Evening star., 1925-11-11
Armistice Day.

y
the last shot was fired in the Great
War. Today the anniversary Of Ar
mistiCe day is celebrated in those
lands where the victory of 1918 was
hailed then with rejoicing. Those
seven years have been replete with
great events, as the war-torn world
has readjusted TO peace. They have
witnessed conferences of the repre-
sentatives of the nations. negotiations
for adjustments, reactions, rebellions
within the boundaries of lately war
ring powers, the formation of an in
ternational association of nations aim
ing at the establishment of peace and
its functioning in the settlement Of
differences between the member ma
tions.
Today the world is more nearly
pacific than at any time since the
close of hostilities in 1913. There is
disturbance in Syria and in China,
the former growing out Of the settle
ments of the Great War and the latter
due to a strictly national condition of
disorder. Elsewhere, save in the Riff
fan region of Morocco. there is peace.
Lately a grave danger in the Balkans
was averted by the interposition of
the League of Nations.
In these seven years that have
passed since the armistice was signed
and the warning forces ceased their
awful struggle in Europe. advance
has unquestionably been made toward
a firmer ground Of international un-
derstanding. a settlement of the war
obligations of Germany has been ef-
fected upon terms finally acceptable
to both sides. The new states created
by the treaty Of Versailles have gained
substantial foundations. Economic
conditions have been advanced toward
stability. Some progress has been
made toward the liquidation of the
debts OF the powers that were COM
PEELED to borrow the means for wag-
ing the war. Large reductions in the
armaments of the nations have been
effected, releasing man power for in
dustry and relieving the people from
oppressive taxation.
Today, as the occasion is marked
by ceremonies or by the simple but
significant silence of millions at an
appointed minute, it is possible to
feel the remarkable recovery that has
been made from the shock Of conflict.
and to realize the benefits which, at
whatever cost, have been gained by
humanity from the war. Millions Of
men were slain and more were
MANNED; countless losses were suf-
fered; the world was shocked incal-
culably; nations We're disrupted
broken into portions that in some
cases have been constituted into new
states; everything has been changed
save the race itself, and that remains
with it's old qualities and faults and
virtues, but with the example of a
needless horror as a guide to better
conduct hereafter.
Armistice day should be observed in
a spirit of gratitude for the sacrifices
of those who now sleep in heroes
graves. They went forth upon com
mand to serve, to suffer, to die. Some
went eagerly, some reluctantly, some
only upon the compulsion of law. But
all who went under whatever flag or
with whatever motive or feelings, con-
tributed to the result that is today
being celebrated. That soldier whose
body lies beneath a marble slab at
Arlington, unidentified, unknown, is
a symbol of the impersonal service
rendered by the great army of Amer
leans joined to the great armies of
Europe to bring to an end a contest
that was bleeding the world to death.
TO him, as the type of American duty
in the hour of supreme need, respect
Is today paid by a grateful Nation.