The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1916. SOLID GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1916. SOLID GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE

■To-day the British Empire enters upon its third year of war. For two fateful years the conflict has gone on with ever-increasing intensity, and to-day the wisdom and justice of the momentous step taken on August 4, 191-1, when Britain declared war on Germany, are plainer than ever. Tho Allies have never faltered in their determination to fight on until they are in a position to dictate the terms of a just and lasting peace, and daily it ia becoming clearer that, their hopes and expectations will bo fully realised. On this commemoration day it is well that we should once more call to mind the objects for which Britain drew the sword. These objects were announced to the world by Me. Asquith in the historic speech which he delivered at the Guildhall on November 9, 1914. He then declared that

ll' e shall- norncr sheathe the sword until Belgium- recovers all thai site has sacrificed, until Frame is adequately secured against the menacc of aggresuntil the rights of the suiallcr nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable foundation, and ■until the ■military domination of Prussia ■is wholly and finally destroyed.

The Allies have solemnly pledged themselves to continue the struggle until all these things have been fulfilled. They aro also morally bound to see the wrongs of Poland and Serbia righted, and within the last few days Mil. Asquith has promised that the authors and instigators of tho horrible outrages and cold-blooded murders committed by tho Germans shall be brought to judgment when the war is over. These arc the things for which wc arc»fighting. They represent that 'victorious end" which the' Empire is inflexibly determined to attain and to continue tho struggle with unabated vigour until it is attained. Wo sstart this third year of tho war with confidence, based on sure fmindations, not merely that the tide has turned in our favour; but that it has turned and is flowing with increasing speed, carrying us irresistibly toward the goal of victory.

At th?, beginning of the second year the Allies were animated by the same spirit which finds expression in the resolution which tho citizens of Wellington will bo called upon to reaffirm to-night, but tho outlook then was not nearly so favourable as it is now. During the first year of the conflict we learned many lessons, but wo did not loarn them in vain. Disappointment and disillusionment tested the character of the nation, and it stood the ordeal without flinching. The progress of events during tho early stages .of tho strugglo made it evident that we had underrated the strength of the enemy, and it also revealed the weak points' in pur own fighting machine. Britain then began to organise all her vast resources of men, money, and munitions, on a scale unparalleled in her long and eventful history. It was a wonderful effort, and wc are now beginning to gather its fruits. Tho enormous increaso in the output of munitions, and the adoption of a system of compulsory military service stimulated the hopes of our Allies and dismayed the hearts of our enemies. In his review of a rccenfcly-published book, entitled "L'Jifforl Britannique," M. Emile Cajimaebts, a Belgian writer, remarks that Britain "has done in two years what other people did in half a century." That is the position in a nutshell. It is almost a rtiiracle. M. Gle'menceau, who contributes a preface to the book, pays this generous tribute to the British people:

Other nations havo poured more blood oil the epic battlefields of Europe. Otliors have had to sustain fiercer assaults, to shower a wilder form of heroism in order to stem the Huns' onset. No other has prepared herself with; moro method, with moro energy to fulfil her task to the end. No other has been in the same waj' completely transformed in her traditions, in her social life, in her worship of independence.

Germany has done her utmost to divide the Allies. By lies, by bribes, and by threats sho has endeavoured to sever the bond which binds them together. She has tried to make Franco and Russia believe that Britain was not bearing her fair' sharo of the sacrifices, and was only using them to servo her own ends. Germany whispered poison into the cars of each of the Allies in turn, but they had taken the measure of that dishonoured nation, and to-day they arc more united than ever; their ties cemented by the sacrifices each has made. Instead of weakening, the Alliance grew stronger- and stronger. A Slav proverb declares that "on the spot where men shed their blood in com•mon there springs up a flower whose name is life-long friendship." The secrifices which the Allies have made and the blood which they have shed in this fight for right and freedom against the Germanic Moloch has created a friendship be-, tween them which the cunning of 'tho enemy is powerless to shako. Tho sphere of co-operation among them has been continually expanding. Co-operation in war has led on to plans for co-operation in peace, and at the present moment tho Allied nations form the most powerful combination that has ever existed in tho history of tho world. They are now, on this second anniversary of the declaration of -war, renewing their vows of friendship and of determination to fight to the finish in concert, to settle the terms of peace by mutual agreement, and to take counsel together regarding "the trade campaign which has already commenced, and which will assume gigantic proportions as soon as the war is over. The Paris Economic Conference completed this great plan of united action. It was a declaration to the enemy that the Allies arc determined to wage war with the samo unity and determination in tho commercial as in the military sphere. Tho Allies enter on the third year of the war with the additional strength arising out of their completed unity. Their confidence in ultimate victory iB stronger than ever before, whereas the confidenco of-the enemy is manifestly on tho wane. The Germans have ceased to cxpcct a decisive win. They are now looking for a way of escape from overwhelming defeat. "Herb Gaedke admits that the Allies avo stronger to-day than at tho beginning of the war, and it is quite [Certain that the Central Powers are

weaker. The terrible experiences of tho past two years luive not broken the spirit of France. Today we "see Franco at her greatest— unconquerable. llussia, pressed back for a while, smitten desperately hard owing to lack of munitions, has renewed her strength, and her second onslaught is bursting through the enemy's defences in the 'Ea-st, striking terror into the ranks of the opposing armies, and spreading demoralisation amongst the civilian population. Britain "is fighting with evcr-incroasing power. , The Jutland Battle has increased her margin of naval superiority,' and the rapid growth ■and splendid fighting qualities 'of her Army lias astonished the world —and her power is still growing. Sir Douglas Haig is a man offew words. Ho has hitherto refrained from talking about victory. This makes his assertion of confidence in the triumph of tho Allies just ut'tered all the more impressive. "The task may yet be long and hard," he says, "but the result is not doubtful." Those words are being proved by the logic of events. The final outcome is assured. It but remains for us to press forward with all our power to hasten the day of victory.