Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 19, 28 December 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS. OUR WOUNDED IN BRITAIN. V * ■■ ,'■ •; • ■’ •; [United Paku Association.) London, December 20. Every Australian and New Zealander in Britain spent Christmas merrily. •A pH tv-Australians had been diligently preparing for months to ensure that none were oveylookpd, and this necessitated the ino -t -elaborate organisa- •. tion, to cover # ipen in isolated provin--cial hospitals, ( but. the Australian and New Zealand- Red tingent Associations arranged that tli Australasians ; j|oglish hospitals ; be given special comforts. The principal functions were in London, Plymouth, Bostall Heathj -Harefield, aud Waltoa-on-Thamesl The invalids,.:, convalescents, and those who' have • recovered Were made to feel that Christmas, without the "southern sun, and far from their homes in a war atmos-

phere, can still be merry. -> The ’ dinner for. the Australians at the Hotel Cecil was largely attended, and was a splendid success. There were *raany jovial Australian and f .New Zealand parties atl Piccadilly, Criterion and.other hotels, where, there were lavish festivities'. Soldiei s thronged theiAnzac buffet, and all day long therenwasi continuous lively, entertainment. 250 New Zealanders dined at the Midland Hotel, Hon. T. - Mackenzie presiding.: He said he'was proud of New Zealand’s heroes, and 1 read Mr Massey’s r greetings, also General Birdwood’s message saying: ‘‘Good cheer, boys, from all comrades in the firing line. Return soon, and - we will see this through together.” ■ Mr Mackenzie congratulated the New Zealanders upon their gallant exploits,, and wished them good luck. Mr Cecil Wrey, formerly of M’anganui, distributed cigars from the ■ residents of Kakatahi, and the hoj s cheered shouting, “Good old Kakatahi!” Mr T. Mackenzie, his daughter, and Lord Plunket, visited Acton and Walton.. Forty Maoris, who were guests of Lady Scott, cooked pork, pigeons, eels, and kumeras in a Maori oven in a back garden at Acton. The suburbanites anxiously rushed to their windows when 1 the Maoris gave war whoops signalling Mr Mackenzie’s arrival. Crowds gathered in wonderment at the hakas and ferocious contortions, and hunting and love songs. They sampled the Maoris’ turkey and pronounced it excellent, and marvelled at such a result from a heap of earth and hot stones. The Maoris continue feasting to-morrow, and will have a dance in the evening. There were lively scenes in the festooned wards at Walton, where the patients cheered Mr Mackenzie and his son, who visited every bed. A concert party of New Zealanders entertained the patients. ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE. Amongst the special Christmas greetings to Ausralasians chained from leading politicians and others, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe says * “When the opportunity conies I am sure that the Australians and New Zealanders under, my command will emulate the heroic deeds of their comrades at Gallipoli, who set a magnificent example for future generators and whose services to the Empire are Inestimable.” MR RUDYARD KIPLING. • Mr Rndyard Kipling, says:—-“Is there any message to a nation whose sons touched the summits of valor when they stormed the Gallipoli beaches, and who have since joined their valor to endurance and a high heart beyond praise, and almost beyond belief?”

| MR BONAR LAW. J Mr Bonar Law says:—“Hie brightest spot in the ivTiole war is the atti- [ tude! of the selPgoverning dominions towards us. Their response has been I greater'in every respect than any of us could have expected. There has been no phase of the war so disappointing as that at the Dardanelles', but whatever may be the final result the'courage, endurance, and resourcefulness of the Australians and Xew Zealanders will ever live amongst the finest records of the British armies. The great and actual material benefit from the Dominions, and the moral effect on ourselves, on neutral countries, and on the! enemy, has been a yeip great asset! We were not organised for wat! but as- regards future relations a greht • step to.wfp-d#, ,p:idpr or- , gadisatihn jofuthe J .Enipirp ( ,fl;as, i ta,hen ’When the iate Government gave a, pledge* Which would he-kept, by, any Goverhrrieni. : Theniwhen the time, coines for the conclusion of peace, the Dominions will he consulted as to thenviews. The Dominions will certainly have great weight in deciding what th terbis of peace will he, and this important. step is, in my opinion, not the only step, for I do not believe that after 'the War the relations between th© Mother Country and the Dominions will ever b© the same. I am speaking only for myself, hut my hope is that a s a result of the war we may create an Imperial Parliament in which every one of the Dominions may have a full share in proportion to their population and resources in go^ ; | t!|ie ‘hli^ire;”-1 | ■

1 MR BARTLETT. H ,

11 'Mir Ashmead Bartlett said;— I ‘lt i? universally recognised that success or failure cdiiiits as little compared with the wonderful page added to history by the courage, determination, and steadfast endurance shown by all the men on Gallipoli. It is the moral force that will win, rather than decisive victories. Australasia’s support alone proves that we are on the high road to victory, and the lasting unity of the Empire is sealed by the blood that has been spilled at Gallipoli.”

London, December 26. There could not be a truce this Christmas. The Tommies have suffered too, much to forget and forgive, and could not hold friendly conversations while the dead were lying between the trenches. Everywhere it was remarked: “We do not intend to allow any monkey tricks, Christmas or no Christmas; we have got to gc£ on with- the war.”

