The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 2

I Jtyqj HortiUi0 talk THE HOMECOMING NEXT STAGEIN i i i FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1944. ARDENNES 1 1 W'-X ADVERTISEMENT INDEX Iwojima; in any case, the neutralisation of both these areas would seem logical accompaniments to an invasion of Luzon. However the decision may swing, Luzon must be definitely one goal not only for General MacArthur personally, but also as the natural centre for dperaf tions by all arms against Formosa or the Chinese mainland, or for the cutting of Japanese communications in the Soutn China Sea. The enemy himself expects this attack, and regards it in prospect as heralding "the decisive battle." Influence of Topbgrkphy BY OUR MILITARY CORRESPONDENT Although the fighting in the Ardennes is still in a fluid state, a fact of paramount importance is. that, after the first IeleyeiTdayii on tne offensive, the Germans' Have nowhere succeeded in breaking into the plains in force There is an extraordinary parallelism between tne area regained by von JRundated and.

a phyaiographical jrnap of the mountains, and this relationship has a direc( military significance. Hew. itf MM! Mr. Cartta retormed io Caafeerra yaderda Ha 'I've been doing my bet to In general termsthe mountains run" south-westerly from Eupcn through Marche to the French border in the Sedan area, while a belt of elevated plains of between 600 and 1,200 feet in height covers the intervening to the banks of the Meuse. I 2 The main Importance of the enemy drive through the Rochefort Gap the advanced points of Clney and Celies lay in the fact that It tepreaented an -attempt to penetrate behind the mountains to tbe plain, f.

I Von Rundstedt achieved his initial gains by driving through a mountainous zone which the Allies, being psychologically unprepared, for an attack In such difficult country, apparently held in insufficient strength. Normally, broken country of this type- lend Itself -to purposes or defence, especially if any prepared or even extemporised works exist, but the unexpectedness and rapidity of the Oerman attack led in the overrunning of the (ew road Junctions that could have been blocked and so prevented the Allied exploitation of the defensive possibilities of auch terrain. RondateeT Aim I To von Rundstedt In turn, the Ardennes constituted a corridor for further action rather than a strategic goal In itself. Hta aim was to. penetrate rapidly to the low-: lands and then swiftly splay out against the line of the Meuse In front, and against the Allied armies on either flank.

That the Germans have so far failed to achieve these ends is an encouraging factor. Their spearhead has been held and turned back when almost in sight of the Meuse. while at the same time they have not been able to turn against the Allied armies round Aachen in the north and the Saar'ln the south. So far from enveloping snch" flanking forces, they have not hitherto seriously menaced communication, although this must remain part of von Rundstedt aim until the entire counter-offensive is smashed. On the contrary, interesting possibilities are opened up by the relief of Butogne and the correlated drive from the north through Stavelot.

The gravest of threats would undoubtedly be raised to the Allies' armies north and south of the present Varied Allied Reactions To German How are the Allied capitals reacting to the news of the German offensive in Belgium the first news of a serious reverse they have had for nearly two years, and doubly disconcerting for that reason) Below are last-minute reports from our staff correspondents in Paris, London and New York. (BY BEAM WHELMS.) Train Reservations Give No Air nwTirn, mc, ina rouna Amuuffirnil A Marhiner Aptrtnnta. Vwrd Medical OhinlelB tnd Rwlfltnr 1 Utttlni- 8 Auction tttlM 1 Monev, lod Blrthi Martial. ahtr Dtttn 8 Motor Hlrt tn4 Bttldr and ItCEMlr- Tnnoort ,1 Motor Ctn. Lorries Bui'flinf iiatriti.

7 Motor Cyrie. Bl- BiibIiifm Aunouic cfdt. it mrala 8 liutoi Tvrr. Bud- Biislne.se for or plita. Repair 9 wtnted 7 Municipal Sbir Cm an nnd TravJItif 7 Notke 1 Casual Woft Wanted Hmlril ImtiuiiifnU 1 mnelnt C-bartU 6 Oniomtt rlcal Notice 8 Denial nonce a omcen.

Hall. Hiitotoa Oct. CU. Rabbit. io and WioM 7 Ain- Educational 7 Lin ODUA-iuotltM.

Kltrtetl ftt. EnvastminU 8 perttooal an MtulDf FliU, RrKidrntlil 7 Friend 1 FlorUta. Garden, end pt txJ Vrrmm Farm utnlmlir 1 For txchDf Pc sit 1cm VicubI 8 For Bala 8 Foultr.v. Bnd. 7 Funerals 8 Proles I an.

