The spectator., 1921-12-09
RECALLING FIRST
 ARN|ST|CE DAY
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FRONT IN FRANCE WHEN ORDER TO
 CEASE FIRING CAME.
BATTLED TWO HOURS LONGER
American Soldiers Then Celebrated the Ending of the War With Noise, Bonfires and Bright Lights, Safe at Last From Attacks,
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

Washington.-On ArmistiCe day 1t Is to be wondered If even the solem- mites of the occasion of the burial of the unknown soldier in Arlington can be potent enough to keep the thoughts of the living soldier onlookers from the scenes of the day three years ago In the land where the unknown gave up his life for his country.
 On the night of Nov 10, 1918, there was a feeling in the breast of every man at the front in France that the war was drawing to an end, and yet every man at the extreme front knew that before the hour of the cessation of hostilities should come he was to be called upon again to do his duty in further battle Nevertheless there was an intensive feeling that the end was near and within twentyfour hours the end came.
 The scenes In the advanced zone of the American armies in France on the morning of November II. 1918, were much the same everywhere along the entire front Mems faces were lighter than usual for 1t was only human nature that the soldiers should welcome the coming of the end.
 At sunrise on the morning of ArmiS- tice Day I was at place called Chatel-Chehery, just north of the Ar gonne Forest What happened there unquestionably happened at all other parts of the line from Belgium to the Vosges. The early morning orders were to press the fighting and the fighting was pressed No one would have known amid the activities and the noise that rest was near.
 Two Hours More of Fighting.
 At :45 n. m.. French time, on that day the following order was received at the Chatel-Chehery headquarters of Mai. Gen. Joseph T. Dickman who commanded the First Corps in the Argonne and north of 1t from october 14 to the day when the Americans appeared at the portals of Sedan:
 "G-2, First Army Corps, |. s.
 By Radio.
 ITO ALL: The fighting on the enemy front will cease at II :55 a. m. German time). From this time on the front lines will not he crossed. Fur ther orders will follow"
 This meant that there were only two hours more of fighting ahead of the Americans, because II :55 German time meant 10:55 French time The fighting went on until the hour set for its cessation. During those two hours many Americans, many French, many British and many BelgianS lost their liveS-but the end was at hand.
 When the hour of peace came there was as much noise along the front In many places as there was during the early hou of the day The Americans ceased firing at the enemy and the enemy ceased firing at the Americans, but seemingly every dough- boy in the American ranks turned loose with his weapons on his own account in the firing of iuhilating fusillade ut the sky. It did not take the American officer long. however. to enforce diciplne. The men stopped
  hill and the valley sounded with the cheers and then everybody settled down to wait until the nightfall.
 6onfires and Bright Lights.
 Night came down gloomy enough, so far as nature was concerned. but bonfres blazed on every knoll and hill for miles along the front. There was no danger now of drawing the enemy's fire by the display of lights. Men gathered at the fires certain that they were to he immune from shells and from the dropping bombs of German airplaneS.
 Al that time I wns quartered with my senior officers In an old French chateau, shell-torn, windy and rat ridden. Open as the place was to the clements because of the shattcring of it's walls. we had succeeded during the two or three nights that we had been in the place in banketing the windows and shell holes so that the lights did not show without 10 dis close the position to the maraud- ing night tliers.
 On the night of November II. 1918, every light within the chateau was burning, generous fire was abaze in every old open fireplace and no win dow and no shell hole bore covering That night the bugler sounded taps with no fear that the notes were to be heard by bomb thrower overhead and were to disclose the location of an American generals headquarters
 Every soldier not on duty that night turned into his cold quarters. made himself snug in blankets. and was mind-loose from any thought that be- fore morning he might have rude awakening, or that perchance there might be no awakening for him In this world.
 Bonus Bill Likely to Pass.
 Several senators and representa- lives, representing both Democracy and Repubicanism, have declared recently in congress that bonus legisla-