Evening star., 1952-12-25
BY the Associated Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
The worlds Christians gathered
Itoday-around CHEEKY hearths and
on frozen battlefields-t celebrate
the birthday of the Prince of Peace
and take comfort in the hope that
the day promises.
In America and Europe. besides
traditional church services, there
was gaiety in festive parties and
family get-togethers. And there
was tremendous exchange of
gifts. for the past year had been
the most prosperous since World
War II.
But hearts went out to soldiers
in the troubled East. where wars
ragged in Korea and Indo-C China.
Pope Calls for Peace.
The annual Christmas message
from Pope Plus XII was a call for
charity and efforts toward peace.
He said people today should carry
on the work Christ started and
IunlooSe a flood of help" for suf-
Ifering millions.
The head of the Church of Eng
land, DR. Godfrey Fisher, warned
his people that at this Christmas
tide there is a concerted attack
on the Christian religion" He
pleaded for a "home defense
force" against evil.
Within the sound of artillery
Francis Cardinal Spelllnan cele-
brated midnight mass in battle
ravaged Seoul and at a United
States division command post.
Little Respite in Korea.
The day dedicated to peace on
earth brought little respite for
United Nations troops battling
both the Communist enemy and
bitter cold on the Korean front
lines. In the rugged, snow
blanketed country, the tempera-
ture lowered from five to 10 de-
greeS above zero. Earlier Red talk
of four-hour Christmas truce"
gave way to scattered firing.
In the chilly marsh lands of
north Indo-C China, the long war
between French Union forces and
the Communicated Wet Mini
rebels flared anew. In a battle 70
miles southeast of Hanoi, 800 of
the Wet Mimi were reported killed
in a French mopping-up opera
ton Christmas Eve.
At the same time, a Christmas
message in the name of Ho Chi
mimi. the Red chieftain of the
rebel forces, was broadcast to
Indo-Chinese Roman Catholics.
1t was a sharp battle cry. Ho
called on the Catholics to wipe out
the French aggreSsors."
In the Middle East, thousands
of pilgrims thronged to shrines in
the Holy Land where Jesus was
born nearly 1000 years ago in
Bethlehem. For the special serv-
ices there, barricades were lifted
for a few hours so those who came
to worship could pass freely be-
tween Jewish Israel and the Arab
regions of the divided land.
Mass at Bethlehem.
The climax Of the Roman Cath
olic observances in the Holy Land
was the traditional midnight mass
beginning in the Latin Chapel of
st. Catherine and ending in the
Grotto of the Nativity. the manger|
shelter where, tradition says, the
infant Jesus was born.
The Protestant services were in
a similarly hallowed spot-on the
terraced slopes outside Bethlehem
where the angels spread the It'd
ings of the birth to shepherds
their f1ocks by night.
Worshippers gathered around
five giant Christmas trees in the
YMCA building in Jerusalem and
sang carols.
Christmas produced new WARMTH
and comradeship between the
thousands of American soldiers
serving in Western Europe and
the local people.
United States soldiers, sailors
and airmen became Santas to
European orphans and
lnder-privileged children, enter
the waits at camps and
aboard ships and showering them
with presents. The GIs in West
Berlin played host at A Yuletidel
parties, entertaining $4,000 chill
dren. In all Germany, the service
men donated more than SITS, 900
to spreading cheer.
In turn, many Europeansl
shared their family festivities
with the Americans. In West
Germany alone, more than 49,
300 families invited United States
into their homes.
Russian Zone secret police in
troduced a sour note in Germany
by withholding 100000 gift