Trade I Furniture for Sal and Public Notice 8 wmud Ktdto Peta and acmo RArjtta. ante la. nd auirtaa 7 LIt Btork 7 Re tut Thank Hoi ala and Holiday 44htpp.i ADitouaeo-Reaorta 7 menta 8 Hopllak. Ret Homea, Sltuallona Vacant 8 etr 7 Situation Wanted 8 Raum and I And for dpoil. Sporting Be- 3at 7 qui He 8 flotia nd Lend Station.

Pirn, tnt Wan'ed 7 Stork 7 fit Memorials 8 Suburban and coitwry aiinchea. Vaehta, Plclura Theatre 8 Marine Kn fines 8 Tenders 7 i 7 Iisl Borlea 8, 1 Wanted to Purr ho 8 PRESSING THE WAR TOWARDS JAPAN General MacArthur's announce- ment that the campaign on Leyte nd Samar Is now concluded, save for minor mopping up, marks the completion of a further stage In the war against Japan a stage begun six months ago with the Invasion of Salpan and described recently by a United States naval spokesman as "stepping out of the Pacific Into Japanese home waters." General MacArthur and Admiral Nimltz command what are still two distinct columns of the American attack, and henceforth the line of the advance of both of them will plainly be northward, towards objectives which neither American Press statements nor the preliminary actions of the forces engaged are attempting to conceal. The presence of Admiral Fraser, commanding the new Pacific Fleet of the Royal Navy, at conferences with both the American leaders promises close British cooperation In the stages next ahead. The Japanese have not failed to draw the obvious deductions from the Allies' movements. They have seen General MacArthur himself go forward from Australian waters to Leyte.

They have seen the energetic work done to transform Guam, Just south of Saipan, into as formidable a depot for the Navy as Salpan has become for American bomber squadrons. They have been well warned by American naval and air action against their own near-home bases, Formosa and Iwojlma (of the Volcano Island group), of preparations for new forward movements. All these signs are In addition to the plainest American newspaper comments that Salpan and Leyte are only half-way houses, inadequate for the offensive which the Allied leaders now feel can be mounted. Japan's growing naval and transport shipping losses, and her Ministers' admissions, of which that by Admiral Yonal Is the latest, of decline In Japanese air control over the Philippines, must have disposed the enemy to expect fresh advances by the Allies In exploitation of their success. General MacArthur, who has a January anniversary of departure In defeat from Bataan to revenge, is already back victorious in the centre of the Philippines.

Having stretched out and taken with ease a foothold on Mlndoro, and having built an airstrip on it, he is now daily bombing Manila airfields, 150 miles away. That the reoccupation of Luzon and the Philippine capital is his goal, it Is not possible to doubt. Hardly less obvious la Admiral Nimltz's objection to the Japanese plane-nest at Iwojima, whence the enemy has been causing Irritation, and some damage, to the American air base at Salpan, from which the Super-Fortresses raiding Japan operate. Doubtless the desire to protect Guam from similar attentions is also an incentive. Last Saturday, and again on Tuesday, American aircraft and naval forces together bombarded Iwojima.

These blows constituted the third naval attack upon the island this month and the eighteenth by air, and It was subsequently reported from Pearl Harbour that the results obtained were such that Iwo was no longer a hindrance to the American air campaign against the Japanese mainland. The participation of U.S. naval forces so near to Japan, and the inability or unwillingness of the Japanese Navy to Interfere, are eloquent of the straits In which the enemy finds himself. Iwo has high strategic value to both sides, and the current American attacks may well point to something more than temporary suppression of the airfield there. Only a fortnight ago our staff correspondent In New York reported that Salpan and Guam "do not provide adequate bams for the softening up of the Inner arc of Japanese defences," and that "the Bonlu and Volcano Islands must be.

the next objective In order to brlug Japan under a curtain of aerial Allied strategy remains, however, extremely flexible In this approach stage, as has already been shown In the eleventh-hour switching of the Initial Invasion target In the Philippines from Mindanao to Leyte. A base In the Ryukyu chain, between Formosa and Japan, may pove desirable alternative to First, Paris. LonR before midnight last night the streets of Paris were practically deserted. This was largely the result of Tuesday night's air raid, but also partly due to the general nervousness among Parisians at the enemy's latest demonstration of military strength. There hu been milch less apprehension among the populace the list few day, hut there I stMl far more than could reasonably bt Justified by the military situation.

