The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1916. ONLY ONE ENDING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2847, 11 August 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1916. ONLY ONE ENDING

„ Now that the tide of war lias definitely turned in pur favour, it is ;of the utmost importance that wo should not falter in our determination to complete our task with tho utmost thoroughness. This means, first and foremost, that the fl,rmcd forces of tho enemy must be thoroughly crushed. .It also means that fullest possible compensation | shall be cxaoted from him for the destruction ho has wrought in France, and Belgium, and Poland, and Serbia; and. that tho authors and instigators of -the ghastly crimes which the Germans hare committed Bhall receive the punishment they deserve. It is well that our public men should clearly understand the tmnd of the people on this matter. Ihere must bo no wavering, no halfmeasures. Tho war must be fought out until full victory has been won and until the full fruits of victory are in the grasp of the Allies. All tho legitimate rights of the victor must be claimed. When the power or _ the enemy was at its highest poitit, the Empire never for a mo-' aient swerved from its resolve to continue the, struggle until all the objects for which it drew the sword had been achieved. Shall it falter now that its weakened foe, hemmed in on every side, is being gradually, but surely, forced to its knees? The warning uttered by Me. Masses: yesterday against any slackening in our determination to see tho war through to a successful conclusion was timely, for it is just when, after a long-continued effort, we seem' to be getting within reach of the desired end, that the temptation to be content with somcthiing short of the best is apt to present itself, ihia fatal allurement should be resisted to the uttermost. It would be a betrayal of those who havo. made the great sacrifice. Even now there are subtle .influences abroad m favour of hastening tho end by meoting the enemy half-way. This compromise movement was referred to by Sir George Adam Smith, in tho inspiring address which he recently delivered from the Moderator's Chair of the United Free Church Assembly. His, words on this point are well worthy of the serious attention of the public and of public men.'

In different interests (he said) attempts are being made upon the' nation's resoluteness, which, however plausibly urged on grounds of prudence or feeling, aro nothing else than distractions from the spiritual principles of our conflict and our duty to God and humanity. Letters to the Press, editorially certified as from representative persons, point to the slowness of tno'war and the close equality of tho belligerents/ and would porsuado us that no.decision is possible upon it: Such writers forget what alono induced us to fight. If our claims be true and we are fighting for justice and the morality of States, no considerations can prevail before these aims are achieved. But indeed the Iheads of all tho Allied Governments have expressed their determination, as to this. As for tho result, we have faith in God, and know that in a war for righteousness there cannot but be a decision. As for the slowness of the war we must remember tho length of years it took to shattor Iflie last conspiracy against the liberties of Europe, and imitate the tenacity of our fathers till their victory was won.

It is just as necessary to be on our guard against the clanger of pessimism as against that shallow optimism which refuses to rccogniso unpleasant facts. Friends of tho enemy are insidiously endeavouring to spread the belief that an out and out win for the Allies is not to bd oxpected, but that they may soon be in a position to make a very good bargain. People who ought to know better sometimes play into the hands of tho enemy, quite unwittingly, by thoughtless remarks, which create a wrong impression regarding tho military situation. In the course of a speech delivered in Sydney a few days ago, Mr. Joseph Cook, the Leader of tho Liberal Party in New South Wales, said that though he was confident of tho superiority of tho armies and the" resources of the Allies, ho was not convinced that thoy wore going to knock the enemy out with a knockdown blow. Ho suggested that when the end comes it will bo found that tho Allies have won on points. The Premier of Now South Wales (Mr. Holman) quite properly expressed ompbatic dissent from this suggestion. He said that ho did not believe that wo would win on points. There was no reason to think that tho Allied Powers would fail in resolution, or be content with any victory but that which crushes for ever the dominating militarism of Prussia. Mr. Cook repudiated tho in-

Verpretation which Me. Holman [had placed on his words, and iserted that he had no as to the ultimate issue, but there can I bo no doubt that his words in r tii sf> placc were unfortunately ] chosen. The misunderstanding j serves to emphasise the importance :pt public speakers carofullv woigh- | ing their words when dealing with war questions. The very thought oi bargaining- with the Arch-Crimi-nal at Berlin and his aiders and abettor:) is repulsive. AVe cannot oven think of peacc until tho Allies are in a position to dictate their own terms, to mete out just punishment to those who have earned it, and to make.it impossible for tho Kaiser and the Prussian junkers to again set tho world ablaze. Uncomplainingly our Empire has sacrificed its blood and treasure in tho cause of justice and freedom, and it is prepared to make whatever further sacrifice may be necessary ifl order to ensuro victory. All that we have done will have been done in vain if the evil of Prussianism is not beaten to the £ro\mr] AHvantage should be taken of ' every opportunity of impressing upon the Imperial authorities the fact that anything ir, tho naturo of ari inconclusive would bo a bitter blow to the, people of Now Zealand. Let great task Which we began two >ears ago be thoroughly done, so 'that we can go back to the ordinary business of life without being haunted by the disturbing thought that before very long we will be compelled to fight tho terrible battle over again. It would bo a oruel blow to find-that we had accepted a peace which only meant feverish preparation for another and fiercer war.