TO THE END

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 6

TO THE END

OUR SHARE IN THE WAR

INFLEXIBLE DETERMINATION

NEW ZEALAND'S GREAT 1 RESOLVE

BIG WELLINGTON MEETING

The third anniversary of the declaration of war was marked throughout New Zealand by meetings which reaffirmed the de--termination of the people to continue the struggle till'• victory •is attained. The meeting held in tne Wellington Town Hall' on Saturday:".evening was attended by about,SOtJO' people,- who displayed enthusiasm in'the purpose of the gathering. The.Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. V. Luke)"presided over the gathering. He Tjad apologies from Sir Joseph Ward and Sir James Allen, both of whom stated Hhat they wefe in full accord with tho ;spirit,of the gathering. This, said tho uffayta, was the fourth Wellington meetring of 'the: kind. -' • : Tho : first was held a ; 'few days -after the declaration of war, and the height of-enthusiasm then reached ,had never .since been exceeded. He

again reach'that white/.heati'that, evening; and as a patriotic peov pie renew- their resolve; to carry on their share of the;war till ou'r'sido won it. • When the war began our people were unprepared as far as the Army was concerned, but the Navy was ready. However, Kitchener soon made an army out

of the civilians and the Territorials. The territorial training, by the way, liad stood the nation in good stead in this time of strife for the training it had-given had Tjeen a big help to the men who had had to be got ready for the fighting. But too •much ipraise could not be given* to the Navy. In this war all the Dominions had rallied to the standard, and New Zealand had played its part worthily, and the men of New Zealand had done their

