The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1915. THE WILL TO WIN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1915. THE WILL TO WIN

—$— The striking description of "Britain at last mobilised for war," which will be found in our cable columns, should prove an effective tonic for drooping spirits. It is an inspiring story, aid is an overwhelming reply to the enemy's oftrepeated taunt that the British Empire is tottering to its fall. This neutral observer who has committed his impressions to. writing declares ' that Britain's achievement "far surpasses the wildest German idea of what is colossal." Britain has not been dismayed by the enormous difficulties of her task. Every blow struck by her powerful foes has increased "her determination to win. She will be content with nothing short of complete and unquestioni able victory. She has now made her i will to win manifest in the most un--1 mistakable manner. The experiences 1 of the first year of the war must ' have carried conviction to the peopk ■ of the United Kingdom that the strength of the foe had been underrated and that unless they put forth all their strength the enemy could not be overthrown. Britain is now fighting with her coat off and her sleeves rolled- up. The tiring that Germany has feared most of all has • happened. Britain is now shaking off the last -vestiges of her apathy. She must make the best possible fighting use of the whole of her vast resources. Referring to a previous crisis in the nation's history, Edmund Bueke said: "Our circumstances are indeed critical, but they are the critical circumstances of a great and mighty nation." These words exactly describe the position of the Empire at the present _ moment, and it seems that Britain is at last grappling with peril in the spirit of a great and mighty nation which knows that it is fighting for life againßt a powerful and unscrupulous foe. The "neutral writer's heart-stirring story of the wonderful work which is being done by Britain's industrial .army and the advantages of thorough ■ organisation and masterful direction should stimulate the rest of the Empire, and impress upon the Overseas Dominions the value of organised effort and earnestness of purpose. It cannot yet be said that New Zealand is mobilised for war. The convincing illustrations which i ' the "neutral writer" gives in sup- ' port of his assertion that "England ' has at last turned her full energy ; to her mighty task" provide an effective antidote to the poisonous whisperings by means of which the r enemy has vainly' endeavoured to ■ create dissension among the Allies. •' Germany has done her best to make ! Russia and France believe that Bri- ! tain is not doing her fair share in the struggle.- This _ campaign of slander has ignominiously failed. The statesmen and Press of France, Russia, and Italy have borne ungrudging testimony to the greatness ■ of the part which Britain is playing in this war. A leading Italian ' paper invites those who have ' any doubt on this point to consider what 3 would' have happened if Britain had - remained neutral. "Undoubtedly i the war would have ended in six - months, and all Europe would have f been under the heel of the Kaiser." The journal referred to goes on to 5 say that if the English in the past ' did not realise the gravity of the situation and were too optimistic, ' they have qualities of resistance, " tenacity, untiringness, and inflex--1 ibility which will be the deciding r factors in the end.. It takes a long . time to bring the British fighting . spirit to its highest point, but when' 5 U gats Uksvc )t Is invincible, 'jho GiiYSiXR* ItaJwa gata,

riot, arc as true to-day as wlicn they wore uttorccl in 1855:

Tho history o£ all wars in which England lias' been involved (he said) shows Unit at the beginning she always missed success, that she always began by efforts not proportionate to her power; but the defeats she suffered," tho disasters which befell her, instead of disheartening her, had tho effect of encouraging her to greater efforts, to greater sacrifices; and while her enemies, after having gained some success, gradually lost courage and forces, she, as the .war progressed, found new -strength and means of attack.

This is just what has happened during the present war. Britain's enemies had all the best of the beginning, and it took her a year to make up the lost ground. It is probable that the superiority in striking power has now passed to the Allies, and it is certain that their strength will go on increasing, while that of the Central Powers must inevitably diminish. The final triumph of the Allies is assured if they only maintain the will to win and follow the path to victory with unswerving determination.