EX-ALLIES AND EX-ENEMIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 16

EX-ALLIES AND EX-ENEMIES

HbLIDAY CAMP

LORD HARROWBY'S GUESTS. (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May IS. The Earl of Harrowby, who is known in New Zealand and who did so much for officers on leave during the late war, has lent to the Staffordshire branches of the British Legion his country home, Sandon Hall, near Stafford, in order that name 50 representatives of 15 countries (ex-allies and ex-enemies) might spend a quiet holiday together. Lord Harrowby's idea is to foster a better understanding. There are to be no conferences. "It is simply an old soldiers' occasion," a Britsh Legion official remarked. " Old eoidiers of Staffordshire, following a principle laid down at the annual conference to further international relationship by the exchange of visits, have accordingly afiked old soldiers of 14 other nations to come to see them. We want our guests to see us as we are at home. There is to be an almost total absence of formality. When the guests arrive in London they will be seen off by a guard of honour, with standards, formed by branches of the metropolitan area of the legion. Thereafter the holiday will be such as any normal party of visitors from abroad would pursue." Under Lord Harrowby's roof there will live for the holiday camp period of eight days:—Eight Germans, five Frenchmen, four Bulgarians, four Italians, four Belgians, three Poles, two Hungarians, two Americans, two Greeks, two Portuguese, and representatives of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Jugoslavia, and Rumania. With them will be the representatives of British ex-servicemen.

All the representatives from abroad have been chosen by their ex-service organisations, and they include officers and other ranks with distinguished records who fought on practically every front in the world during the Great War. They are coming at the invitation of the Staffordshire branches of the British Legion, and Lord Harrowby, the lord-lieutenant of the county and patron of the legion's county organisation, is acting as host.