SANTA'S BAG IS EMPTY
IN POLAND
WARSAW'S
Christmas
this year is a grim one. While the rest of the world are feasting her civil popu lation are in want of almost every essential human need. There is no healing. There is little food. The daily ration works out nt about two ounces a head.
There is no tobacco. There are no cigarettes: None of these has been, on sale for months. Poles are heavy smokers, and would be content to smoke herbs or weeds, or even chop- ped potato peel, but even these are
scarce.
wine.
There is no such thing Es But the saddest angle of the situation is that, the children's milk sunty has been reduced.
There is no oll with which ly coolt the small rations of peas, beans and lentila issued thrich weekly. But Worsaw's people have not yet lost their sense of humour, although their increasing hurdships havú made, great
inroads on their traditional optimism
The pain Poland is enduring will never be fully realised by the out side world. On top of nil the hand-
CHRISTMAS
Thursday,
ROUND
THE WORLD
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
FROM all parts of the globe aro gathered on this page messages from correspondents telling how Christmas is being colebrated the world over.
In war-ridden Europa, in the peace of the snow-clad slopes of Norway and Sweden, on the crowded beaches of sun- drenched Australia-everywhare, in 'fact, where conditions and peoples contrast in manner and environment-thoughts will turn to the traditions of Bethlehem.
Even the Naxis have failed to paganise Christmas, most Germans will celebrate in the old way with it's religious significanco.
GERMANY
MAJORITY DEFIES NAZI PAGANISM .
AND CELEBRATES
BERLIN.
December 21, 1939.
A LOOK AT THE COLONY'S SHOPS
CHRISTMAS shoppers, so intent on their job, ure a Christmas entertainment.
A reporter took a stand for an hour in each of four big Hongkong stores, observing shoppers.
Later, the results were tabulated.
1. Nine out of ten were women.
2.
3
+
One-third were accompanied,
cilefly by women; sometimes
by dildren; rarely, by men,
Not one man was ficcompanied
by another.
Only one shopper in 20 carried
a parcel,
Conversation was practically ntl.
It is only when you settle down to
exnet observation that you realise
the Hongkong shopper can be.
Finland
Will Be
Unhappy
what a strong stent Englishwomno THERE will be not much happiness in war-torn Fin- lund this Christmas. But, despite the Red menace, traditional family feast on Christmas Day will still bo observed.
Prize, First And Last
Here
DESPITE official discouragement, nine out of ten shoppers talk: homes in Germany will celebrate Christmas Eve in traditional manner.
Children will wait in the darkness to be led into the room where the Christmas tree slands blazing with candles, presents piled high beneath it and, in a corner, a manger with farm animals around it and Mary nurs-
ships there is, of course, the ernstinting the Christ-child.
donger in life because of the fre- quent shelling of the city.
*
Ment in unobtainable.
Some institutions are ranging special entertainments for children, but there will be no Christmas trees The toyshops are pruetleally empty. Santa Claus need not call here. There is nothing to put in his bag.
ITALY
Fish Feast Round
Yule Log
With a soft wind and rake, Rome looks like having the wayreat Christ-
For the first time in many years jome houses in Berlin will be with- out trees. The masses of Christmas trees plied at street corners have all been sold and no, mare are to be obtained--not that there is a short- age of trees, but because of the mysterious lack of railway trucks, which has also left many without coal and firewood for the festive season.
familles
All efforts of the Nazis to substitute the pagan Solstice feal for Christmas and de-Christianise the festival have
rated, and from early morning on- wards all churches will be overfilled to-morrow and on Christmas Day.
AUSTRALIA
Lesson Of Finland
Philippines Secs Hope For Successful Defence
serve
Manila, Dec. 20.
typical specimens
"How much?" "Perfectly sweet."
"No, not stripes."
"Is it British made?" "Sorry!" "Thank you."
of
Gifts For Troops
Presents will be distributed to the Finnish troops in the trenches. The soldiers will get tobacco and food Woman's buying technique is en.frem speelal funds. Brely different from man's,
Women approach the goods first and look for the price ticket; men approach the assistant and ask the price after they have made their selection.
Mirror Lure
In accordance with the govern- ment's wish, the citizens will spend Christmas in the traditional manner.
