The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News. The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939. CHRISTMAS IN WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News. The Echo and The Sun.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939. CHRISTMAS IN WAR.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrong that need* resist a not, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

Christmas—and we are at war. War is a terrible thing at any time, but at Christmas, when, it is written, there should be "peace on earth, goodwill towards men," it seems doubly tragic. It is not that this season will be any less festive than in other years. In one way the war will serve to ni'ke it perhaps even more the occasion to celebrate. Soldiers are about to leave the country, and by next Christmas doubtless more will have gone. Families, then, will take this opportunity of reuniting. Friends j will take the opportunity of tendering I their greetings. In many, many homes over the next few days there will be cheerful reunions, and talks which extend far into the night. One of th» more pleasant aspects of the season is precisely this habit of homecoming. Families who are scattered for the greater part of the year always seem to try to be together for that solemn rite, Christmas dinner. Many people travel considerable distances simply to be home for Christmas—even if they go away again almost immediately afterwards. In fact, it is just these families who are separated normally who look forward roost to being home at this time. Where there is a soldier in the family, there will, perhaps, be more homecomings this year.

Apart from the presence in the city of a greater number of men in khaki than usual, it is hard for the people of this country to realise there is a war. Life is going on here almost the same as this time last year. Scarcely anything is changed. The war is so far away as to be almost unreal. Perhaps the splendid part played by H.M.S. Achilles in the fight with the Admiral Graf Spee has done more than anything else— the invasion of Poland and of Finland included—to bring home to the Dominion the stark reality of the struggle. It is precisely against this attitude,, of unthinking carelessness that New Zealandera must guard, and in their own happiness this December they would do well to pause and remember that for many thousands in Europe this December 25 will be joyless and very grim.

Thought at this time will inevitably turn back to the Christmasses of the Oreat War, and particularly to that of 1914. • Things were different then. Enough had happened between August and December' to make this country realise that it was at war. The great battle of Ypres had been fought; the tragic retreat from Ikjons had taken place. The great naval battle of Heligoland was a thing of the past. Still, Christinas here and at the war was cheerful. Many will remember the astounding incident of the informal truce between' the Germans and the British in one sector. Along the British line in Sir John French's army there was a lull after the battle of Ypres, and the fierce fighting round La Bassee. Christmas provisions had been sent from London. Then the astonishing event took place. Without any opposition from the officers of either side, British and German troops facing each other declared a 24-hour tryce. In several places they fraternised, exchanging gifts of tobacco and Christmas dainties sent them from home. For that time not a shot was fired. On the next day their guns dealt death again. Ammunition had to go to the front lines as usual, but the vehicles laden with the missiles which meant death were festooned with streamers and hung with mistletoe. That was the spirit of the men. As far as was compatible with proximity to war, that was the spirit of Christmas. It still is; and, if to re-establish justice, we cannot this year know peace, we can at least practice goodwill.