were pallbearers and the high
est officers Of the church assigned the Warriors
body to its final rest.
In addition, the entire empire sent representa-
tiyes to attend the services, and thousands upon
thousands massed into the streets to glimpse the
plan oaken casket, swayng on its caisson as 1t
proceeded from railway station 10 abbey.
Aside from members of the royal family, who
included Queen Mary. Queen Mother Alexandra
and Queen Maud of Norway, and few officials
The only witnesses to either ceremony were per-
sons who lost relatives in the great war.
OF all the witnesses that packed whitehall or
crowded the abbey. little band OF approximate
Iv 100 women in the abbey received the most rev.
erent attention. They had been seiected ror inc
seats of honor because each had lost her hus-
hand and all her sons Every woman In Eng