The, possibility that German panzer might break the Allied cordon and head for Pari, combined with the lack of warmth In homes to take from the Christ-ma celebrations a great deal of that spontaneity which would naturally have marked the first free "Noel" for five years. Housewives In search of "something extra," even at black market prices, were almost as anxious to know the fears in their neighbours' or their bakers' minds as to find a bargain. "Do you think the German can come back?" that is the question which thousands have asked each other In the past 10 days, and it Is aim there in the eyes of a (treat many others who have not dared to speak it. Emoliotud Strain It Is difficult for anyone who has not lived under Oerman domination to appreciate fully the present Mate of mind of the French people, particularly In Northern France, but no one who has acquainted himself with the terrible record of torture and murder by the Oerman Oestapo and French traitors, in evil combination, is likely to underrate the emotional strain Imposed on the Parisians when they hear that Oerman tanks have been reported within a few miles of the frontier of Northern France, not so very far from the scene of the 1940 break-through. Nevertheless, even In the first very worrying days of Rundstedt'a offensive, I believe that confidence In the Allied Command outweighed, even when it did not completely remove, these French fears.

The Parisians' knowledge that there are still many Oerman hidden or disguised in Parts has helped to sustain the tension. Someone who should have a reliable knowledge of the problem told me the and to their grand strategy in general, If the Germans were able to force the Meuse or exploit the plains of Liege and south Luxembourg; but every day that such exploitation can be denied them should reduce the danger by affording the Allies the time necessary to put effective counter-measures into play. y. Failing auch rapid extension of their Successes, the German will have achieved victory without a morrow." because the Ardennes In that event would hernme a vregion of strategical confinement. But it does, not follow that the military position will then be in reverse, and that von Rundstedt will have to scuttle back to the frontier to extricate his armies from rapidly closing traps.

If the Allies were unprepared to derive the maximum advantages from auch Intrinsically defensible country, the Oerman are- not likely to be caught in the same position. Experience on many fronts. In Italy In particular, shows that they are postmasters in this kind of defence, and especially In extrication that is slow and Intensely: costly to their foes. Redaction Essential It follows from this that, even if the expansion of the enemy salient Is decisively checked, the recapture of the area o'rrrun by the Germans may be very difficult! i Yet the reduction of so dangerous a salient would be essential to development of any future Allied offensive against the Rhlneland. Moreover, von Rundstedt'a attacking force will not face Inevitable disaster Just because he falls in his wider aims.

Short of a complete and uncontrollable defeat, the country la a kind of insurance policy minimising the results of a check. To confine the Germane within the Ardennes would by no means spell the end of the story. The present stage may therefore he summer! up in terms of the gradual transfer of initiative to the Allies, but. even if this Is satisfactorily achieved, there is no automatic reversal to the status quo. because the obstacle of the Ardennes will remain in German bands during the next phase of the battle.

It will be a great gain If the Oerman are kept confined to the area, of the mountains, but that would merely be one stace In continuing campaign, in which the German High Command has not yet exhausted its short-term strategical advantages. "Rackets' Correspondent verdict: The booking system follows so definite a routine, and so many employees are Involved In recording a reservation, that whoever take a bribe to put through an unauthorised booking runs a heavy risk. Almost inevitably, many employee would have to be parties to the collusion. Would It be worthwhile to a man with perhaps 20 or 30 years' service? Car Diagram In pre-war year, when reservations could be made from country stations, the booking system was more complicated. Briefly, this is how It works to-day: At Central Station Is the of the organisation the car diagram bureau.

What many travellers do not realise is that the clerk behind the booking window does not see the car diagram at all. In the bureau, 20 emplojecs, working In two shift, record all seat reservations. There is only one card on which the reservation of a particular scat on a particular train can be recorded mistakes are minimised. There I a separate switchboard for each main line; in all. a dozen are installed.

There Is a separate switchboard to ort out. and refer to the clerk concerned, -reservations which come in by ordinary non-direct Also, a clerk and typist are fully occupied in attending to and answering reservations by telegram. Here Is a point which will explain a good deal to the queue-srlzzlcrs: there are 4S direct telephone lines to keep the reservation clerka busy. These lines connect with the three Central Station book-tn offices, with suburban stations (from which neat for travel from Central only can be reserved), and with booking offices at Bondl. King's Cross, and Chillis House, city.

