WAR LECTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 8

WAR LECTURE

411(. W.ILFOUI) .ATTHJITOWN HALL.

.Mr. 'J.'. i\l. Willed, J1.1'., delivered another war Icoturo.iii the Town Hall Just (.■vciiins. There woro over iMflO llcojplo present. . , . Mr. Wilroi-tl suid tliiil Iho mam stratwas what ci.untecl in tli« war, and till) mail) strategy was Lest learned from tho official reports. Hβ went on to esiy that territory did not' inatlpr m this war, and Germany could liavo any o£ our territory slio desired if eho cared to pay tho price. Germany sained a. great Btrotcli nf coinitay when Poland anil noftions of - Western Russia fell to nor, but wliiit nf tha price slie paid? .If ivo non this .war, Jfutwia conkl get liack in ono day all that Germany gained at ho terrible ii cost. Wo must 1)0 prepared to stand bv to the last. It was tho .anal punch which would matter. That punch could not bo delivered without men. Mr. AVilford refeiyod to tho position of Spain. The entry of Spain into tho war would affect tho position in Mexico, lhe King of Spain-had been the* greatest or friends to tho relatives of soldiers, and with his stall , had, answered. 600,000 letters" Tho last election in Swedonwas fou«ht on tho question of entry into tho war. Ono hundred, and forty-six members -wore returned iu favour of coming into iho war on tho sido of tho Allies, and eighty-six wore returned in favour of war on tho side of Germany. Germany would never take Holland unless she waa driven to it through the arising ot a certain position. Two of Germany 8 chief rivers ran through Holland, and lip them Germany could carry food while Holland remained neutraU Much was claimed for Germany's submarines, but it snoiua l>o borno in mind that the German submarines had not been able to interfere with our transport of men and munitions across tho English Channel. Aβ a, fact, Britain had bigger, fa-ster, and betterarmed submarines than Germany, had, and Germany knew it. Mexico, -where great oil welle were, was a country of the greatest importance at present. As to tho revolution in Eussia, tho upheaval was iin evont in our favour. If there had not been a revolution there would have been a separate peace signed on March -IS, 1317. One should have nothin" but admiration for the Russian people. Tho Tsar was a friend of tho Allies, but had been determined not to lose any of his autocratic authority. Tho Tsarina was a Gorman, tho Court wns largely composed of pro-Germans, and German intrigue was rife. One Sunday in the middle of March tho pro-German head of the Ruseian eecret police ordered orderly people in 'the streets to ho fired on. The men in the streets retaliated with sticks or anything they could find. Eegiments were called out to charge the people. The regiments mutinied, and the "rent Bussiirn revolution had begun. Just at the time of the revolution the German pence proposals had arrived in Russia to receivo tlio Tsar's signature. As to the Western front, onr output of Rims and munitions was enormously greater than that of the enemy. Tho reason the Germans were hanging on .was that they belie Ted defeat for them meant national extinction. At tho conclusion of his Inc-. hire Mr. Wilford ivas warmly applauded.