Shops are selling large quantities of sweetmeats and turkeys. Money given by the public for hampers for The soldiers this year totul a siderable sum and $100,000 subscribe ed by Americans sympathisers will e distributed to civilian sufferers.
con-
At devoted family gatherings there The time element with men was will be distribution of presents on tere fraction compared with wonen Christmas Day, when a visit to church One worn, an extreme example, is followed by the traditional spartan took 25 minutes to select a $5 seartment of cured codfish, ham and rice
pudding. The quickest purchase by a mon wn a woman's $50 dressing-case in 21⁄2 minutes.
Alen walked in the centre of the aisles. Womeu edged along the
A 0336 counter containing comb, brush and mirror sets, one woman in every three picked up one of the mirrors and had a good tock at her face.
In an editorial on the completion of the military training of 20,000 ad-counter examining as they went. ditional Filipinos for raising the re- strength to 120,000, the Finland's Philippine Herald compares military strength with the Philip-
360,00
20,000-man standing army, and a few torpedo bonis, which "bolsters our belief in to the ability of the Philippines maintain national security.
mas of any place in Europe. It 100 In The Shade,pines contemplated 1946 strength of
Italy
Christmas
ол
celebrations
tre
divided into two parts--those for the grown-ups held Christmas Eve and those for the children on Twelfth Night,
of
Christmas Eve, like Christmas Day in England, is chiefly a festival cating, but as it is a fast day in the Catholle Church there are no turkeya or other fowis, nor are there any plum puddings.
Beaches Packed
reserves.
a
Despite the drought in Victorio, the most severe for many years, enjoying brilliant
"Unalded, Finland will be oven- Melbourne
Resorts are tually reduced, but what Interests, us Christmas sunnyskies.
and beaches are packed is the fact that Finland's perfor- crowded with swimmers and holiday-makers.mance so far has borne out the basic theory that our defence, namely a The place of the turkey is taken by Sheffield Shield cricket is propre defended shore, is virtually impreg fish prepared in an infinite numbering on the historic Melbourne ground able. No Russian landing so far has been made by sea, and the only So- of ways and calen with a cake made with Victorian aid New South Wales
viet gains have been made on land."
of cornflour, while the place of pud-Test players holding the stage.
Chinese Nervous
ding in taken by toffee made of Shopkeepers report a tremerxious-United Press. almonds and honey. These delicacies buying boom und despite tempera- tre eaten around a burning Yule log.teres nearing the 100 mark the poul- try market has sold out of turkeys. ARGENTINA
meetings will Race
HOLLAND
Argentina is celebrating Christ- mus sweltering in temperatures rang-throughout the State. ing from 0 to 104 degrees, but the usual festivities will take place though in many enses key and plum-pudding are eaten at 10.30 p.ra. on Boxing Day.
Riverside and genside resorts are packed by people escaping the torrid heat of the enties.
huumerable dances are scheduled In Buenos Ayres the proprietors of lr-conditioned saloons reaping' a linrvest.
DIVORCE PENDING
Daughter Of Rajah Of Sarawak And Wrestler
Hollywood, Dec. 20. Bob Gregory, the all-in wrestler, stated that he intends to divorce, hla wife, formerly Misa Valerle Brooke, daughter of the Rajah of Sarawak........ Reuter.
Gregory unnounced in December 1037 that he and Valerie were leaving England for America where he would full wrestling engagementa that would car him £10,000. Valerie
accepting a W09
Ulm offer from Warner Bros.
درا
held
Christmas trees will be luminated in many homes to-morrow night, and there will be carol-singing, bun-feats and dinners of rolled beef.
Thousands are making it a skating holiday on the frozen.canals.
INDIA
Manila, Dec. 20. The former Ambassador-at-Wash-. ington and present Chainman of the board of the Philippines Bank of Communications, Mr. C. T. Wang, the Chinese Consul General, Mr. C. Kuangson Young, and the President of the Chinese General Chamber of
ferred with President Quezon, Commerce, Senor Alfonso Syeip, con-
There has been no announcement, but it is reliably stated that they dis cussed the Commonwealth's plan for Kradual nationalisation of the retail trode, of which Chinese merchants jut present control 80 per cent,
It is recalled that the Chinese Con- sul General recently issued a memo- randum to Mr. Sayre, Philippines High Commissioner, contending that the plan would American treatles.
violate the
A Note On Notes
Among 30 enquiries made, six were for the book department, 10 for the toys, three for Inens, and two for blcycles.
