OUR TASK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 8

OUR TASK

NEW ZEALAND'S GREAT

OPPORTUNITY

HOW TO BEAT GERMANY

AN EXAMPLE TO THE EMPIRE

[By an Englishman.]

We, in New ■ Zealand, aro somewhat puzzled by the political unrest in the United Kingdom. Those men whom we are accustomed to regard as the leaders of thought in the central city of the Empire appear to be divided in opinion, uncertain of themselves, and of their hold upon the people. There are two main dividing lines: those who want compulsory universal service and those who do not., .If this were aU, the issue Would bo plain enough. Unfortunately, the situation is complicated by a stroiig feeling of insecurity, which must be powerful to be held by such men as Asquith and Balfour, that the advent of compulsion would be met immediately by a challenge from the trades unions of the country. ' With the benefit of perspective allowed us by distance, let us examine clearly the question of numbers as they apply to tho oontendiug nations; taken, from official and unofficial sources.' The analyses of Hilaire Belloc, whose reputation for critical disquisition seems to grow month by monthj have been- carefully revised and brought up to the date of the end of September of this year. MAN POWER. His opinion is that Austro-Germany started this war with a "highest- possible," in effective fighting men, of 12,000,000, and that their permanent losses for one year, to September, 1915, are 5,250,000, leaving a balance t f 6,/50,(10G as the "highest possible" number of effectives remaining to carry on the campaign. If-wc consider the pressure which is being maintained by the Allies upon the common enemy, evenly, releaitlessy, it is clear that beyond question no decisive effect has been arrived at by the Central Empires. It is true that they have conquered immense territories, and have been imstrumentaL in putting out of action permanently and temporarily, altogether 10,000,000 of their own meoi and of their er.emies.- That is no mean accomplishment;. but it does not spell victory. In plain fact,'it spells .defeat. They are still very far from- their bourne. Ihe conquests which they have made, and are making, have, brought them an additional 301T,D00. Bui gariahs, but the new territory which they possess demands a permanent and effective army of occupation, capped by an - ever-ready, striking line of soldiers, stretching over nearly 3500 miles of'frontier. They must keep 2,600,000 men upon the borders of Russia, 1,600,000 men upon the Western front, 300,000 fighting the Italians, 150,000 marching upon-Serbia, mid at least 50,000 as an observation force upon the Rumanian border: Thus 4,660,000 effective fighting men are continually engaged, constantly suffering losses and illess, which men .must be maintained by reinforcements, by munitions and by food, hour by hour and day by day, if they are to avoid what is most certainly coming to them: defeat. -

We | see then that the effective remaining balance of men of the Central Empires was,' in September, 1915, of the number of ,6,750,000 men, and that of this number no fower : than 4,660,000 have their position more or less permanently allotted to them by the exigencies of their new conquests and the extent of their commitments. During the last two months the attacks of Loos, on the Western front; Dvinsk and Tarnopol,- on the Eastern, the crossing _'of the Danube, the fighting in Serbia, and the stemming of the Italian advance into the Trentino have absorbed, as a permanent loss, at the very least". 150,000 men. That is giving, the enemy the benefit of the doubt and grossly underestimating the position. But, on this basis, Austro-Ger-many is left with exactly 2,000,000 men-to draw upon, not by any means of first-olass; material, but possibly effective when engaged with like material in their opponents.

ENEMY PROSPECTS. Is it possible for tie enemy to maintain his conquests and to continue an effective offensive over an indeterminate period with such comparatively small reserve numbers ? Cut off as he is from the sea, with every -peaceful enterprise in oommerce shut down and food already doled out in Tations to an unwilling public 'It is possible, under four conditions. That one or more of the Allies should give up. That a decisive battle be fought successfully, ending in an Allied debacle. That the numbers and munitions of the Allies' fail in a greater ratio than their own. That'the determination, morale or friendship of the Allies be undermined oi shaken.' No one of these factors is present. On the contrary, each factor is steadily augmenting in the Allies favour. AustroGermany is as certain to be beaten as the sky is above. ■ . The position is exactly this. The Allies are holding the Germans .as to 4,660,000 on their frontiers, and they require two million reserves in order to make the actual position numerically the same on the opposing side. With a further two millions the Allies lave it in their power to' obtain a decision; which mußt be final.-' ' Arrives, therefore, the question of what numbers the Allies are capable of putting into the' field, conformably to the existing situation. No ono doubts that the Allies are not vet putting in enough,' or that the British Empire is doing anything like her utmost.- She is, as a fact,, allowing her be3t and bravest cheerfully to die, permitting her black proteges, most splendidly 1 to fight for her (the dependants and relatives of whom know perfectly well they are fighting the battle of the white' men of the British Empire and are not likely to forget-it or think better of him for it). After each check a fresh consideration is taken, and a new departure resolved on; to see what happens then. It has always boon so. It cannot always 60 remain. If the heritage and the traditions of the Empire are worth anything, then, in the time of crisis, they must bo worth everything. If they aro worth, the lives of some of those already, gone they are most certainly worth the lives of some of us who remain, WE WANT MORE MEN. On each ocoaaion when the British have sought a decision, a paucity, in reservo numbers, haa iiioiiq rendered a deoision impossible. Victory of a decisive character has been lost through want of men. At the first battle of tho Ajsno, at Netivo Chapelle, at Loos, and at Sari Bair, brilliant courage and superhuman endurance, domandiug victory,- have been brought to brilliant failuro by lack of numbers. Thore is something wrong about thia. There aro in the United Kingdom at least 3,000,000; in the Dominion of Canada at least 000,000; 'in the Commonwealth .of Australia a t least 500,000; in tho Dominion of Now Zealand at least 150,000; and in South Africa and in Rhodesia at least 250,000 more effective men, making a total of 4,-100,000 men, which can be drawn upon without denuding the countries concerned of their poshlbilities By using half this available mamnower the British Empire,

