THE INFORMAL CHRISTMAS TRUCE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16750, 4 January 1915, Page 7

THE INFORMAL CHRISTMAS TRUCE

STORIES FROM THE TRENCHES (Received January 3, 3.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 2.

Letters, from officers and men continue to dwell upon the informal Christmas truce. A colonel states that the Germans and bis men rushed out spontaneously. He at first feared treachery and then permitted fraternisation, he himself participating. The British helped to bury the German dead, and attended a service, a German captain reading the service in German and English. Another officer relates that the Germans erected candle-lit Christmas trees upon which the British arranged a truco till midnight on December 25 and fraternised all day long. A British offU cer fired a revolver at midnight as a signal that time was up. The British then fired a volley over the •Jermans' heads. In another case British officers advanced and met German officers. Men on both sides cheered and followed their example.

FUNERAL OF BRUNO GARIBALDI PARIS, January 3.

The funeral of Bruno Garibaldi and Lieutenant Trombetta, who was killed besida him, was imposing. General Gourand at the graveside paid a tribute to Bruno Garibaldi and the Garibaldian corps for capturing trenches _the first day they were fn the firing line.