The six for the book department
were all made by young people.
Most shoppers seemed to know what they wanted, and to carry the knowledge in their heads.
Only seven people with shopping lists were noted-four of them, men.
-U.-S.-A.-
i
It is customary to stnd baskets of fresh flowers to one's best friends.
SWEDEN
SWEDES are spending their usual quie! Christmiɛ: watching for snow for ski-ing. The fremler, like many people, will cat his Christinas bar in |a small villa in a garden suburb, and will distribute Christmas boxes to is children and grand-children from n Christmas tree.
The royal family a gathered at Castle Drottningholm, 'outside Stock- holm, and the King will have his usual Christmas eve tennis hour.
In the provinces sleighs with bells and torches are now replaced by less romantic cars.
SONGS THAT HAIL CHRISTMAS
(Continued from Page GJ
were to greet the blessed morning. Wondering why the sacristan had falled to do so, he lighted the candles himself,
UP the road marched the Round- head-host, silent, stern, and deter-i
Roosevelt Will mined to malte havor of those they
Hang Stocking
Amarlen will spend Chirstmas con vinced she has once more climbed from dépression and is on the road to prosperity-if the world will keep from war.
called idol-loving heathens. As they came in sight of the church, its lights flashed out over the snow and stirred them to fresh anger,
"Death to thosé Papistst” excialmed the leader, rushing up to the door.
The Charm of a Boy's Voice
But there was no enemy to uluy -only a falr-haired lad who was {singing a carol. President Roosevell is holding a When he ended, there was a strange big family party at the White House, sight; every armed man had bared his knees. and Mrs. Roosevelt has announced head and fallen upon bin that his stocking will certainly beThen all silently departed. The boy
Sino-hung up.
Bombay is celebrating in balmy weather, with bright sunshine, which is drawing holiday-makers to the Some favoured mortals, open-air. with several days' leave, have de- parted for a weeld's cruise to Ceylon. Others are going up country to
Snow was falling in New York last camp in rural spots and indulge in
It is understood that President night og crowds of last-minute shop the sport of "shlkar," duck and deer Quezon told the Chinese leaders that pers thronged the streets. Huge shooting. Many spend the days pic-the programme will be carried out iighted Christmas trees reared from nicking and swimming or playing gradually to avold Infringing 01 existing rights calien retailers. tennis or golf,
retailing |However, eventually all
rnust be placed under Filipino con- trol-United Press.
HUNGARY
The usuni Christmas rush is much less noticeable this year in Budapest than in other years. The big changes in polities bear on the public mind.
JAPAN Order For Economy
had not even seen them!
But soon he grew tired of waiting for the other singers and left for home, wondering if the Christ Child would know that he had tried to sing his best; wondering why the amid traffic In public squares."
others had not come; and wondering,
the snow WOR hus
brilliantly also, why Broadway
two
tramped Hghted trees crecled by the City down and why there were so many Council and the one at Rockefeller footprints about the church door.
He did not know that he was, At some trees Centre is 70ft, high, money for refugees from Germany, j himself, mistaken for the Christ Child,
MAY NEVIN. Spain, and China clinks into col CHRISTMAS CEREMONY lectors boxes.
Travelling stages bear through the Masses, which are sung In all Nativity Play and Choir streets Federal Theatre groups play churches, Singing At Christ Churching the Nativity and singing carols.
A Nativity Play, which will largely take the form of a number of tableaux and the presentation of appropriate songs, is to be presented at the Christ Church, Waterloo Road. Kowloon, to-morrow night at 8.45 p.m.
the
Ex-Servicemen have given the young Prince Albert a beautiful silk decorated casket containing Snow White and the Seven Dworks as á Christmas present.