On. say. the 9 a.m. to Newcastle there are 113 first-class and 268 second-class seats. Bookings open at S.30 a.m.

It does not take many minutes. If the demand Is heavy, for the 380 seat reservations to come pouring in over those 48 direct lines, by ordinary 'phone calls, and in that time comparatively few members of a queue at on of the three Central Station booking offices mav be attended to. Then someone I turned away with, "Sorry, train booked out." Natural (though ill-founded) sus-plcion Is born, and the grumbling begins. Only Fete Minutes Mr. C.

D. Mcintosh, railways publicity officer, said that seats on the Newcastle Flier the State's most patronised train-lasted, in holiday periods, only a few minutes after bookings were open. "If you came at 7 a.m. you would not get a seat," he said. When asked about bribes.

Mr. Mcintosh said: "One may see a queue of 20 or 30 people at Chain House almost any time of the day: one cannot easily pajs a 10 rote over the counter without Its attracting plenty of attention." Although our inspection of the car diagram bureau was mads at an "off-peak" hour, the switchboard clerks Were not able to waste time. Of the row of small lights on each switchboard Indicating how many calls were waiting on direct lines, usuall; two or threa were shining. During peak hours a doten or to calls would he banked up constantly on each board, watting for attention, said the officer In charge of seat bookings. Mr.

H. Shepherd. Asked why the bureau open at so early an hour at 6.30, Mr, Shepherd explained: "To tllow peoplt who have arrived on the early malls from the country to book return seats before they leave the atatlon." Occasionally the military authorltiet make a short-notlct demand for train 'pace. "Despite this we have never had to remove a pasaehgef who had booked a scat." said Mr. Shepherd.

Sometimes a passenger Install himself In a reserved seat to which he Is not entitled, and. on the principle that, "posie-slon is nine points of the law," refuse to quit. It cost one gentleman a 3 On oot long ago. HOME TRUTHS FOR MINERS "Standard," the official organ of the A.L.P. in New South Wales, finds the possibility of the Federal Labour Government's defeat through the ln-surgence of the coalminers "too terrible to contemplate." There is, of course, a worse prospect, and that is that Australia's war effort may be paralysed by a continuance of anarchy on the coalfields.

That the overthrow of the Curtin Ministry would follow a successful challenge to its authority by the Miners' Federation, resulting in a final failure to get coal, is a fact which the Labour organ squarely recognises. It does not try to pretend that the crisis has been more than temporarily averted by last week's decisions, which are in truth "next to worthless" unless they are backed by a new outlook. "At the moment," declares "Standard" pointedly, "coal is Government. Without it no Labour Government can carry on." It is refreshing to have the Issues in the coal controversy traversed so candidly and realistically in official Labour quarters. AH too often disinterested critics who say the things that "Standard" says to-day are dubbed "reactionaries," and accused of prejudice and ill-will.

The truth is that the miners by their selfish Irresponsibility, and tolerance of indiscipline In their ranks, have succeeded in blackening their case so thoroughly that not even party friends can speak a word in their defence. The whole Labour movement Is turning against them, partly in self-preservation but also because of loyal resentment over the injury being done to the nation at war. Leaders of the federation saw last week, Just in time, that they now have to reckon with the rising antagonism of other trade unions. They averted Isolation by a smart retreat, but, as the Labour organ insists, manoeuvres of this kind are not enough. A primary cause of falling output has to be dealt with.

This is the one-day strike, provoked In most Instances by habitual strife-makers on the fields. If the Government is expected further to examine conditions in the mines, at the behest of the miners' executive. It is Indeed "only right that the leaders should take strong action to discipline the unruly members of the federation." The troublemakers and chronic absentees are well known, and their motives are well understood. They do not want to work themselves, and they will not let others do so. The stupid principle of "one out, all out" enables their will to prevail at the pit-top, though It could not prevail so easily If the main body of miners were genuinely Intent upon maintaining production.

In any case, a first step towards peace and order on the coalfields is the removal of the youths and men with bad records. There has been talk of weeding them out for at least two years, but nothing has been done. Probably nothing will be done if the Government continues to wait for the collaboration of the miners' leaders. No doubt, it has Its own lists of the malcontents, and it should hesitate longer in banishing them to other employment. A CENTRE OF GOODWILL Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser has been long enough in Australia to know that the men of the Royal Navy and Its auxiliaries will lack nothing that the hospitality of a warmhearted people can offer.

