The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1015. REPRISALS AND MUNITIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2467, 21 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1015. REPRISALS AND MUNITIONS

Two of the most important points touched upon by Loud Kitchener in his latest Speech in the House of Lords are the use of poisonous gases by our_ enemies and the supply of ammunition. His statement that the British and French Governments have decided to sanction the use of poisonous fumes will meet with very general approval. Britain and her Allies woulcl have preferred that all parties to the conflict should have adhered strictly to tho generally accepted rules and customs of civilised warfare. They have hitherto done their utmost to avoid any breaches of the laws of war, whereas the Germans have deliberately violated the rules in the most outrageous manner. The scrupulousness of the Allied Armies in this matter has placed them at "an enormous and unjustifiable disadvantage," as Lord Kitchener has pointed out, and it would be manifestly unfair to our own men, and to the great cause for which they are risking tlicir lives, if effective measures were not taken to counteract the nefarious methods adopted by the enemy. By her refusal to pay any regard to the law of nations Germany has outlawed herself and must be treated as. an outlaw. It would, be sheer folly for the Allies to handicap themselves'by the punctilious observance of legal restrictions in a life-and-death struggle with an enemy who declines to bo hampered by anything in the nature of law or custom, and whose official theory of war is the closest possible approximation to unmitigated savagery. Our troops cannot, of course, degrade themselves by following the example of outrage set by the Germans. British soldiers caDnot slaughter inoffensive women and little children, nor can they murder or mutilate non-combatants after the German method. But as far as the actual combatants are concerned they aro fully entitled to make use of the weapons which the enemy has chosen. The Germans have endeavoured to poison our men in a wholesale manner by the foul use of asphyxiating fumes, and our armies are being compelled in self-defence to resort to this devioe of scientific barbarism. In an article in the English- lie-view Mr. Austin Harrison remarks that "all half-measures against the Germans are useless. In the question of retaliation our courso is plain. It is to fight Germany as she fights us, by land and sea and air, with all the forces at our disposal, by all the means calculated to push home our ascendancy." This is the opinion of the average Britisher. Wo are not going to copy German brutality to non-combatants, but as regards the armed forces of the enemy they_ are entitled to no more consideration than they show others. The German Book expressly states that "the _fear of reprisals is the only effective check on arbitrary behaviour in war. Vigorous retaliation for every foul blow is the only effective way of dealing with people who will bo restrained by nothing except "fear of reprisals." Mr.. Asquith's announcement that he is contemplating the formation of a National Ministry is a most impressive reminder to Britishers in all parts of the world that the carrying of the war to a triumphant conclusion has become the Empire's one supreme task on which all its energies must be concentrated. All considerations of party or- class must bo subordinated to this great object. Not only the soldiers at the front, but all the physical, mental, and spiritual forces of the nation are at war'. The workmen in our ammunition factories who do their work faithfully and to the utmost of their capacity are fighting for their country just as effectually as if' they were in the actual firing line. Slackness on their part may mean disaster to their comrades in the trenches and should be treated with unsparing severity. An abundant supply of ammunition is of such vital importance ),hat the recent rumours of the possibility of a shortage have had a very disturbing effect on public confidencc. It is reassuring to know that Lord Kitchener is able to inform Parliament and the country that he is confident that in the very near future there will be a satisfactory position regarding tho supply of the munitions of war, but it is significant that even now, after all the protests that have been made, he speaks of the future and not of the immediate present. Mr. Austin Harrison states plain fact when he declares that "England has now to become a workshop of war. All our energies and economic resources are required in the struggle, all that we have to give in the way of physical force and war material." Similar views have. recently been expressed by Mr..Robert Blatchfohd, the wellknown Labour leader, who writes not "as a democrat, nor a worker's advocate," but "as an Englishman who wants to help his country as far as ho is able." After remarking that tho country trusts Lord Kitchener and will listen to and heed him, Mr. Butciiford goes on to say:

The defeat of Ihe Germans in "France ami Belgium depends upon flio capture of position?. The capture of positions depends upon our 21111s. Oiu- (runs deppml upon our sliells. Our shells ,l c . pond upon oiii' workmen. . . . Unless we en 11 completely defeat I lie flormans the fate which Imp overtaken Holsinin nil) overtake us. To win.-lhis war decisively we must have a superiority nf heavy ruiis and an enormous supplv of shells. S-innie liine aeo Loan Ivitoiik.nki! authorised Ihe statement I hat since the beginning of the war Ihe output of war materials lias been increased three hundred limes in excess of what it was before. This may appear to be a great achievement, but iti is p.kiu that it has fallen short

of requirements. The needs of the Allied Armies are so colossal that a still further increase is necessary. Tho magnificent courage and endurance of our soldiers at the front should inspire all of those who remain at home to do everything they can to add to the fighting powor of the Empire. It is tho auty of all to find out what he or she can do to help, and to do it with all their might.