CHRISTMAS IN FLANDERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16142, 21 February 1918, Page 8

CHRISTMAS IN FLANDERS.

SOLDIERS ENJOY rMLMbEL\ Efc

dinners AND THEATRICALS

In an mteresiinc: letter to n friend in Christchurch, Private A. B. Clark, forinerly of t'.:o Christchurch Press Company's linotype staff, and now on Divisional Headquarters, gives a few details of how the men of the New Zealand Division rpent Christmas "somewhere in I-landers."

"Weather conditions this Christmas Dav,'' lie writes, "arc less severe than was'the ease 12 months ago. The morning broke with a cold dense fog tV,Unwed bv hail, sunshine, then a little snow, and as I write snow is falling. But we do not mind, for we have partaken of a dinner that would do credit in times of peace, in, say, New Zealand. Ilence our full and mellow feeling. . . . We were the recipients of gift parcels, one ner man, from the Wanganui people, which contained much sought after needfuls, and gifts to suit all tastes. As_ to _ the war, 'Frits' promised to do big things, but they have not eventuated, and we are holding for the winter high commanding ground what would be bully to have in the wet season. 'Fritz' has to occupy his underground tunnels and dug-outs, for should he show his face, the guns bark, shells burst, and bombs explode, and he is forced to 'get out and get under.' < Still the conditions have been suitable for him "because, with the shelter of fog and rain, he could mass troops were he inclined, as the aeroplanes and observation balloons cannot execute their duties under these conditions. But he i 3 acting wisely and remaining dormant, probably with a chance of peace terms being more acceptable to him. . . . Human nature cannot stand the strain of modern warfare under such conditions indefinitely, and the end may bo looked for next vear. Let us hope we shall all he back to enjoy the next festive season in New Zealand."

As an indication of how Christmas Day was spent by those who' were lucky enough not to be actually in the trenches, Private Clark encloses a few programmes and menus, which, by tire way, were printed by tho New Zealand Divisional Press, the only mobile printing press in the British Army, and of which he himself is the professional head. One programme, fir instance, marks the opening of a new Y.M.C.A. hut, which was celebrated by a concert arranged by the 3rd Field Company, N.Z.E.," assisted by tho Divisional Engineers and New Zealand Pioneers. Songs, recitations, pianoforte solos, conjuring exhibitions, all find a place in the bill, which concluded with a presentation of the wellknown farce, "Box and Cox." The ever-present humour of the soldier is noticed by such "tags" to tho programme as, "cobs, cars, perambulators, and ambulances may bo ordered for 10.30 p.m. Stretcher-bearers at 11 p.m."

Another document sets forth tlio manner in which the No. 4 New Zealand Field Ambulance spent dinnertime and the evening. The menu reveals an assortment of good things, described, however, by names which, if quite original, have a distinct war atmosphere about them. The poultry, for instance, consisted of "Jacko Turk a la Jerusalem, with Mungareo Sause." "Mungaree," by the way, i 3 tho Egyptian's word for <r brcad," or food generally. The- savouries consisted of "U-boats on toast," the turnips were of tho "belligerent type," and tho peas "shell-shocked." Under the heading of "Booze" were such items as "Highland Dew (Pout etre)," "Diggers' Firewater," "Padres' Joy (1915 issue)," etc. The musical programme was a varied, though evidently, interesting one. The frightful corruption of the French language 'oy our soldiers is indicated Iv one sentence on tho programme." ."onkore toot sweeto." This the programme gravely informs its readers, is an "Anglo-French saying," hut even the most colloquial of French linguists would not recognise "encore tout suite" in that garb. Still another programme sets forth the caste in the Divisional theatre's "Christmas pantomime," entitled "Achi Baba and the Forty Thieves" (including the orchestra).

The various bills, by tho way, are extremely well designed, and their printing would do credit to the most -D-to-date printing house on peaceftt' soil.