" work heroically. That night the people honoured the brave dead, and these dead ■had so conducted themselves -that, their parents and relatives and friends. need not mourn altogether, for there was cause for pride in the fact that they had done '~ their duty as they had done. Here we : were pledged to see the war through to a successful end so that all men might live in peace. Mr. Luke then moved :— "On this the third anniversary of ''■■ the declaration of a righteous war, 'this meeting of the citizens of Wel- \ lington records its inflexible determination to continue tp a victorious .i.end the struggle in maintenance of "-" those ideals of liberty .and justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies." - See it Through. The Prime Minister (tho Eight Hon. W. F. Massey), who was received with applause, supported the resolution. He was sure it expressed; the sentiments of the meeting. Fifty or so telegrams had '- been received that day, all saying- the resolution had been carried .enthusiastically. A proof, of the spirit of the people was the carrying by the House of Representatives of the .£24,000,000 loan by 40 votes ,to 4. (Applause.) Ho was sorry for the four, ' To-day, • after three years of war, they • had met again to say they would carry 1 on- to victory and .permanent peace. The 'British. Army had grbwu to be 6,000,000 >: strong, and with the Navy was the "strongest fighting force the world had seen, and a force in which the citizens of the Empire had the most complete : confidence. While away, Sir Joseph Ward and he had sat for weeks at the council table with Mr. Lloyd George-and other, •members of the British Cabinet, and could assure tho meeting those men wore' patriots of the highest order. ' One could not meet Beatty, Hnig, and Robertson ..without feeling they were as great leaders 'as 7 Britain ever had. It- was necessajy to . carry on the war. so that the blood shed '•and the.treasiire spent should not have •been wasted. New Zealand had sent men to,fight alongside the other men of the Empire, and those men had done credit to themselves and honour to their country. The end of the war was not in sight, but Britain and.hc.r Allies wero determined to carry on the struggle till the peace of-the world was assured. They must not-forget the"atrocities of the Germans—the. sinking of ! hospital ships, the enslavement of Belgium, the shooting of .women, and,many other acts that were despicable. A Winnipeg soldier had told a story of-Germans driving French women and children before them. when they charged an important French positionj The French withheld fire as long as possible, but in the end were compelled to shoot down their own flesh-and "blood to save an important position. It -was ..true.Russia, hiijl.been disappointing, but America had come m and had made victory :a certainty. Victory'had been certain before'then, but with America in 'the war would end sooner than otherwise. He did not think the war would end thisvyeari'butthoiight that a big effort would be made' to' end it next European summer. The end would be secured by the united effort? of our people and our Allies, and we .must do our part to attain that end. Our men at the front were longing for home, but did not want to return- unless they came back" as victors. (Applause.) They were prepared 'to leave their bones on foreign soil. AVo must do our-duty to those men—supply them with food, equipment, reinforcements. -, . " Vl ITpre an'interrupter : made himself evi■dent.' ""'* • ' j : ■ ■ ■ .'';'■ Voice?: Put him out. ' The police ejected the man, and Mr. Massey proceeded. ' , Tho: Prime Minister said we must bB prepared for sacrifices perhaps grc-e.ter than we had yet made. Our patience might yet be tried a great deal more. Still we must not break faith with the men who had died for us.-.(Aijplause.) ' Message to London. Mr. Massey read the following message, which he to the National Pa-.trioti,(:-.;Orga.iiisation meeting, London:— ,-.:.' "Three years of war, with all their saddening experiences, have 'only x strengthened tho determination of tho . peoplo of New Zealand to continue ..the struggle, which, in defence of civilisation, wo have been compelled to enter. It is in this spirit that New Zealand enters upon the fourth year of the war. . On behalf of its , people I'! desire- again to afsurc our ~,. kinsmen overseas that, God helping ~.tis, we shall not be found wanting .'in-sacrifice, and that wc are prepared ■■:• to face cheerfully the trials the year ;.:■ may. have in store, confident in the. • . justice of tlie cause we have espoused ' and convinced that victory must come '.to those- who 'are battling the cause of righteousness and humanity." The Bulldog's Hold. The Hon. W. H". Homes said this was no time for faltering or for cold feet. Whatever came wo had to set our teeth, and put the thing through.' That was . the characteristic of the British rate. The nickname of the British was "bulldog"; the bulldog took hold and never let go. We must nee there was no faintheartedness,' and must see this war through. A hundred years ago the. British nation had stood up to a war for twenty-one years. Allies came and went, but the British had hung.on,to the end. The keynote of the resolution was the "inflexible determination" which marked the British attitude when they undertook' a thing. We must say with the old Maori chief: "Ake. ake, nke." (Applause.) Germany's Disappoiritmsnts. The Hon. G. W. Russell agreed with Mr. Herries that "inflexible determination" was a. chief tliini; in the resolution ; the Dote of liberty was another. Wo had started this war with what the Kaiser had dubbed a contemptible iitlle army. That army had grown to millions. The war had been a series of disappointments ' for Germany. They staked all on their Army, and that had not brought them victory.' Then Eng- . land was to be destroyed 'by . Zeppelins, but Count Zeppelin had died of a broken heart because of the absence of the success of his invention. Next the Fokker was to bring Germany big tilings, but it, too, had failed. Then' came the submarines, but they were failing. Let us, in tlm words of the resolution. r/N through this work with inflexible detovBMn'atioii. We .had to follow the oath of duty * n (lip l N"w Z°nlnnd would he there when the knock-out blow'.was given to the German bully. We had not