RUSSIA
BELGIUM. When Valerio arrived in March last year to join her husband she told
Christmas celebrations throughout reporters: "My father cut off my
Beiglun are less a family affate the allowanco when I was married, so
Parents and friends Ypres children will find special Owing to the national emergency,
in Britain. Bob and I decided to mike our owEL living. My ambition is to make a the rising cost of living and the fact
assemble in noted restaurants and eat cakes in their beds when they awake special food and sitting at the table on Christmas Day. The cake is called screen test and become another Gin- that the Japanese Government has
from 0m. till 4 or 5 nm., interrupt-Flemish Engeltjeshoek meaning stressed the need. for economy, nur- ger Itogers"
The words will come largely directing the meal to attend mid-night ""angel-cake." The Rajah later denied that he had mal Christmas celebrations in Tokio out off Valerio's allowance of £800 will be confined to the foreign com- from the Bible story, while
musle will be suppiled by a cholr a year, although he had stopped it munity,
Most of the foreigners will cele-nnd partly by the congregation, for two months.
According to Hollywood reports brate the festival quietly in their own
The musical arrangements have Some of the younger sel, received in London In October 1938, homes.. Valerie and her husband were to however, are spending the holiday been made by Mrs. Goodban and Mr. John Smith, while many others have separate. Gregory la reported to have ski-ing in the nearby mountala re-
helped with properties, costumes, plated before entering the ring for a sorts. wresting bout that Valerie waa leay-
Huge londs of pine trees and bem-music, etc. Ing for England and he hoped there boos are coming into the city, but would be reconciliation soon. There these are only required for the 000 to hear the Christmas presentation. were no hard feelings.
year-old custom of decorating the Subsequent messages sinted that porches of Japanese houses for the Mrs. Gregory had signed a contract New Year. Money is plentiful in with Universal Films to ploy the part Taklo, but officialdon is frowning on of a circus bareback rider in the ple- extravagant celebrations and gifts. ture, "You Can't Cheat An Honest Man." Mrs. Gregory stated that sho was on her way to England to ncek fun work there when she received Universal's offer.
While inspecting the very scanty réstume provided for her in the role,
NORWAY.
Eating, Skating, Ski-ing
All will be welcomed at the Church
Houses are gay with lighted trees, and the families will dance round them singing old-time songs.
CANADA
Work As Usual But A Holiday In January
Something he can wear.
On a chilly morning or evening he'll wish he had
a nice scarf. A large assortment for day and evening wear
from $7.50
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MOSCOW. hundreds of thousands of people are ON one-sixth of the earth's sure buying the recently sanctioned yolkas face only a handful of diplomats undor New Year's trees, while the fee- foreigners will celebrate Christmas, torica are pouring out upwards of while 180,000,000 Russlans will allow 50,000,000 roubles worth of tinsel the day of rejoicing for the rest of the and allver baubich for stores in cities world to pass without notice.
and remote, hamlets. From forest Christmas at Ottawa' will be quiet. In the Rted capital, once fammed. for regions hundreds of car-louds of central Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General, "forly times forty" churches, no bells yolkas are moving into the
Asin republic. and the Premier will attend chureli [will ringt
centres 25,000,000 Although In industrini
the re-revolutionary in the morning.
There will be no staff ball at workers will man factories as usue), end-of-the-year holiday cheer Government House this year, but the wille in the countryside millions of flooding back, celebrations on Janu-FAR EAST FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL LTD. Governor in alving presents to his children will go to school as on an ory 7 in predominantly atheist Soviet indoor and outdoor aint to clay. ordinary day.
Russia constitute a civil holiday, with (Contractors to the British Air Miniatry and the Hong Kong Government); But the indifference is largely de- only scattered religious services in a
-KAI-TAK AIRPORT-HONG-KONG! ceptive, stice the Russian orthodox dwindling number of churclica and in Christmas folla on January 7, and the privacy of homes of dlo-hards.
of a “hoochie-coochle" dancer in her Christman'divides Oslo's population first film engagement, she remarked; into two groups. One leaves the city "It is lucky my father and mother are for an old-fashioned Christmas in the 4,000 miles away. If my marrying country. The other sinys at home. „Hob made them angry, I should hate Family feasts will be the-order of ---Canada-celebrates Christmas el- to see their faces when they hear the day, with plenty of ski-ing and ways In a quiet way from canst to about this,"
sitating:
COMBI..