oould beat the Austro-Cermans to their kneos and finish tho war in one year. Now Zealand, small as she is, has the soundest and finest moral fighting backbone in the Empire. She has tho courage and determination to set the example of a new idea, as slio has already done in old age pensions and land settlement. She can bear ridicule bravely, tako praise well. In 100,000 of her men there would not bo found one siuglo man who could not hold his own with two Austro-Germans. It is no idle boast to say our men are physically incomparable. The country is ripe for a method of compulsion. Lot us not mince this matter. No other British fighting men but the English, Scotch, or Irish regular soldier, could have landed through that hell of shrapnel oil Gallipoli, and remained there six months but a New Zealander or Australian. What will our children's children say of that? That it was splendid, hugely wonderful. Yet the fighting is not over, not half over. We ought to finish up the business in that section for the Empire, with Australia's help, and make Gallipoli ours.

AN EXAMPLE FOR THE EMPIRE.

The Empire wants an example. Nothing is more certain than that the soldiers of New Zealand are capable of setting that example. The nation is a ready nation.- We are the straw to show the Empire how tho wind is blowing, blowing strong. ,New Zealand should go through with it; go now—to victory.

Look at the map a moment. Watch how the black hand broadens, lengthens, month by month. How far is' it going? When is it to stop? Two million of reserves are doing this for the German nation, which knows what it wants and means to get it. The British Empire waits and) wonders; when she has millions who could stop it dead. Think of the matter from the point of view of prestige. We, who rule millions of black men. What are they going to say of us in India, in Africa? France rules over millions of black men and is using them. But she is setting an example in herself. Everyone is serving there in France, the population of which country is a stationary one. A so-called decadent nation, once. _ There is no magic in the German na-. tion, none. A central autocratic rule keeps the machine pointing, ever pointing, to the place of least resistance. Now Belgium, now Poland, now Serbia to lurkey, while the snows bind up the offensive on the East and West! Only one leader in the Allies meets this as it should be met, Joffre, who, in the most democratic country in the frorld, of all the worldi, remains, by common consent, 'an autocrat. He alone wants nothing, seeks nothing, works* for nothing, nothing but victory. He will get it. What did Botha- want ? Victory. He got lit, as an autocrat. In. the Emjire w'e are afraid of autocrats, yet we "are the very country in a, crisis which requires one. Nothing is more futile. than to decry a man when there is no orie else to take his place. No man can take Kitchener's "place in public opinion. It is sheer madness to break what you can not replace or mend. We want 'Kitchener. If we are to win the wants us. ■ What does France want? Alsace- ' Lorraine and a beaten Germany. Russia? Poland, .Galicia, and a ■ beaten Germany.. . f. , Italy ? The Irredenta of the Treh-' . tino and Trieste, and a beaten Ger-' many. The British. Empire ? Belgium re-.. placed on the map. Security for trade, and a. beaten Germany. Germany to be defeated. That is the factor common to us all. England wants the business finished more than all of them, yet will not t&ke the stops to finish it. She will finish it—if New Zealand sets her people the example of self-socrificing universal service. WHY NOT?

We have already adopted the principle of compulsion: as a basis of de-' fence. What ".vould a victorious Germany mean to us? The end of our security to ivork out our end. It would mean conscription and untold sacrifice for lis even to keep our country, wliioli would be very doubtful. Our trade of meat, butter, cheese, must anyhow for a time completely fail; bringing u's 6tark, staring - ruin. ■ Loans, by which, we progress, would stop.. Wages would fall to zero. Work would be domestic, nationally spoaking. If wo had work, ■Australia, in worse case than ourselves, would flood the market. A stagnant* Australia, alone,. would r,nin us. The fleet itself cannot win, it can only determine victory to our soldiers everywhere. If Germany wins ■on land tl'ie fleet _ cannot indefinitely maintain the Empire. Wo must in that event pare an army. The war is too cbstly as it is. It will last too long. Finally, the Empire' wants a lead. Realising our smallness, fully aware of our deficiencies as compared with the resources of the other parts of the British Empire, yet, plainly by tlio .determination of our people and the fine spirit of our leaders .working as one body, wo can raise. 100,000 of.the finest soldiers in the world. Raise 'them now and get them ready' for the Day.' If we ..do this the .'Empire follows., / She. must follow. And, the principle once conceded, no efforts of the Austro-Bulgar-Turko-Graeco-Genn will stop the final overwhelming victory for. the British Empire. The German poison gases, fiery liquids, lust, rape, robbery, and devilry wiped off_ the map; freedom, established in their t'tead. , ■ New Zealand has it in her'power to. point out the way.