GRAINS OF GOOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 24, 4 March 1942, Page 2

GRAINS OF GOOD

COMRADESHIP OF WAR

SHAKING CHRISTMAS CHEER

"One of the grains of good that can be set against the horrors of this war lies in the general "mix-

ing-up" by which so many men from many lands have met and realised the other's sterling qualities.

So states a recent issue of the Egyptian Mail, under the heading of "War Comradeships."

'•Scarcely a soldier has retirmed from Greece or Crete who is not a ('event friend of the Greek people," the article continues. "Men who have been in Palestine are filled with admiration of the progress made there in the past 20 yeans ; while in Egypt many races meet and gain respect and mutual under-

standing." At Christmas some troops received extra comforts while, owing to the vagaries of mails, others did not. "One New Zealand infantry battalion," say, the paper "found itself near an English battalion whose Christmas mail had missed, so the New Zea landers shaved their Christmas fare with their comrades from England, and the English regiment returned the compliment at the New Year, with such effect that even the staid orderly room sergeant heard bells ringing in his head." . First Meeting With Maoris

The story goes on that in another nren New Zealanders "adopted" Poles, sharing with them their Christmas comforts. There is also the story of the destroyer Maori, the members of whose compliment had never seen a Maori until recently, and they entertained members of the Maori Battalion on board the ship. The parties exchanged gifts. The destroyer men gave the Maoris an ensign which was flown at Norway, Dunkirk and through the Bismarck fight, and the Maoris gave the navy men a swastika flag which had been •captured in Libya from General Rommel's staff. "When Bardia fell," the paper conlinues. "South Africans vied Avith Zealanders in supplying Christmas cheer lo the rescued British prisoners. These comforts did not come from Army stores but from the men's own pesonal Christmas parcels. . "These stores could be multiplied. Each is a happy augury, for after all it is not upon arms but upon goodwill that real peace Avill be built. Arms must not rust, alas: while robbers ride f>ll swords cannot be beaten into ploughs; and yet, if politicians Avoukl note and act uiion the spirit here exemplified the world Avould be a better pi ace in which, to live."