WAR LECTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3004, 15 February 1917, Page 6

WAR LECTURE

BIG GATHERING AT TOWN HALL.

_ Nearly 3000 people attended at the Town Hall last evening, when a war lecture and rally took place tinder tho auspices of tho National Reserve. The lecturer was Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. Among those present woro the Hon. G. W. Russell, General Henderson, and mombers of the National Reserve. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided.

Tho Mayor introduced the leoturer in complimentary terms, and said a few words for tho National Reserve, which, hq mentioned, had dono good work and might yet be required to do a great deal mores than it had yet attempted. Mr. Wilford said he was merely an armchair critic, a student of authorities, and he proposed to put before his fellow-townsmen tho result of his studies. Tilings wero looking so well now that so long as people were willing to rally to tho sacrifice, and we worked together, the war could he satisfactorily finished. Men who spread dissension were enemies of tho Empire In this war, he who was not with us was against us. Every neutral country would be with us to-day but for the fact that the smaller nations ha J not a punch with to back up their ■wishes, and Germany, knowing this, was employing her usual jack-boot methods on them. The State had become the dominant agent of the war, and whatever one's political creed, it had to bo buried till the war was won. The latest news—that of tho taking of Kut-el-Amara—was good, for the sake of tho prestige of our Empire in the eyes of the people of India.. Speaking of Rumania's part in the war, Mr. Wilford said that Rumania declared war on the enemy because of Germany's declaration that she would have foodstuffs and because of threatened offensive Rumania's, entry to the war was of considerable general benefit. So far, according to Russian figures, the Rumanian campaign had cost the enoiny 300,000 men. Tho enemy started that campaign with fifteen divisions of men picked from every front for the quick capture of Rumania, so as to get the food and tho oil, and make a move that would startle tho world. The enemy force was increased to 600,000. The campaign had cost Germauy 300,000 men in casualties, and they had not captured the Rumanian army. What was the effect of that in a time when man-powor counted? That was why Rumania's entry hed been of general benefit. To-day Germany was massing troops on the Western front. Why? General Foch said the Germans must attack, because a weakening force could not wait. Hβ did not desire to see Germany shorten its line, for with Germany's decreasing man-power that would mean prolonging the war; Germany, short of men, could fight for longer on a. short front than on a long one. Territory mattered not in this war; men mattered. The only question was: When would the German lino j break? As to the present submarine j menace, the British Navy could bo left j to do its part in tho war, if anything | in the world could. When the settlement came, he hoped that the Kiel Canal would be a neutral waterway, and Lorraine would bo given back to ! France, for in Lorraiiio was the iron j ore that Germany depended on, ap.d' I with the handing of Lorraine to Franc© | tho German menace would pass.

Mr. Wilford was heartily tnanked for liis lecture.

During the evening assistance was rendered by Madame, Anderson (vocalist) and the Tramway Hand. The arangemnnts for the gathering were in the hands of Mr. Joseph Lewis. It is estimated that the sum of £50 ■was taken at the doors.