CHRISTMAS CAROLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23859, 9 January 1941, Page 4

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

ARMY HOSPITAL STAFF PATIENTS SERENADED GRATITUDE OF ITALIANS Doctors and nurses at the No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital in Egypt on Christmas Eve serenaded the patients, who included a number of Italian prisoners of war. with Christinas carols and hymns. The gratitude of the Italians for this attention was afterwards expressed in a letter by a sergeant written in French to the commanding officer. A translation of the letter is as follows:—"In interpreting the wish of all my brother Italians, far from our native country, who, like myself, are to-day prisoners iu the land of Egypt, and in considering your really fine and wonderiul kindness so sensibly shown with loving and gentle care. 1 must express our thanks to you on this day of festivity. It is Christmas* the Christian festival, and your gesture of hist evening touched our hearts deeply. "We are, for the most part, young men, but wo have a good understanding ol many things. To-day we miss the love of our families and parents, but wo have found, in you, our masters, our brothers and friends. "I conclude bv wishing you a happy Christmas, and expressing our good wishes for the fortunes of our two countries, whom I hope to seo as friends in the future and for ever. Signed, Sergeant Marazzita Pasqualo."