The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-08
Army Cracks Crown Jewels Theft
Program Runs "A Hours Fourth of Britain Vreus,s " Parade


 fourth Of all the people in Britain damned London today in the most compact mass of humanity ever seen to sing dance and watch the parade ofiicially celebrating victory m World War II.
 surging throngs in holiday mood crowded every conceivable vantage place along the broad avenue and squares of central London to see the king and all his men. Their throaty paens of triumph echoed through the bomb-pocked capital.
 The conelomerate colors, creeds and uniforms of Britain's posses. ssons and fighting Allies blended with the gold-crested pageantry of British royal tradition. The bleat- ing Of tin horns and skirling Of Scottish pipers mingled with the cheers as the parade rolled past.
 Russian Troops Missing
 There was only one somber note. Soviet Russia refused to send a delegation of fighting men to honor he British celebration. So did Yugoslavia and Poland. the latter because Battle of Britain Polish pilots loyal to the defunct London Polish government had been in- vited. The Battle of Britain Poles also refused to participate.
 The celebration program ran il hours, starting with the parade at 70 A. M. and running through a splash of fireworks in the skies where German bombers once dumped their loads. A water pag- cant was scheduled in the quiet reaches Of the Thames where medi- eval kings fioated in their barges.
 Just after Big Ben--never sil- enced during the war-boomed out 10 A. NJ. King George VI rode forth from Buckingham Palace in he magnificent state laudau. With him were Queen Elizabeth. Prin. cess Elizabeth and Princess Mar garet
 Through a sweaty. deeply res spectful mass of humanity hum dreds deep the royal coach rolled along a winding route 10 the salut- ing base on the Mall. Hundreds oi thousands had waited patiently along the broad thoroughfare al night for a close look.
 Millions Paid for Seating
 Britain did what i could to brighten London's face for the greatest pageant since the corona ton in 1897. Multitudes of flags made the city a rainbow carpet to the squadrons of R.A.F. planes lac- ing through the skies. Lamp posts were silvered over. Portraits of var leaders reappeared for the first time since V-J Day.
 Millions of dollars were paid for seating space in Gindows. store fronts and on rooftops. Some spec tators paid up to siOO for Q good view.
 4 small detachment of American soldiers led the Allied marching column. in it's ranks were Marines and members of the proud 82d Air. borne Division. It was the final ap- pearance of uniformed Americans in Britain. The last few leave this month.
 On the reviewing stand with the king were Premier Attlee. Winston Churchill. and a galaxy of military leaders. Gen. Joseph T. McNarney represented the U. s. Army. Admiral H Kent Hewitt the Navy and Gen. Franklin Hart the Marines.
 AS Phases Represented
 There were two lines of march. one mechanized and one afoot. con- yerging on the reviewing stand.
 All the mechanical paraphernalia Of war appeared. So. in recognition of total war did delegations from war industries and civil defense services. Two housewives marched m token that they. too. had served who stood in queues and stretched the slender rations.
 The multitudes sayored the ro- mantle flavor of world empige as attachments from far-0ff places past. The names alone told the story. spike-helmeted frontiers men from Transordania, desert horSemen splashed with crimson and zulus carrying furnished spears in step with groups from Tanganyika. Zanzibar. Basut0land and Trinidad.
 Overhead flew the planes that saved Britain and thOse that led her tO victory. Spitfires and Hurricanes Of redoubtable memory in the Battle Of Britain. Laneasters and M0squi. tos of later black nights over Ger many and the jei-propelled vam- pires, symbol of a new age.
 By the hundreds 0f thousands, spectators eonyerged on the streets and parks Oi central London all night. Some broke the boredom Of waiting with tin horns. roliicking and singing. Others wrapped them selves in blankets and bedded down 0n the ground and in open door ways. making the best of drixzle.