"THE PASSING OF WAR"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 10

"THE PASSING OF WAR"

Sir,—The following extract from "The Passing of War," by tlic Rev. W. 1.. tirano, vicar of Cobham (1!I12), is interesting, aud may induce the more intelligent of your readers to studv tlin book:— . "In November last (1911) Lord ltoherU nddressed the country (through 'The .limes') in the following words:—'The conditions amid which millions of our people are living appears to me to make it natural that they should not care w straw under which rule they may l>o called upon to dwell; and I can <juito understand their want of patriotic feeling. liecent unimpeachable evidence makes it clear that to tens of thousands of. Englishmen engaged in daily toil, the call to sacrifice, themselves for their country must seem an insult to their reason, for those conditions under which they live make their lives already an unending sacrifice. . . Social reform is a necessary preliminary to any thorough system of national defence.'" The end of the present war will not be tho beginning of universal peace. A careful study of "The Passing of War" combined with observation of the mental and spiritual states of our countrymen will convince any person of average intelligence that we have entered an era of great wars. When the nations of Europe have settled the present business they will enter into an extensive preparation to renew the struggle for supremacy. The law of tile survival of the fittest will continue in operation, notwithstanding the efforts of Socialists, and the States that are fittest socially and economically will have the'best system of national dcfence. "The Passing of War" is in the reference branch of our Public Library. It contains a mass of historical and useful information. And although one may not agree with the reverend writer on all points much benefit must result from,a careful study of "The Passing of War."—l am, etc. STURROCK ROBBIE. Wellington, ."July 18.