The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. THE DUTY OF PLAIN SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2674, 21 January 1916, Page 6

The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. THE DUTY OF PLAIN SPEECH

There can be no shadow of doubt about the whole-hearted determination of the leading public men in Australia to do everything in their power to help the Empire to win this war. Mr. Andrew Fisher, who was Prime Minister when the struggle began, gave the people of Australia' an inspiring lead, and all sections of the community responded with enthusiasm. He has now succeeded Sir George Reid as High Commissioner in London, and Mr. W. M. Hughes, the new Prime Minister, is just as enthusiastic as Mr. Fisher in his advocacy of_a_ vigorous war policy, In fact, he is in some respects more vigorously outspoken than his j redecessor in office. He has thrown himself heart and soul into <-.he gvcat recruiting campaign which is now in progress, and has been refreshingly Pjain and f ran k in his denunciation of shirkers and pacifists. In his opinion ' anti-recruiters are antrand he recently described the assertion that_ unionism does not stand_ for patriotism as a contemptible lie. As regards the war, he has a united Australia behind him. There are, of course, little cliques and'coteries of irreconcilables in Australia as in other countries, but these impossibles are an insignificant minority. Mr. Hughes scornfully brushes aside the pretence that these "parasites" represent the views of Labour. The fact that no fewer than four thousand waterside workers and twenty thousand , members of the Australian Workers' Union have, gone to the front is a sufficient answer to any suggestion that the Australian wage-earner is lacking in patriotism a,nd loyalty to the Empire. Australia's interest in the )var and her determination to fight it to a finish have been increased by recent revelations of Germany's hopes of conquest in this part- : of the world. On January 4 a striking article appeared in the Melbourne Aye in which some sensational facts are set out. They point to the existence of "a long chorished and maturely elaborated design on the part of Germany to annex Australia' as the chief prize of the military triumphs which she hoped to win on the bat-, tlefields of Europe." Evidence is produced in proof of the. statement that for many years past the Commonwealth has been subjected to a most penetrating and systematic scheme of espionage. Such facts as these are making Australians realise that they have a special stake in the war. If our enemiea should prove victorious it is generally regarded as certain that the Commonwealth would be incorporated in the German Empire. Germany is just now trying very hard to revive her- drooping spirits by persuading herself that Britain is growing weary of the struggle. German speakers and writers are looking eagerly for indications that our fighting spirit is on the wane, But as a matteT of fact the Empire was never more determined to win; and never more confident of its ability to win, than at the present moment. Recent utterances by . leading public men in Australia do' not betray the smallest trace of war-weari-ness. Quito the reverse. They ring with resolution. A stronger note is being struck than before, and the full meaning of the struggle is being hammered into the public mind. Tho people are being told their duty in plain, blunt words that cannot be misunderstood. Germany can get no comfort from_ the attitude ■of the Overseas Dominions. Canada is just as determined as Australia, and the enemy's hopes that South Africa would prove disloyal in the day of trial have been dashed to pieces. General Botha has given the South Africans a true and firm lead both in speech and- action, and to-day we learn by cable message that a South African contingent has reached Egypt to fight side by side with the New Zealand, Australian, Indian, and British troops already in the field there. New Zealand has moved steadily forward with her task from the beginning, and the new year sees this Dominion more inflexible than ever in its resolve to_ continue the conflict until victory is won. Mr. Massey's recent appeal to our young manhood gave forcible expression to the feelings of the people. He has also laid unmistakable emphasis on the fact that New Zealand must at all costs keep up its supply of fighting men. If the voluntary system can provide the required number of recruits, well and good; but if not, then some form of compulsion must be adopted. There are signs of a hardening up throughout the whole Empire. Our public men are more outspoken in their views and bolder in their actions. Tho time for smooth speech and vague generalities has gone. It 'is the plain duty of those in_ responsible positions to speak right out and to act fearlessly as their judgment and the needs of the occasion dictate. Sir GeOrge Reid's recent declaration in favour of "the war, the whole war, and nothing but the war," tersely sums up the-public i opinion of tho Empire. Instead of being war-weary the people are calling upon their Governments to put more vigour rnto the struggle, to hit 1 harder and still harder, to make ; fuller and better use of our re- • sources.