CHIVALRY IN WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 149, 25 June 1943, Page 4

CHIVALRY IN WAR

New Zealanders have every reason to take pride in the concluding paragraph of a letter which we published yesterday over the name of Countess Wodzicka, delegate of the Polish Red Cross to the Red Cross Society of New Zealand. Countess Wodzicka was expressing thanks for the kindness and generosity extended to a party of Polish refugees, who recently passed through Wellington on their way to a new haven in bMexico. After detailing what had been done for the refugees, she wrote: "One thing more I should like to add. Many sick and wounded New Zealand soldiers returned on this ship. One of the Polish ladies, Madame Tyszkiewicz, a personal friend of mine, told me: 'The New Zealand soldiers are not only famous modern warriors, they have also some qualities of the noble knights of old, every one is a perfect gentleman. Tell me, please, what kind of a country is this New Zealand that gives such sons?' I told her." This is one of the most graceful tributes that has been paid to New Zealand manhood, both to their fighting qualities and to their sense of chivalry towards the afflicted. During the last war soldiers from this country earned for themselves an honoured

name as hard but fair fighters. The story is told of the inhabitants of French villages who, on hearing that the Germans were advancing, were hurrying to leave with their belong- ! ings. Then came word that the defence of that particular part of the line had been entrusted to the New Zealanders. At once the villagers began to move back, content in the knowledge that their homes would be secure. A reputation for chivalry, even under the stress of war, does not, of course, belong exclusively to the New Zealanders. During the present war, when the Eighth Army was advancing tlirough Cyrenaica, the commander of the retreating Italian army told the Italian settlers that there would be no need for them to leave, as the British were chivalrous opponents. War, by its very nature, hardens the hearts of men and often emphasises their worst qualities, but it is also true that it can bring out their best qualities. This is especially so when an army is advancing through hostile territory. Hard and effective blows may be struck against enemy combatants. That is one side of the character of a soldier. The other side is revealed in the manner in which he deals with the innocent sufferers of wai* —the non-combatant men, women, and children who are unfortunate enough to stand in the way of an advancing army. War, even under modern conditions, still has its chivalrous side, and it is gratifying to have a tribute to New Zealand manhood from a witness whose own sufferings and those of thousands of her countrymen have given her a terrible insight into what total war can really mean. In the letter of Countess Wodzicka there is no more pathetic passage than that which quotes the tribute of the captain of the refugee ship to the children on board: "These children never cry." And one of the Polish teachers was forced to add: "Nor do they laugh." May the time not be too far distanT~when the children of Poland once more learn the way to laugh.