The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1915. "IF WE ARE IN EARNEST"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1915. "IF WE ARE IN EARNEST"

As the result of a visit to England'and France the editor of the North American Review (Colonel Harvey) has come to the conclusion that the Allies are bound 'lo win. In giving the reasons which make him "absolutely certain" on this point, Colonel Harvey tells us that the British and French output of shells has been increasing at a really wonderful rate. It has risen, from' the ratio of one to Germany's three at the beginning of the war to the ratio of five to one at the present time. . The three factors upon which victory depends are men, munitions, and money. The great result of Lord Derby's recruiting campaign shows that the British Empire is getting the men, and that the men have got the true fighting spirit. In October last Lord Derby is reported to have expressed tho opinion that his scheme would produce "suffioient recruits to supply all the requirements of the Army." And ho now declares that he is satisfied. This is a magnificent achievement. It proves , that the rank and file, as well as the leaders of the country, are in deadly earnest, and it is reasonable to expect that the superiority of the man power of the Allies will soon make itself felt, as' well as their increasing gun an? shell power. As regards money, there can be no doubt that the financial resources of tho Entente Powers arc greater than those of the Teutonic Alliance. These facts have convinced Colonel Harvey that we can' win. But we cannot expect to win unless we make the fullest and best use of all our resources—men, munitions, and money. . It is safe to assume that the reasons which have satisfied Colonel Harvey that the tide is turning in favour of the Allies will have considerable weight with those neutral nations which aro in a position to prove embarrassing to one side or the other, and which are extremely anxious to be on the winning side. We may. take it for granted that the Kino of Greece has had the position placed before him, probably by Lord Kitchener himself, in a very forcible manner. The splendid success of Mr. Lloyd George's efforts to incicasc Britain's output of shells, tho sensational finish of Lord Derby's recruiting campaign, and the strength of our war financs have qo doubt given him Mid others mueli fees! thought, ~ani m. jy'flbafek WR wrgfllg rp--,

sponsible for tbo more friendly attitude which Greece now seems inclined to adopt towards the Allies. The description which appears in our cable columns of the Statecontrolled munition town, "which has mysteriously sprung up in an unnamed corner of Great Britain," provides a striking illustration of the enthusiasm and thoroughness which Mr. Lloyd George is flu-ow-ing into his work as Minister of Munitions. When he commenced his efforts to organise the industrial forces of the country for victory he had to face tho grim fact that the Central Powers were turning out no fewer than 8,000,000 shells a month.' In his .great Speech in thrf House of Commoits on the Munitions Bill her said:

Tho problem of victory for us is how to equal, and how to surpass, that tremendous production. The problem of speedy victory is tho accomplishment of that aim with the least possible waste of time. Any obstacles, any mismanagement, any slackness, any indiscipline, any prejudices, which prevent or delay the mobilisation _of our resources at the earliest possible moment, postpono vietory. Tho question which in the Ministry of Munitions we have to 6et ourselves is: Can we achieve that purpose? I say that we can not merely accomplish the object of equalling the output of munitions of war turned out by the Germans and the Austrians, but, if we'are in earnest, we can surpass it.

It was a tremendous task, and yet the thing has been done, and done in less than six months. The ratios given by Colonel Harvey may not be absolutely correct, but there can be no doubt.that as regards the production of munitions we have now turned the tables on our enemies. It shows what the British Empire can do "if we are in earnest." It is an object-lesson on the value of organisation. proves what we can do in other directions if we act with the same thoroughness and in the same energetic spirit. The Empire •is not yet thoroughly organised for victory. We know that New Zealand could do more. The Prime MiuiSTERAto-day announces his intention to introduce a new re-, cruiting scheme to meet the need that has arisen for ensuring that our reinforcement drafts will be maintained at full strength. , The exact nature tif that scheme we do not know, but tho fact that the Prime Minister is moved to act in urns way indicates that he realises the need for greater effort than ever. Lord Derby and Mr. Lloyd George have shown us_ what courageous leadership, efficient organisation, and enthusiasm can do, and it i 0 to be hoped that we will profit by their example. An increase in national earnestness is much to be uesired just now. "It is solemD and ought to be inspiring," said the Archbishop of York recently, "to know that what we are and think and do during the next few mimu,b may determine the verdict of history upon tho worth of the generation to which yoii' and I belong,"