GREAT BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 172, 29 December 1914, Page 5

GREAT BRITAIN.

CHRISTMAS DURING ; WAR-TIME. ! 1 EXTRACTS FROM NOTABLE ; 1 SERMONS. ! 1 fTimes and Sydney Sun Services. j Received 29, 5.25 p.m. • London, December 2S. ! There were unusually large congrega- J tions at the Christmas services, many | of those present wearing mourning. The v sermons were of a most impressive character. The Dean of St. Paul's declared: "We must not allow ourselves to talk .of the bankruptcy of Christianity and civilisation because one nation has reverted to moral savagery." The Dean £ of Westminster said: "Christendom has n been shocked and affronted with the v spectacle of defenceless towns being demolished, and women and children massacred, to satisfy a bloodthirsty policy of ruthless terrorism. We might well en- r quire whether the neutrals are looking on without protesting and hypnotised into a stupor because interference might compromise their interests." Cardinal Bourne, at Westminster Cathedral, declared that men were now ■ beginning to realise the great truth that a permanent peace depended upon a union ; with God. { - The wounded in all the hospitals were hj, ; treated with generous Christmas fare. jj ; Troops at the front sang hymns in g the ruined Cathedrals. British and . Germans joined in carol-singing in the trenches. ..... ■ ' COUNT DE WETTE'S BOOK. X : ~ es and g un Services. £ ' London, December 27. »«;• Cosat De Witte has published a book, , shoeing that in 1905 he felt that a { pan-European collision could only be accomplishable by an alliance headed by France, iElusßia, and Germany. He won the Kaiser to the scheme, but the Kaiser's lust for power and intrigue wrought its failure on the eve of realisation. _ 1 f~ t v GERMAN FOLLY. J f i ZEPPELINS AS HANIC-RAISERS. | Times and Sydney Sun Services. j London, December 27. 1 A correspondent just returned from j ; Germany says that the Germans place s {heir hope in the air fleet, and rely on -the Zeppelins to cause panic and destruction among English sailors, soldiers, and civilians. This is more or less nonsense and bluff. If a Zeppelin wishes to escape anti-aircraft guns, it will have to fly to such a height that a warship would appear like a star in the heavens. The damage possible by Zeppelins, there- . fore, is probably small, and largely a matter of good luck. DAY OF INTERCESSION. , \S'<" '■ London, December 27The King, in a letter to the Primate, rejoices in the unanimity of all the churches in observing the day .of intercession. He is confident that employers will reduce Sunday labour to a minimum so as to afford everyone an opportunity of participating in the national prayer. Mr Seymour Hicks and the National Theatre Company have started a week's tour, entertaining the soldiers at the , front, or wherever the military antfcori- i ties desire. .. | r" ■ ' ■:. 1 zl'f ODDS ON ITALY. v Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 28, 5.25 p.m. London. December 28. Many insurances have been effected in London at 5 per cent, for six months against the risk of Italy intervening agafhst the Allies, and at 30 per cent, for 'one month, and 60 per cent, for six months against the risk of her joining the Allies. .Azi'i