To-day he will turn the first sod for the erection of a building which is destined to become the rallying-place for British Service personnel In Sydney. Situated in Hyde Park, in the heart of the city, and easy of access from the harbour, the British Centre will enshrine the goodwill of citizens towards our kindred who are coming to aid in fighting the Empire's battles on this side of the world. Something of the admiration that Australians feel for the British nation in its long and gallant struggle Will go Into the con struction and operation of the Centre. Gratitude for the hospitality shown to our fighting men In Britain will also find expression. It Is a privilege for us to be able to welcome British Servicemen, and to contribute to their comfort and well-being.

Calls which the maintenance of the Centre will make on the generosity of the public will surely meet with an unfailing response. Meanwhile, the city's interest In the project can be fittingly marked by a large attendance at the ceremony at noon to-day, In accordance with the Lord Mayor's wish. Admiral Fraser will thus be made to feel at the outset the community spirit behind an enterprise which is already assured of abundant success. keep the house in order, but about those boys." Thrust number of Oerman Oestapo agents at present In Paris was estimated at 4,000. and the Minister for the Interior stated In the Consultative Assembly that, since the liberation security police had arrested 1.300 Oerman and French soies.

added consolingly that there had been very few Oerman parachutist in France, and none in the Paris area. LONDON Londoners are too phlegmatic as the result of having experienced so many victories and as many setbacks in the past five years to display much outward reaction to Germany's new offensive. Although public opinion Is not at all disposed to minimise it. there i a cheerful confidence in the outcome. It Is recognised as a skilful and desperate stroke, aided by most helpful circumstances in thick weather and other military conditions that the German planners could not possibly have foreseen.

That Belgian citizens again should find thenwelves overrun by the Germans where they had some weeks before welcomed the Allies as deliverers admittedly la deeply felt, but that anything beyond delay can come from the offensive is in nobody's thoughts. The fact that Rundstedt for the moment hps lost the initiative and is definitely pinned has encouraged the firmly-held belief that the present offensive, with the opportunity to the Allies that accompanies It. may shorten the war. Some Doubts Thoe who still have doubts recall that In the early days of the First American Army's attack on the Siegfried Line optimism was Riven full reign, and reports from the battlefields encouraged everyone to think successes were much more fundamental than they were. There were varioua change and relaxations throughout Britain that seemed to endorse this view that the end might come before Christmas, and as a consequence of thia spate of exuberance there followed a mood of depression which became exaggerated through news of disturbances in newly-liberated countries, and of differences of opinion among the Allies.

This again has been replaced by buoy One of the simplest statement about Qod ever made was the familiar "God is love." Yet directly you begin to think about it deeply it raises Immense metaphysical problems. Love Is an attribute which no single Individual could possess in isolation; It involves the existence of at least two peraona. a lover and a beloved. Unless, therefore, we are to suppose that Ood did not become Love until He had created a world which He could love, we must suppose that somehow within the Being of Ood Himself there exist those relationships which make low possible. That is part of the philosophical basis of the doctrine of the Trinity, and I repeat that thoae who like myself believe II to be intellectually the most satisfactory conception of Ood find themselves In very distinguished compsny.

I know that the conception la not an easy one: I do not deny that It raises great complexities of thought. But then metaphysial is not an easy subject, and no statement about the nature of ultimate reality could reasonably be expected to be simple. If It were simple it would certainly be Inadequate, and probably misleading. If anyone should protest that this makes the Christian religion available only to a few highly-trained thinkers, I would point out that religious experience not dependent upon theological knowledge. We are told In the Gospels of a blind man who had his aight restored by Christ.

He was asked who and what Christ waa. and he replied that he didn't know: but ht added: "One thing 1 do know; whereas I waa blind, now I see." There always have been and there still are millions of peoplt In the world who are metaphorically In tha same case as that man. I am. Sir, yours, Blshopscourt. FRANCIS NEWCASTLE.

you really must do something ancy of confidence and a realisation that If Rundstedt hoped to strike at all he could not have waited much longer, The Allies had been inflicting on his armies losses that might sooner -or later eat away his reserves, and he was losing ground without saving men. 1 NKff YORK New York's 7,000,000 people, disturbed by the gloomy news from the Western rront and by the even gloomier comment on it by their leading wireless and newspaper commentators, tried to forget.lt nil in one of their mast expensive and gayest Chrtstmascs. But It is doubtful whether they forgot, or were as gay as they wished, because the news grew graver as the holiday season progressed, and they got less for their money, of inferior quality, and inder conditions of crowding that all spelled a minus quantity as far as pleasure was concerned. Even as bad tidings of the German breakthrough filtered In during Christmas week, department store crowds- grew. They bought anything and paid any, price (or It.

