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WASHINGTON (United Press) -- A solemn funeral cortege today bore to its last resting place the body of America's unknown soldier. Down Capitol Hill, from the honored shrine where it had lain in state, the flower-strewn casket of the unknown was escorted by the great men of this nation to the hallowed spot at Arlington.
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The President of the United States, his cabinet, the supreme court, governors of state, both houses of Congress and soldier heroes from all ranks walked silently behind the simple artillery claisson on which the body lay.
Near the end of the procession and cheered all along the way, was Wood-ow Wilson, America's war president. Just as the sun dissipated a morning mist which hung low over the capitol grounds, watchers at the foot of the hill heard the blare of funeral trumpets and saw the silent procession wend its way slowly down the hill to the broad stretch of Pennsylvania avenue, where thousands waited to pay tribute.
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(By Herbert W. Walker, United Press Staff Correspondent.) Washington, Nov. 11.
America's unknown soldier was laid to rest today with the highest honors that the nation and world could bestow. While the entire nation bowed in reverent tribute to the Republic's heroic war dead as typified by the unknown soldier, his body to which the special homage has been paid, was carried from the Capital to the hallowed ground of Arlington National cemetery, there to sleep forever with America's greatest.
Foreign representatives vied with the government and people of the Uhited States to do honor to the unknown doughboy.
While the bells of the nation tolled a solemn requiem and the people of the nation stood silent with bowed heads, the government as represented by President Harding, his cabinet, the Supreme Court and congress like humblest mourner marched up historic Pennsylvania, avenue.
In an old-fashioned victoria rode Woodrow Wilson, the unknown's commander-in-chief and a casualty of the war. The event coming on the eve of the great conference to check the mad race in armament building and to remove potential sources of war pledged to the unknown that he had not died in vain; in the words of President Harding.
Shortly after 8 a.m. today the highest officials of the government assembled at the capitol to act as guard of honor in the march to the cemetery. In the hallowed rotunda of the capitol, the hallowed body had reposed in state all day yesterday and until the early hours of morning. More than 100,000 persons had filed by the catafalque to pay a last tribute to 'the war dead, it was conservatively estimated.
Great Crowd Gathers.
Washington has rarely seen such a crowd as gathered. It equals, if not surpasses, the Inauguration throngs.
As the sun fought with low-hanging clouds to spread Its radiance over the ceremony the streets' around the capitol began to be filled with khaki-clad soldiers, and -thousands of the unknown comrades, waiting the signal to fall in for the march to Arlington.
Before 8 o'clock spectators were lining up along historic Pennsylvania avenue. Along which the nation's noted dead often have been borne to their last sleep. Thousands were grouped around the capital plaza, while at Arlington hundreds were waiting for the gates to open to obtain places close to the great white marble amphitheater where the unknown warrior will be buried.
At 8 o'clock the body bearers assembled in the big rotunda. Ten minutes later the House and Senate met, and after brief sessions, marched to the rotunda to form part of the procession. President Harding arrived shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court, headed by Chief Judge Taft, took its place in the procession. Then Ex-President Wilson, still broken in health as the result of the war, which took the like of the unknown, drove, up in his carriage. He was accomnied by Mrs. Wilson and an attendant.
An Impressive Event.
While a fiery dawn filled the sky the rumble of artillery, the hoof, beat of horses and the tramp of marching feet came through the mist, the host of a mourning nation gathering at the capital to bear America's heroic dead to his final resting place.
Thousands of Civilian mourners shivering in the sharp November air were massed between the capital and the golden-domed Library of Congress.
On the left was the Army escort. On the right the blue jackets of the Navy. As the flag-shrouded casket appeared from the rotunda hush fell on the massed, ranks about the capital. There was a solemn silence that was more significant than the loud huzzas that sent the unknown hero on the way to France and to valorous death. The stillness passed. A throbbing emotion swept the crowd. Women wept. With the casket lashed securely to the caisson the cortege began to move in line as the muflled drum rolled the dead march.
With the proudest military escort that ever accompanied the remains of man, the funeral procession went down historic Capitol Hill.
Six black horses drew the caisson. Heading the procession was a mounted guard of honor, with Brig.-Gen. H. H. Bandholtz, commander of the war department, district of Washington, in the lead.
Following were the clergy headed by the Rt Bishop Brent, former senior chaplain of the A. E. F. Next in line was the flag-draped caisson, with the eight body bearers on either side. Flanking them were the honorary pall bearers, the highest ranking admirals and major generals of the Army and Navy .
President Harding and Gen. Pershing marching, followed close behind the caisson. The President wore a big red poppy. As the parade moved up the avenue the crowd swarmed the sidewalks, crowded into buildings or climbed onto roofs. Following the President were Vice-President Coolidge, Admiral Coontz, chief of naval operations, and Admiral Jones, commander of the Atlantic fleet.
All Eyes on Wilson.
America's leader in the great war, ex-President Wilson, was next in line. His health, enfeebled by the war, made it necessary for him to ride in a carriage with Mrs. Wilson, despite a desire to march in honor of the unknown warrior. The crowd pushed forward eagerly to get a glimpse of the former President in his first appearance at an official function since Harding's inauguration.
The cabinet and governors of the states were next in line.
Congress followed, marching eight abreast. In the front rank were Senator Lodge and Senator Underwood, arms parley delegates. Conspicuous among the house members, in line was Miss Alice Robertson of Oklahoma, who was attired in her Red Cross canteen outfit. The representative from Oklahoma was the first woman to engage in canteen work during the war. Several member of the house who served during the war wore their uniforms for the occasion and marched with sure military precision.
