A Wartime Christmas While some quarters appeared to have the idea that Herr' Hiller would seize upon the Christmas Season as a time for springing some surprise or other upon the. Allies, it is gratifying to Team that all" was" quiet on the western front, and that the men [were able to enjoy the good things which' were prepared for them, The large quantities of Christmas fare which had been sent across the [Channel were certainly sufleient to ensure that everyone would have his share of seasonable {Good things, while the arrangements made for the entertainment of the men made sure that they would not suffer from boredom, Christmas uring the last-war was a time when on ocfession the troops indulged in fraternizing with the enemy. Nothing of the sort fs reported to have occurred this year, though that may be [due principally to the fact that there is a con~ siderable distance between the opposing lines, feeeater than was the ease in many localities twenty-five years ago. Reports from Britain indicated as far back as two months ago the arrangements for entertaining the troops, their billets had been perfected, and the fact that Miss Grade Fields was able to go over to France, and give the troops a taste of her inimitable entertaining powers, is sulfleient in-Jdication that this side of caring for the men' Well-being is being thoroughly attended to. With cinemas and concert-parlies, and the like, Jmuch of the boredom which inaction in this present war is bringing about Is. successfully Gispersed. Men in the Navy did not have quite so enjoyable a time, for war at sea has to be pursued with the same unrelenting zeal during Christmas as it has been since the commencement of hostilities and as a result little leave Was granted, though wherever possible enter-smout in the ships was given. In their Christ mas and New Year message to the Fleet the Board of Admiralty. emphasized the calls which were made on the Navy, and the small chance anyone has of obtaining' Teave, though it may be taken for granted that nothing was spared to make the holiday season as enjoyable as possible for those men who, once war has comenced, are obliged to stick very closely (0 their jobs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.