so that by Christmas Eve It was as much as a person's life was worth to try to make a last-minute purchase. Night clubs were Jammed, and champagne of dubious vintage cost a bottle. Taxis were almost Impossible to get. Christmas parties at home were at their most lavish. Vet.

whether It was In the street. In the shops. In places of amusement, or in the drawing-room, there was a restless and unhappy atmosphere. Commentators Baffled New Yorkers, like the rest of the country, with many families with dear ones In the mud and snow of Belgium, were particularly worried because they did not have all the news of what was happening on the Weatern Front, and the commentator on whom they depend so much for Interpretation were as much at sea a themselves. Public talk of ahakeups on the higher levl which were responsible for our being atirprUwd by the Oerman push, the Identification of the Oerman breakthrough as sn even greater and more shameful disaster than Pearl Harbour, all add to the definite malaise discernible here.

A the pendulum of optimism and pessimism swings In America perhaps over a wider arc than in any other of the Allied nations, it was to be expected that this particularly grave event should have Increased the arc. Meanwhile, the closing of butcher shops due to a meat shortage continues to, be the bltrgest metropolitan newt In New York, and the black market, bad war news or no, is becoming an institution on a huse scale. People are trying to forget, and cannot forget, because increasing casualty Hat In the newspapers only highlight the grief they must face. EDITOR SEAMEN'S WAR BONUS 8lr, The statement by Mr. E.

V. Elliott, general secretary. Seamen's Union. In the "Herald" of December 23. Is typical of the half-truths which unfortunately so often characterise the statements of union officials on contentious matter.

Thi appllo both to the figure given as to the paymenta to Auatralian seamen and to the comparison made with the war risk bonus paid to seamen of other countries, who In general have undergone ten times the risk, hardship, and discomfort of the Australian seamen. For Instance, Mr. Elliott takes the English war risk bonus of 10 sterling and calls it 12 10', although the 10 is probably worth less to an English seaman in England at the present time than 10 in our money to an Australian seaman. He also omit to that after alx months' service with the one employer the Auatralian seaman receive a war risk bonus of SO per cent, (not 31 1-3 per pa -able retrospectively to the date of commencement of service, and that this AO per cent, applies to all overtime earned at sea and to paymenta mad In lieu of weekly time off. English seamen and the seamen of most other nations do not receive overtime nr weekly time off.

although many of them secure annual leave the same as Australian teamen do, and the plain fact Is that with th 50 per cent, added to these payments the war risk bonus received by Australian seamen la seldom equal to less, and I often more, than 100 per cent, of nla ordinary monthly wages. On English vessel tha war risk bonus Is a fiat rate of 10 per month, payable to all adults from the mater down. As one man's life is as good a another's, and all on board are running more or less the same risk, this arrangement follows a more equitable principle than the one in force In Australia, where it Is a percentage on wages, overtime, tc but It Is Important to note that under the Australian arrangement, the lower-paid ratings receive In war' risk payments more than anyone on an English ship, and that the higher ratings on Australian vessels receive up to' three and four times more than their vt--vl nn Fnnuh ahlpa." Neutral Bay. ONI WHO KNOWS. LETTERS TO THE Scope For By a Staff "It's a racket." says disgusted would-be passenger.

The scene is a booking office at Central Station; the time, shortly after 6.30 a.m. a week before the Christmas holidays. The grumbler, who has been in the queue, has Just reached the window to be told that all seats in the Newcastle Filer a week hence have been booked. "Slip him five bob: you'll get a advisea a cynic. "Sorry." repeats the clerk peremptorily, "the train's booked out." "How come? I was only thirtieth in the queue, and bookings didn't open till this morning." Many Intending travellers.

In the first booking queue and turned away without seat, must have wondered How could all seat be booked quickly? At. the Invitation of the Railway Department, who have received complaint, we investigated. RESTOCKING THE ZOO 'BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. "Stripes," the young tiger, is the forerunner of an appealing variety of animals and birds coming to Ta-ronga Park shortly. Most nf the arrivals will be from Canada, one nf the bipgest shipment In the war period, and some are coming from other Australian rocs.