| only to fight, but also to grow food to feed the armies. He was a New Zealander, and did not want to see an inconclusive peaco. Think! Our men had taken Samoa; and an inconclusive peace might mean that we would have to give Samoa, back to' Germany to be a base for the enemy nndabase againstns. We must continue this war to a victorious end, even if the end was twenty years off. (Applause,.) No Premature Peace. Mr. E. A. AVright, M.P., praised the National Ministry, and said the reason why tie Ministry was criticised was that tho Ministry was. trying to do its duty—trying to do its share to crush a gang of abominable fiends. Mast of tho blame could be laid at the door of tho German oligarchy, but tho German'people were equally lespousible. The crimes of Germany must be punished, and the war must be seen through by Britain and_her Allies. We must remember what Germany had done to Belgium, and recognise that if Gennany could effect a landing here she would do the same to tile people of this,.country—butcher the men and the boys, ajid reserve tho women and the girls for a worse fate. Ho did not believe the British could liato as the Germans hated, but we must never forget. Fair, play was all right in places, but was not all right for Germany. There were temptations to bring about a premature peace, bitf jt would only be a truce, and was - not worth while, and when that was realised even the mothers would not favour it. We were fighting a well-organised, skilful gang of criminals, who were out to do anything and everything. What' did Beatty mean when he said England was not ready for victory? Most of us believed in a God; and we were justified in calling .on God to help us to bring to a victorious conclusion this era of crime and bring about for ever a time of universal peace. Determined to make the Necessary Sacrifices. City Councillor M. I''. Luckie said tho meeting expressed the unalterable determination of the people to go through with the war • whatever the cost. The British nation had always been the champion of freedom, We stood to-day arrayed against a power which was the greatest menace the earth had known. Had our children been thoroughly taught ' German history in the schools we would have known the truth twenty years ago. The Germans had set their heart on the earth, and Britain was the greatest Power standing in the way. Even America today was realising the facts. We were fighting not only for ourselves, but also for tho peoples who wanted freedom. That was the great thing for which Britain stood, and the thing which Germany was vainly trying to destroy. We sent our bravest and best to the war, and as their sacrifices grew, greater so must we go on taking the places of those who died, and looking after those they left behind. There must be no faltering. He believed we were determined to make the necessary sacrifices. We were fighting not only for the freedom of the earth, but also for a state of affairs in which such a war could not recur. Further, we must see that those who returned crippled and wounded cid not suffer. And it must not lie by charity; it must be by right. (Applause.) We must do our best for, these men, and do our part to the end'. (Applause.) The resolution was carried amidst cheering.

Cheers were given for the returned soldiers und for the men and nurses ct the front, and tho meeting concluded with the Natiohalj'Anthem.

' SUBURBAN MEETINGS

STRIKING SPEECH BY SIR FRANCIS BELL. A large and enthusiastic audience of Onslow citizens met at the Khaudallah Hall on Saturday night, and unanimously reaffirmed their inflexible determination to fight until the war was completely won. The resolution was moved by the Mayor, Mr. J. M. Dale, who said we must ! be either in the war or out of it. Certain people whom he styled "the White Flag Brigade" had suggested that we should stop sending recruits and "take, it out in 6heep." Such a course? he said, would brand the memory of the Auzacs with immortal shame. He emphasised that it was not the men who were liable for service who were talking thus, but a few comfortable men over age whose hearts were" chilled with the thought of high taxation. Mr. 'J. E. Fitzgerald seconded the motion. In a vigorous speech he declared that New Zealand would be in tho fight until the final victory, whenever victory came.

- Sir Francis Bell, who was cordially received, said he hojped the motion would ho echoed throughout every town in the British Empire that day. He said this was New Zealand's war; that no part of the Empire had been in greater peril' in 1914 than Australia and New Zealand. What Germany called its "place in the sun" was in these islands. But wo had been saved from a servitudo worse than death because the British people had not forgotten the traditions of the race. (Applause.) Our greatest fear before August, 1914, was that tho men who governed ,the Empire at its heart would have stood aloof and allowed the war to be fought by Germany and France on fictitious issues. Our relief when war was declared was evidenced by tho cheer that went up upon the announcement being made on the Parliamentary steps. i Proceeding, Sir Francis Bel! said that in every country' there was a stage at which final exhaustion came. There was a point in our own stago of the ballot where we had come to the end of the single, men. The argument had been advanced that this was tho point of time when this country had. reached exhaustion. He ventured .to call attention to what was going on in.Wellington to-day —races; music-halls,' and picture shows, all in full siring. It was therefore too ridiculous to say that we could not afford to send more men. There wero thousands of men unable to go to the front who were • ready to serve in any capacity in New Zenland to release men for the front. ."I, myself," he declared, "old as I am, am still able to render some service if the Government will find me a place, and many others are in the same- position." Sir Francis attributed tho brutality of German methods to the set of villains governing. Germany, and said that ho could not believe that it was really the result of the will of tho people. He. quoted with approval the words of Mr. Balfour, ivhoi said last .week: "Don't think.what will happen after tho war; go in and win." Finally Sir Francis Bell paid a fine tributo to the New Zealand troops. He said.they had made New Zealand; they had carried its honour on their shoulders; we should never be able to repay them. But not one of them thought wa owed' them anything. And their Maori comrades were the same. As New Zealanders we could all adopt their motto-. "Ake! ake! ake!" Upon resuming his seat Sir Francis Bell was loudly applauded. Mr. A. Varuev gave an interesting account of Y.M.ti.A. work at the front, and demonstrated the wonderful spirit that animated the trjiops. Mr. F. Twiss was encored for his excellent rendering of "Britannia Rules the Waves." Miss Fathers recited "The Midniiht Charge" with fine effect, and three of the visiting French soldiers sang the "Marseillaise," and wero warmly applauded. . . ■ The meeting ended with three hearty cheers for the boys at the front, for the ladies, and for our Allies.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of residents of Eastbourne and Day's Bay was held in the Eastbourne Hall on Saturday evening, when a resolution of determination'to c-ontiimo the war until victory for the Allies is proclaimed was unanimously carried. resolution was proposed bv the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. P. Levi), seconded by Mr. a W Blair, and spoken to by Messrs. D. 11. Findlav and: J. W. Heenan. A pleasing feature of the proceedings was the singing of "Rule Britannia" by Mr. R. de Lacv Peek and the "Marseillaise by Mr. Sigurd LestrUp, both of which items were much appreciated. ' Mr. H. Baldwin, Mayor, moved lie resolution at Lower Hutt. where the meeting was held in the Council Chambers. At Petone Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, Mayor, presided.

