The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-01-01

Who won the Great War? Was 1t the British.
ue French the Americans? Was 1t Joffre, Fe-
tain Pershing Foch? Was 1t sailor, airman,
artillerst7 Al
All helped No need to make comparisons.
For II was the man in the ranks who won the
Great War And that is what Great Britain aid
France are proclaming to the world by thus
honoring the unknown Dead"
For unknown Dead" is merely symbol. For
Unknown Dead" read MAN In the Ranks
the common who did his duty, offered his ALL
won his fight 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
"Unknown 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 a 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 honors 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
than for the dead.
Great Britain buried her unknown Dead"
with the honors of a field marshars funeral. The
body that Of a soldier, name and rank IN
known selected at random from the silent hosts
At Ypres-whether English Irish, Scotch, Welsh.
Canadian Australian is not known It was
received at Boulogne with the highest EOnors BY
French and British soldiers
The casket was carried through lanes of SOL
diers at present arms" to the British destroyer
Vertun Thanked by four French and SIX British
desroyers, the funeral ship steamed across the
channel to Dover passing into the harbor as can
non from the fort roared their salute Of nineteen
guns. Other honors to which a field marshal is
entitled We're paid as the casket was carried from
the destroyer to the special train for London.
The historic Padres flag" used at innumerabe
funerals after the fighting at Ypres, covered the
comm whose plate inscribed:
"A British Warrior Who Fell In the Great War.
l9l4191S for King and Country"
The immediate guard which escorted the body
"a Its trip through the crowded and silent streets
from the station to Whitehall composed OF
lOO men Of all services who won the Victoria
cross. The pallbearers were field marshals and
admiras Of the feet including viscount Douglas
Halg Earl Beatty. admiral Of the grand fleet, and
Nal Gen. Sir Hugh Trenchard. commander Of
British air forces. Battalions of guards. with
their bands. and few officials made up the rest
OF the escort.
King George was chief mourner, army officers
% 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-
ives TO attend the services, and thousands upon
thousands massed into the streets to glimpse the
pain oaken casket, swaying its caisson as 1t
proceeded from railway station to abbey.
Aside from members of the royal family. who
Included Queen Mary, Queen Mother Alexandra
ana queen Maud of Norway, and few officials,
'he only witnesses to either ceremony were per-
sons VINO lost relatives in the great war.
VI all the witnesses that packed Whitehall or
crowded the abbey. little band of approximate
y ioV women In the abbey received the most rev.
etent attention. They had been selected for the
seats Of honor because each had lost her hus-
oahu and all her sons. Every woman In Eng