Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-05-08

The burial OF the Unknown S,
November II, 1921-three years aft
shotDs the caisson mating at the
procession from, the Capitol to Arli'
fen minutes after 8 o'clock. Beh
and Vice President, members OF
House, the Senate, Governors OF
Marine Corps commanders.
Two years ago today the war in Europe
came to close with Germany's sur
render.
In the interval since then Great Brit
ain has staged national observance of
the victory in London; comparable cere-
monies have been held by the French In
Paris and by the Russians In Moscow.
For us the end Of the war has not yet
been officially proclaimed. We have had
no celebration OF victory. And plans for
two ceremonial events In Washington,
associated with the war, remain indefl-
mite.
These two ceremonies are the burial
of a second unidentified serviceman near
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier In
Arlington National Cemetery and the
building of a memorial to District SOL
diers, sailors and Marines who gave
their lives in the recent war.
Otherwise, locally as well as on ma
tional scale, Congress is giving no official
thought to arranging celebration when
the end Of the war is formally pro-
claimed or the final treaties OF peace
ratified.
Burial Of a second unknown service
man already has been authorized by act
Of Congress. It is being delayed, how
ever, because the War Department wants
to exhaust every means of Identifying
the approximately 5000 dead still car
ried on It's rolls as unknown.
Burial Of the Unknown Soldier OF the
World War took place three years after
the signing of the arnistice. The solemn
service on November II, 1921, came only
three weeks after the Senate finally
ratified the separate treaties OF peace
between the United States and Germany
and Austria. It was one Of the most
heart-moving occasions ever witnessed
here. But it was not the first or only
observance which Washington saw after
the World War.
Triumphal March Of First Division.
When Gen. PeYshing returned to the
United States after the First World War
he led the 1st Division down Pennsyl-
vania avenue in q victory parade
watched by more than half q million
people September 10, 1919. The division,
with full field equipment, represented all
48 American divisions which had gone
overseas as the AEF.
At Fifteenth street and New York
avenue, near the Treasury Building was
a huge triumphal arch. In front of the
White House was the reviewing stand
where the President and other digni-
taries stood for five hours while the pro-
cession passed.
Earlier that year, on February ~,
there was a victory parade OF 5000 SOL
diers and sailors who lived In the Dis
trict, led by President Wilson, who
marched on foot from the Peace Monu-
ment to the White House.
These parades followed the tradition
of the homecoming Of Admiral Dewey
after the Spanish American War and
the review of the Grand Army Of the
Republic at the close Of the Civil War.
The October 8, 1899, parade in honor
Of Admiral Dewey was the most elabo-
rate in more than 80 years, but IN size
and variety 1t fell short OF the historic
two-day greeting for the Union Armies.
The May %, 1865, march Of Gen.
Meade's troops down Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. and an even longer procession OF
Gen. Sherman's men over the same
route the next day, were dimmed only
by the national sorrow in the death OF
President Lincoln few weeks before.
Grand Army's Last March.
Marching so abreast along the avenue,
the soldiers took six hours to pass the
stand from which President johnson,
Gen, Grant and others reviewed the
Grand Army.
Although Washington and other cities
saw several comparatively small parades
of returning units and military and
naval commanders after the recent war,
the rehabilitation policy tended to dis
courage full-scale victory reviews. Sep
aration centers and the point system Of
discharges sent most veterans home
individually.
Continuance Of the Pacific phase Of
the conflict for more than three months
after the NaI collapse also tended to
restrict formal observances to days Of
prayer and thanksgiving proclaimed by
the President.
Other United Nations, notably Great
Britain, Russia and France, held tire
mendous victory celebrations. The off,
cial British observance was last June 8
in London, when more than 100000
spectators beheld an all-day parade of
men and machines.
Gen. Eisenhower and other American
commanders joined the King and Queen,
the cabinet ministers and others in re-
viewing the spectacle. This included
also an air show by hundreds Of planes
and dazzling night exhibition Of
fireworks and searchlights. At British
embassies in Washington and through
out the world the day was marked by
special exercises and gatherings.
Soviet Russia, which did not partici-
pate with the United States and other
United Nations in the London COM
memoration, held one of her mightiest
military displays August IA, 1915, in
Red Square to signalize the victory. The
national holiday celebration was held the
in interest, only two Of them, the British
and the Arabs, have voice in the de-
alterations. The Jewish people also
have right to be heard, even If that /
voice be voteless. Where are the princi-
r,1as If fojrpecc which uyara IN royor,,