New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-25
Blasting Out "Old Fritz,
Ton1n1ies Welcome Santa
Army Coonials and English Swarm into Londoh 'o' D'
of Christmas Wounded and french Fighters
Well Remembered by Iule Cheer

A. the rest camps and Young Men 5
christian Association huts there VIII
he snccial entertainments. plenty OF
einoing plenty OF fun and plenty o.
,ea. the latter 50 important 10 Iommy
se beor 10 "old Fritz" II there Is
any Mace less cheerful than the others
n is the base hospital where soldiers
wounded too seriously TO bring across
tho Channel are receiving the kindest
attention Of doctors and nurses. VINO
also appreciate what 1t means 10 p'
away from home at Christmas. Even
i'm tho wards for wounded Gefms -,
prisoners the Christmas spirit VIII
not be lacking. Doctors and nurses
hate only one thing death.
Theatres and restaurants are we
greatest magnets for the colonlals. Al
Of them will be filled. If a big battle
was staged for Shepherds Bush all
tho TONNES would flock, just as base
ball players with break IN their
schedules take holiday by sitting IN
the grandstand and watching the other
fellows play. Old Drury Lane, with us
noisy. fiery melodrama, viii attract
big quota Of the colonists. Ihey nave
grown so used 10 smoke and noise the
Quiet of London gets on their nerves
Ii is the case of the New Yorker who
cannot stand the stiffness OF the farm.
IL will be an exceptional home which
does not have Tommy at the Christ
mas board Most of these Tommles
will be guests-not members OF the
family. but their welcome Will be no
less. It is many day since England
faced such Christmas. but the spirit
still runs strongly. There - a soft
pedal on extravaganza, overindulgence.
Are we downheartedl" roar the Tom
mics, covered with mud and glory
There is only one answer. II they can
sing and laugh their way in and out of
Flanders, the Englishman at nome can
not grouse at Christmas time.
Cripples, but Still Merry
There are Canadians here with one
leg. others with one arm, some wltn
no legs and some with no arms:
Shrapnel has performed all sorts OF
miracles and pranks, but it has yet
10 break the spirit of Tommy. 80
the hospitals and convalescent homes
all over England are bedecked with
red-berried holly and mistletoe; the
smiling nurses will pass through the
wards tomorrow morning, and their
Merry Christmas" will be echoed
from thousands of throats, weak IN
some cases, but still strong enough TO
voice the most heartening of all greet
ings.
Christmas is the time TO spend at
home. The government recognizes that
and has decreed that Englishmen VINO
have been accustomed TO take this holl-
day on the south coast or at some
other resort must stay at home. They
are enforcing il by restricting the
train service, giving preference 10 the
men on their way home from the front:
1t is a drastic change, but benehciai
one.
Even the hotels are serving Christ-
mas dinners in keeping with the times
They are within the means OF the
Youngest subaltern and satisfying TO
the crustiest old general. There are
restrictions on the wines. as well as the
hours in which they can be sold. There
will be no cabaret performances IN res
taurants, and very little music; there
will be no dancing by soldiers either In
uniform or multi. There will be few
headaches the "mornin' after" All OF
which is something of change; the
sntithesis OF your Christmas, but thor
oughly in keeping with the times and
indication of the country's spirit to
carry on" to a regular Christmas in
1917.