Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-11-12
$500 PEOPLE SEE
BENN|NG PAGEANT
Big Crowd at Fort Last Night
to Witness Military Spectacle
Celebrating Arrnistice DaY

hundred feet of the south stands of
the Doughboy stadium were filled
to Overlooking last night at the pre-
sentation of the military pageant
at Fort Benning. The available
ground around the stands and the
sides were crowded by tie late ar
rivals.
AS early as seven o'clock the
spectators began to arrive. At
about 1925 O'clock the blare of
trumpets told of the entrance OF
the 29th Infantry in mass. The 9TH
er organizations of the garrison also
turned out in numbers.
1t was estimated chat about O.
500 persons witnessed the Armistice
Day celebration. The pageant, as a
form of celebration to commemorate
the signing of the armistica in 1918,
is new idea at the fort.
Major James w. Stillwell conceiv-
ed the idea and wrote the script
for the tableauz, while Captain S.
G. Saulnier produced the pageant.
Captain Geo. l.. King arranged The
Incidental music and trained tie
individual singers. TIE Glee Club
Of the Infantry School furnished the
choral attraction.
At 7:45 o'clock the big lights
which had bee nturned on the audi
ence were extinguished and the or
hcestra commenced the prelude to
the World War pageant. The cen
ter flood was then flashed on and
the nations of tie world were seen
in tableau in peaceful accord.
Each nation was attended BY
several small childr 5n who symbol
lied the outstanding characteristics
of the nation.
The spot light blinkei on and re-
vealed the War God, Mars, who
stalks on and surveys the peaceful
scene. Germania spisd the war god
and made mute overture sto him.
Mars then viewed with interest the
other nations but paused now end
then to cast covetous glanccs at the
comely Germania.
Germania at last was won by The
mighty Mars and left her peaceful
sisters, who wer dismayed by the
boldness of Germania.
The flood thea shifted to the
east revealing the rfugees Of war
torn Belgium wno make their way
across the stadium field and were
met by the character of Belgium.
Germania screaming her war
threats at the de>s, ug sufferers
called her troops TO Ter. Belgium
sang the national anthem ,nd llung-
ed into the fray. nee, with her
poilu, rushed to the aid of her in
vaded sisters, followed in rapid Sue
cession by Engla Vi AMI 'isly
Here the audience was given a
display of colorei lights end small
charges of explosives which made
the scene very thrilling. At this
point Columbia, with Uncle Sam,
looked in on the fracas but, de-
gliding that it was no affair of theirs
left. The fighting continued, the
Allies giving ground to the On
slaughts of the Germans.
Suddenly the scream Of the. brass
treated bugle pierced the din of
battle. At once the A lied line
stiffened an dto the tune of cover
there" Columbia, with Uncle SAM,
who had laid aside his beaver hat
for the helmet, led forward the gal
liant "Yanks."
Germania at once seeing the over
whelming mass of the troops from
the new ally America, fled, leaving
her soldiers to shift for them
selves. Here the arena was darkcn-
ed for a moment. Wher the lights
were flashe don the audience saw
the nations of the world assembled
with their flags in peaceful array
with the soldiers of Uncle Sam
forming the background.
The "Star Spangled Banner" was
sung by Columbia and the lights
flashed off. This ended one fthc
greatest set pieces ever produced AZ
the fort, M