IN THE CHURCHES

There were a number of intercessor.? services held in the City churches to mark -the end of the third year of war. and tho peoplp's unalterable desire that

tho war should be continued to the last man and gun. There wore two celebrations of Holy Communion at St. Peter's Church, Willi* Street, on Saturday morning, and an intercessory service was held at night. Tho Rev. S. M. Keinpthorne was the officiating minister. A special Mass was celebrated at the Hill Street Basilica on Saturday morning, when there was a crowded congregation. The celebrant was tlio Rev. Father Smyth. The Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) made reference to the commencement of the fourth year of war in tho course of his sermon at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral yesterday morning. He said it came as a shock to most people when. the Minister of Defence recently stated 'that 7000 of our young men would never see New Zealand again. They kuew that the list must be heavy, but they did not think the number would be so large. The first thought of most of i)s on Saturday was about those brave young men who.had fallen. We owed them everlasting gratitude. They had not lived to win complete victory; but they had done their best for us and we were grateful. A Canadian soldier had remarked that it was possible to win four crosses in Flanders: the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross, the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and "the cross over a fellow's grave," and perhaps the most glorious and honourable of the four was "the cross over a fellow's grave. Some of the letters he had read from the men at the front showed wonderful tranquility of mind and tenderness of submission, which revealed the existence of a strong and deep trust'in God. The bishop went on to say that we who remained behind should pray constantly for the men at the front, for the wounded, and for those who may be dying for us. Also 'for the Empire, that it may fulfil its responsibilities now and when the war is over. ' , To mark the third anniversary of the declaration of the war, and to honour the six thousand Methodist boys who have gone to the front, some of whom have made the supreme secrifice, a combined service from tho City Methodist churches was held in the Taranaki Street Methodist Church on Saturday evening, several hundred persons being present. The Rev. Edward Drake (chairman of the district) presided, and was assisted by all the local clergy.- Earnest and forceful addresses were delivered by Chaplains Reed and H. T. Peat, both stressing the point that there must bo no slackening of interest in our duty to see that our soldier boys were efficiently equipped for the-stern duty that lies before them. The keynote of tho address was "We must carry on" until the forces of cruel and merciless militarism is forever crushed. Also attention was drawn to the' serious responsibilities resting upon the churches with regard to afterwar problems. The united choirs sang special music at intervals, a quartet from "Elijah," "Cast Thy Burden," was well rendered, and "a solo by Miss Snelling, "Rock of Ages," from Ar'thurjFagg's setting, was feelingly renderedJ&Mr. Temple White presided at. the organ. A collection was taken for the Chaplains' Soldiers' Comfort Fund, realising upwards of .El 7. There was a large attendance at tho Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church on Saturday afternoon, when, to mark the third anniversary of tho outbreak of war, a service of an intercessory character was held. The service was conducted by the Rev. Arch. E. Hunt), who delivered stirring address appropriate to the occasion, expressive of the good British intention to fight on to a victorious end. A tribute whs also paid to those who had fallen in tho three years of war. The lesson was read by the Rev. W. A. Evans, of the Newtown Congregational Church.

