KING SPEAKS TO HIS EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 306, 26 December 1940, Page 8

KING SPEAKS TO HIS EMPIRE.

WAR SADNESS.

Thoughts For Broken

Family Circles. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 25. In a Christinas message, broadcast this afternoon to the nation and the Empire, the King said: — '■In days of peace the feast of Christmas is a time when we all gather together in oar homes, young and old. to enjoy the happy festivity and goodwill which the Christmas message brings. It is above all a children's day and I am snre we shall all do our best to make it a happy one for them wherever they may be. "War brings, among other sorrows, the sadness of separation. There are many men in the forces away from their homes to-day because they must stand ready always to resist an invader. They are guarding dark seas or pursuing a beaten foe in the Libyan desert. Many family circles are broken. Children from English homes are to-day in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For not only has the manhood of the whole of the British Commonwealth rallied once more to the aid of the Mother Country in her hour of need, but the peoples of the Empire have eagerly thrown open the doors of their homes to our children so that they may be spared the strain and danger ot modern war.

"And in the United States, also, where we find so many generous and loyal friends and organisations to give us unstinted help to win the war, people are keeping and caring for many of our children till the war is over. But how many more children are there here who may be moved from their homes to safer quarters. "All In Front Line." "To all of them at home and abroad who are separated from their fathers and mothers, to their kind friends and hosts and to all who lore them, and to their parents who will be lonely without them, from all in oar dear Island I wish every happiness Christmas can bring. May the Hew Year carry us towards victory and happier Christmas Days when everyone will be home together in the years to come. "To the older people here and throughout the world I would say that in the last Great War the flower of our youth was destroyed, and the rest of the people saw bat little of the battle. This time we are aU in the front line and daacsz together, and so I know the oUer among us are proud and should be so. Remember this, if the war brings separations, it brings new unity also—unity which comes from common perils and common sufferings willingly shared. To be good comrades and good neighbours in trouble is one of the finest opportunities of the civilian population, «nd by facing hardships and die comforts cheerfully and resolutely, not only do they do their own duty, but they also play their part in helping the fighting services win the war.

Proud of People's Spirit. "Time and again in this last few months I have seen for myself battered towns and cities in England, and I have seen the British people facing their ordeals.. I can say to them all that they may be justly proud of their race and nation. On every side I have seen a new and splendid spirit of good fellowship springing ap i n adversity, and a real desire to share burdens and resources alike.

"Out of all this suffering there is growing a harmony, which we most carry forward into the days to come, when we have endured to the end and victory is ours. Then, when Christmas days are happy again and goodwill has come back to the world, we must hold fast to the spirit which binds us ail together»now. we shall need this spirit in each of our own lives as men and women, and shall need it even more among tne nations of the world. We must go on thinking less about ourselves and more for one another, for so, and so only, can we hope to make tne world a better place and life a worthier thing; and now I wish yon a happy Christmas and a happier New Year. v

"We may look forward to the Hew rear with some confidence. We have to encounter a grave crisis. We do not underrate any of the difficulties which confront us stilL but we take courage and comfort from the successes our fighting men and their allies have won at heavy odds -~4 nd, ** * Bd ***• future will be hard, but our feet are planted on the path to victory and, with the help of God, we shall make our way to justice and peace."