When "Stripes" arrived at Taronga Park yesterday he was put in a special enclosure by himself, for he la only eight months old too young to be placed with the two fully-grown tigers. He was born in the Adelaide Zoo. It was first arranged that "Stripes' should be obtained on exchange for other animal, but Mr. E. J.

Hallstrom. one ol the trustees, ha bought him, and will also pay for "Shadow," who Is now In Adelaide, and will be, sent over to, keep "Stripes" company when she is old enough to travel. Tigers are more difficult than lions to breed in captivity, and Taronga Park has never been blessed with Its own baby tigers. About 20 year ago Melbourne Zoo gave three tiger cubs to Taronga. and they lived out 'their lives there.

The average life of a tiger is about the same as a lion. 15 to 20 years. In the Jungle, tigers live In pair, and are hostile to other. The same attitude exist In captivity, and "Stripes" will not Join the fully-grown pair until he is big enough to take care of himself. Water Buffalo Water buffalo bred by the Perth Zoo, from parents received from Java, have been a feature for the holiday crowds at Taronga.

The pair, male and female "youngsters." are the first to be shown there, though the trustees had one or two when the zoo was In Moore Park. The staging of a fight between a tiger antf a water buffalo was recalled yesterday by the secretary of tht Taronga Park Trust. Mr. H. B.

Brown, in a specially-prepared arena In the East Indies, he said, the fight was watched by a big crowd, and the buffalo won, tha titer being horned, "Among a varied collection we are expecting from Canada shortly I a pair of 'deodorbed said Mr. Brown. "You are not be was asked. "No, really." said Mr. Brown.

"Here is tht official 1 And "one 'pair1 of deodorised skunks" headed the list. The list from Canada includes two bear cubs, a pair of Virginia deer; three or four raccoons: two turkey vultures: two black VLlturcs: four Mack crown night heron: fou- to six prairie dogs: a collection of tu ties: one or two palra of beavers; white Awls: six ipalr of woodchucka: four pairs nf chipmunks: and four pairs of North American squirrels. Picture pace 1) NATIONAL LIFE AND ETHICS Bishop States Views Sir, In tha article published in your issue of Wednesday Mr. Warwick Fairfax makes three reference to my own contributions to the discussion evoked by his original article. I would ask for space to say a word about each of them.

(1) Mr. Fairfax aa. "The Bishop of Newoastla Mils us that wt cannot be Christians unless we believe every word of the Apostles' Creed." But be la (I am sure unconsciously) misrepresenting me. What I asserted was that the Church of England required assent to the Apostles' Creed a a condition of membership. In saying that I was not offering an opinion, but simply statin a fact.

(2) Mr. Fairfax assumes that acceptance of the Apostles' Creed, with Its clause (bout the Resurrection of the Body, requires him to believe that In the life of the world to eoma he will be just a he la now. "complete. With short sight, chronic dyspepsia, and a tendency to hay fever, and with all those faUings. physical, mental, and temperamental, which I much deplore." And he adds.

"Frankly, do not believe it." I aympathm with him. I don't believe It either. If I did. I should be denying the plain teaching of Scripture which expressly disavows any auch travesty of Christian doctrine. There were thoae who felt Mr.

Falrfas'a difficulty even In St. Paul's day. He referred them to the analogy of the wheal harvest. The resurrection body, he aa. will be a different from the body which is buried at death as Is the harvest which is reaped In autumn from the seed which was sown in spring.

"It Is sown In dishonour: It la raised In glory: It sown In weakness: It la raised In power; It I sown a natural body: It Is raised a spiritual body flesh and blood cannot Inherit the kingdom of heaven." (3) Mr. Fairfax adds that "tha Blahop of Newcastle's discussion of the Trinity seems to ma to add man-made complexities to fhe simple doctrine of Christ." I do not know just what almpla doctrine taught hy Christ about Odd Mr. Fairfax has In mind, but I would venture to predict that It la only on the surface that appaan to be almpla. COUPONS FOR SHEETS Sir. I am (lad that at last, even from business motive, the Impossible coupon rating and equally Impossible faulty shortness of sheets are being aired.

In war-depleted households, no replacements can be made from, say, two book. Vet it any Urn soldiers may return, and the home be short of the common needs. In these days of tragedy, audden need for hurriedly returning sick and ailing. It I just another burden on tha housewife. RoMTllla.

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