\ AT THE GIRLS' COLLEGE

An impressive service was held in the Central Hall of the Wellington Girls' College on Friday afternoon, when Bishop Sprott addressefl the pupils of the senior school jni "Lessons from tho War." During tue course of his very earnest address, the Bishop said that this war was unique in the history of tho world's wars, because of the 'great part which wom'en had been avowed to play in it—as nurses and as helpers in various departments. Incidents in connection with the bravery shown by the nurses of the sinking hospital ships Anglia and Marquette, wore quoted.

Great heroism had been shown also by our men. Not only by those who had been given the outward marks of honour—the Military Cross, the Victoria Cross, and Legion of Honour—but by hundreds who had only been Riven silently the Tast cross of all—that over their graves. Though such heroism and selfsacrifice, had been shown during the war, it behoved all. people to continue such virtues after the war. Had this selfsacrifice and devotion to duty always been shown there never would have been any occasion for the horrors of war. War was not needed to bring out the heroism and devotion in a • man's or woman's nature. Those had been shown in many otifer instances. The incident of the bravery shown by the stewardess of the sinking ship Wairarapa some years ago, when 'she gave the last lifebelt to a child, was quoted, and her bravery instanced ninny others. Heroism could still lie shown in combating evils' in our land, and in spreading the uosnel of Christ. Before the war England spent two millions nounds a year in the furtherance of the Gospel. Now she 'mend's' between siy and seven million pounds a day on the expenses of war. Yfc should nor need to spend this money in the destruction of life but. in the bi'-'hling un of a nation. Before closing his address the Bishop •••'■••>.' Hie girl's to remember daily )r. their prayers the soldiers, sailors, nurses, and doctors, and give sympathy and kindness to all who need it. Kiss Jf'l.ean, Ladv 'Principal, thanked Bishop Sprott for his very helpful address, and urged the girls to take the lessons to heart that had beeu given them. During the service the Recessional Hymn and Russian National Anthem were sung, while our own National Anthem closed the afternoon gathering.

IN OTHER CENTRES

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, August 5. His Majesty's Theatre wa.s filled last night, when the patriotic resolution was carried. Speeches were delivered by the Mayor, Mr. ,T. ,T. Clark, who presided, the Rev. G. 11. Balfour, and Professor' Bedford. The last-named was loudly ap-' plauded wlien he declared that the Governinent was paying for the trifling sacrifice that capital was asked to make at a much higher rate than for the sacrifice of,personal service and even of life. To-day services were held in most of the churches, and the resolution affirming the intention to prosecute the war to a final successful issue was affirmed at each.

Hokitika, August 4. At noon to-day a large public gathering was held. On the motion of tho Mayor, Mr. Perry, seconded by Mr. Norman, county chairman, and supported, by leading citizens and clergy, tho meeting unanimously carried the resolution forwarded by the Prime Minister. The meeting also carried a motion, moved by the Uev. Mr. Eraser, who, noting that the main resolution contained no acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Almighty God, expressed .the opinion that the time had arrived when by tho authority of Parliament there Should bo set apart a..day of national .prayer. Wanganui, August 5. War anniversary services were held in the churches yesterday, and a public meeting was held at night. At St. Paul's Church the resolution bore an addition calling on the Government to give effect to the ' Efficiency Board's recommendation in regard to hotels, on the ground that Prohibition was one of tho chief means of nrosecuting the war to a successful end. ; Hamilton, August 4. An immense gathering, held in the Theatre Royal to-day, including returned soldiers, territorials, cadets, and boy scouts, carried the war resolution amidst great enthusiasm, all standing, and giving three cheers. Tho resolution waa moved by Mr. J. K. Low, Deputy Mayor, and was seconded by Mr. A. E. Manning, .T.P. Business people closed their premises for an hour.' A procession, headed by tho 16th AVaikato Kegimuntal Band, marched to tho theatre. ■ Press Association tolcgrams received slate that meetings were also held at Auckland, Napier. '|.'bimes, Westport, and Pahiatua.