Irish soldiers assembled in a dimly lighted shed, the wind blowing, with gusts of rain, and amidst the rumble of guns they responded to the priest’s words for peace. The appearance of humility and meekness upon the faces of the kneeling Tommies was like that of reverent boys in a school chapel. Dawn on Christmas was not greeted by Angelic songs, but by the continuous splutter and boom fit death machines on both sides. Still, everywhere was heard the cheery toast: “May we beat the Germans before another Christmas.” Mr Phillip Gibbs, in the Daily Chronicle, writes that the only carols heard in the trenches was the loud deep chant of the guns of both sides, the shrill soprano whistling of shells, and the rattle of machineguns./ If Father Christmas ventured into the trenches he would be compelled bo lift up his cloak waist high, Land staggering in the slithering sludge he might at any moment fall into deep icy pools. The hoys, jestingly, are hanging up trench-waders for Christmas boxes, hut whenever home was mentioned they became sadly thoughtful, contrasting their present life to the former festivities in their’ own (homes. Most of them treated Christmas with humoroxis irony, as Christmas sentiments were rather out of place where men were lying with rifles

waiting to kill, only thinking of the presents they have been hoping to give. Paris, December 27. A communique says: There is great artillery activity south of Bailleul, south of Arras. We blew up a munitions depot at the Woevre, and also an ammunition train that was standing at the railway station at Hachimette, south-east of Bonhomme. THANKS FOR GREETINGS. Auckland, December 28. A message conveying greetings from the people of New Zealand to the Dominion’s forces on active service was despatched by the Prime Minister on Frfuay. He received an acknowledgement to-day from General Godley as follows: “New Zealand troops much appreciate and thank you and the people of New Zealand for your message. Their one object is to maintain their reputation, and to continue to prove that the soldieis of the Dominion are second to none in the Empire.” MR LLOYD GEORGE AND THE WORKERS. London, December 26. Mr Lloyd George addressed three thousand trade union leaders at Glasgow on Christmas morning. At the outset there was a good deal of interruption by the singing of the Red Slag song by syndicalists, and a small section who were apparently opposed to the war. The interrupters were distinctly in the minority and the meeting was generally good humored.

Mr Lloyd George explained the proposals which were the only means lor getting the eighty thousand skilled workers required for the State-owned and erected, State-controlled, and State-equipped munition factories which are now being established throughout the Kingdom. The Government must take skilled men from occupations where unskilled men and women were usable after a fortnight’s training. Upon the Trades Unions acceptance of the proposals depended not only victory, but the saving of numberless lives. He could not report to Parliament tliatj British workmen had refused to suspend their rules. When the Russians, early in 1915, cpnquired Galicia and threatened to overrun Hungary a change came over the German factories which were ibpsy thrpugliout the winter, pouring in a torrent of gups apd shells thpt, piei-ced the lines and drove back the Russians. That was;the German workmen’s great victory. The French workpeople, by patriotic devotion, saved their country, and if British workers were prepared to go on for (another yeay thpy plight get help from American workmen in 1917, but time was vital. In the event of British workmen refusing, the only alternative would be to tell the Kaiser frankly, “We cannot go on.” The Kaiser might let us Pf! with the annexation of Belgium- a payment of inde'mnity, the loss of a few colonies, and command of the sea.

Mr Lloyd Georg© urged the labor leaders'to rise and-grasp their greatest opportunity.

He subsequently conferred with the committees of the Trades iEnions and Satisfactory arrangements were made for the immediate solution of the labor problem.

COMPULSORY SERVICE QUESTION. ~

London, December 24

The Weekly Despatch alleges that Mr Asquith will not tolerate any compromise in connection with the compulsion pledge and th© Government is divided on conscription. Cabinet will to-morrow consider the feasibility of a general election, which is more likely than not to be early. The paper adds that those who favor an election say that though the bulk of the present House, and practically all the Government members will be returned new blood will be introduced in the shape of members who will be returnfor the single purpose of conducting the war to a successful issue. Moreover, the Government have a plain mandate on the question of compulsory enrolment of unmarried men, whose backwardness has imperilled Lord Derby’s, scheme. Lord Kitchener and several members of the Cabinet remained at their offices throughout the holidays. The Cabinet to-day will take up consideration of Lord Derby’s figures.

The Daily Mail and Times states that the anti-compnlsionist minority in the Cabinet .claim that they aye not parties to Mr Asquith’s pledge. If Mr .Asquith, decides that the proportion of unmarried is insufficient, the compulsionists -will demand action in favour of an immediate general election, if this is necessary to decided the problem. The anti-eompulsionists are in favour of single men being given another chance of being summoned before local tribunals and being required to give reasons for not attesting withi n a fortnight. On the first of Lord Derby’s figures Mr Asquith will have to redeem his pledge that married men will not he called until the single ones have gone. It is predicted that the form of compulsion ultimately to he adopted will lie to make attendance before recruiting tribunals compulsory, the tribunals being empowered to listen to a man’s objections and then say whether or not he should’ enlist.