WAR CHRISTMAS
OPPOSITION LEADER’S MESSAGE AMAZING PROGRESS TOWARDS VICTORY. t REASONS FOR FIRM FAITH. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.),'' CHRISTCHURCH, December 23. “In normal time, Christmas is an occasion for festivities, celebration and feasting, but this, our fifth war Christmas, is an occasion when people will choose to ponder and to cast their thoughts to those far away fields where New Zealanders are fighting with service men of the United Nations to restore Christmas to its former place in our lives,” says a Christmas message by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. “Thgse of us who have sons and relatives away will all hope that oui brave men will be able to enjoy some respite from warfare and that they will be able to celebrate Christmas properly. The wounded, sick, afflicted and bereaved, wherever they may be, have a special place in our thoughts at this time and we will all pray that they may soon be restored to health and strength and comforted in their sorrow.
“There is another side to the Christmas of 1943. We have many reasons to rejoice at the amazing progress that has been made toward victory, to the reuniting of families and to the restoration of peace on earth. The German armies and air force in North Africa have been utterly defeated. and driven from African soil. The Italians have submitted to unconditional surrender and have surrendered their fleet. The Japanese have been halted and are now being driven back yard by yard. The Russians continue their amazing advances toward the German border. Our war production machine is in full operation, turning out greater quantities of the best fighting equipment. Our armed forces on sea, in the air, and on the ground are better equipped, better trained and better led than ever in cftir history.
“The great leaders of our United Nations have reached a common understanding and have devised plans to hasten the final overthrow of our enemies and the restoration-of a just and lasting peace. We have, therefore, notwithstanding all other considerations, disappointments, anxieties and perplexities much reason to rejoice at this 1943 Christmas time. “The tide' has turned. We have recovered the initiative everywhere. Our forces are advancing in every battle area. Our public morale is high and is getting stronger every day. We are more united than ever before and our great leader, Mr Churchill, is recovering.
“Final victory for the cause of righteousness and justice is n'o longer a matter of hope. It is now a certainty. Let us be of good cheer, strong in our faith that, with God’s help and guidance, victory will soon be ours.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 2
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438WAR CHRISTMAS Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 2
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