London, Dee. 26. 66 AS the war at sea must be pursued with the same unrelenting during the Christmas season as it has been since the beginning of the war, there will be few opportunities for officers and men of the Fleet to spend Christmas with their families," says the Board of the Admiralty in a Christmas and New Year message.
"Their Lordships," it goes on, "thank all officers and men for the devotion to duty, determination and enthusiasm which animated the Fleet in the' past four months."
"With the it of the Fleet as it is," the message adds, "Their Lordships look forward with confidence to the war at sea in the coming year and wish success to all those who will be fortunate enough to get in contact with the enemy.
Paris, Dec, 20.
The British Expeditionary "Force spent a cheery but ley Christmas.
'Mist' prevented the Duke of Gloucester from reaching his rel mental mess for lunch, so he, Viscount Gort, the British Commander In-Chief, and the Chief of Stam lunched in an almost deserced dining-room at a small hotel in a town near General Headquarters, Men of the Royal Air Force had 'a jolly party with village children, Duty watches were maintained by all RAF units in Prance throughout the day, but many men were. able to enjoy Christmas dinner in their Several hundred airmen received a surprise visit from Miss Gracie Fields, the famous British stress, Australian Contingent Lands in England London, Dee. 2 The frst Australian contin" gent, consisting of members of the Air Force, has landed at a south coast port, it was an= nounced today.—United Press, who arrived at the men's decorated dining hall, She was greeted with tremendous' enthusiasm and cheers, She sang several songs.
Later, Gracie sang to a crowded. cheering and appreciative audience inva. cinema behind the lines at a concert broadcast by the BBC. The audience joined in the singing of old War songs. The concert concluded with Christmas carols—Reuter.
"For the time being await events, frm in your positions, and continue your work."
Restraint in Parl, Christmas Day celebrations in Paris took place as usual, but were marked by an under-current of dis cretion caused by the slate of war and necessities of anti-alr raid defence.
Despite unavoidable minor dimeulties, Paris marked Christmas Day in observing traditions as far as possible and churches in the city and its sublurbs were crowded.
grand mass was held in. the morning at the Notre Dame Cathedral, where Cardinal Verdier, Archbi. shop of Paris, personally conducted the service. No midnight mass was held in Notre Dame this year, but Instead such services were held in all churches in France and prayers for peace were ublered.
At Madeleine Church, one of the most beautiful in Paris, the midnight service was marked with the usual solemnity. -Mozarl's Mass in D. and hymns by Handel, Cesar Frank and Gabriel Faure were played on the Christmas celebrations outside, tu ight clubs and private homes, went on until 2 a.m, by special permission, and it was noticeable that uniforms French and British, predominated n the cabarets and other places of en+
While. inside everything was and festive, to the person outside, Paris remained the sombre, blacked out city that it has been "the past four month, however, Thick our tains shrouded all windows and no Precautions were cased—Havas, President Roosevelt Speaks The Germans, they add, attempted several raids, but they lacked punch Jand were easily repulsed.
There were no. important aerial engagements, but the French claim they made '26 successful reconnalssauce fights.
The latest French communique says that a German patrol was repulsed by French fire east of the Moselle Router.
Paris, Dec, 25.
Tocltun Generalissimo Marie Gus. tave Gamelin, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied armies, broke his habitual silence today to issue a stirring Christmas Day message to the men Washington, Dee. 23, "At this moment," President Rooteelt broadcast today, ''a year which began in fear of calamities, is coming end in the horror of another war which has just deepened the anguish and the burden of sufferings imposed on the world by the in= humanity of man to man.
"On this day of war and sorrow many other lands." the President said, "we who still live in peace should mit celebrations of our happy Jestiny, Let us rather pray that ower be riven us to live for others, Yet us live more in keeping with the eachings of the sermon from th Mount. and let us pray that, the peoples now at war may read. Yearn ind meditate on these immortal teachings."—Mavas.
Legless Flier Back in Royal Air Force, and the greatness of our cause are Pledges for our success.
"On the feld of battle as well as behind the lines, whatever may be the enemy's menduvres, in the moral fas well os the military" war, neg we shall held out and be victorious."
Generalissimo Gamelin's words, it was pointed out erty all the more weight for. his well-known aversion to optimistic, sentimental addresses or statements. One of his pel sayings ig that optimism is a luxury no milltary man can afford.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.