WAR SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM OF SPIRIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 7

WAR SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM OF SPIRIT.

KING'S MESSAGE.

Christinas Broadcast To

Empire Peoples.

"CAUSE OF CIVILISATION."

British Official Wireless. (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, December 25. In a broadcast message to the Empire this afternoon the King said Christmas was above all a festival of peace. It is the tragedy of this time that there are, powerful countries whose whole direction and policy are based on aggression and the suppression of all we hold dear for mankind/' said His Majesty. "It is this that has stirred our peoples and given them a unity unknown in any previous war. We feel ill our hearts that we are fighting against wickedness, and this conviction will give us strength to persevere until victory is assured." "At home we are, as it were, taking the strain for what may lie ahead of us, resolved and confident. We look with pride and thankfulness on the never failing courage and devotion of the Royal Navy, upon which, throughout the last four months, has burst a *torm of ruthless and unceasing war. "And when I speak of our navy to-day I mean all the men of our Empire who go down to the sea in ships—the mercantile marine, the minesweeping trawlers and drifters, from senior officers to the last "boy who has joined up. To everyone in this great fleet I send tiiy

message of gratitude and greetings, from myself as from all my peoples. "The same message.,l send to the gallant Air Force which, in co-operation with the Navy, is our sure shield of defence. They are daily adding laurels to those that their fathers won. "I would send a special word of greeting to the armies of the Empire; to those who come from afar, and in particular to the British Expeditionary Force. Their task is hard. They are waiting— waiting as a trial of nerves' and discipline, but I know that when the moment comes for action they will prove themselves worthy of the highest traditions of their great Service.

"To all who are preparing themselves to iserve their country on sea, or land, or in the air, I send greetings at this time. "Men and women of our far-flung Empire, working in their several vocations with one and the same purpose, are all members of a great family of nations which is prepared for sacrifice so that freedom of the spirit may be saved to the world," he continued. "I believe from my heart the cause which binds together my peoples and our gallant and faithful Allies is the cause of Christian civilisation.'' Continuing, His Majesty said: "On no other basis can true civilisation be built Let us remember this through the dark times ahead of us, and when we are making the peace for which all men pray. A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. It it brings peace how thankful we shall be. If it brings us a continued struggle we shall remain undaunted. "Meanwhile, I feel we „ la y all find a message of encouragement in the lines which in my closing words I would like to read to you: '1 said to the man who stood at the gate of the years. "Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And lie replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than the known way.*'' "May that Almighty guide and uphold us all." Historic Occasion. King George sat alone in his study at Sandringham Home and broadcast' his Christmas message with the homely encouragement which marked his father's historic broadcasts, states a Press Association message. It was a stirring declaration for it® courage. T'he King spoke into the same microphone as was used in his first Christmas broadcast in 1937. He then intended to discontinue the practice because it was so personally connected with King George V. However, he broadcast today because his peoples are at war. T'he King had Christmas luncheon with Queen Elizabeth and the Princesses, and a little later left his familv and went alone to the study. The Queen and the Princesses entered another room to wait to hear his words through a kmdspeaker.