VICTORY ESSENTIAL TO A FREE WORLD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 5

VICTORY ESSENTIAL TO A FREE WORLD

onomy elects that it be an eye for an oye and a tooth for a. tooth, 110 detested tho doctrine as grossly immoral, but we wore fighting lor tho lives (1 our womon and childron. Whatever outrages' wero committed on tho civilian population would bo met by similar troatmont of the Gorman people.— Router .

ALLIES MAKING STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS THEIR GOAL STIRRING SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE By Telegraph-Press Asßociation-OopyriEht (Rec. December 16, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 14. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at a dinner to the heads of tho Air Service, after emphasising the importance of the operations of tho Air Service as the determining factor in tho war, referred to Lord Lansdowne's letter. He understood now, he said, that Lord Lansdowne had not intended in the least to convey the meaning his words might reasonably boar, and only intended to 6ay exactly the same thing as President Wilson had : said in a recent speech. Tho whole of tho British nation fully agreed with that speech, and therefore he concluded that the interpretation placed on Lord Lansdowne's letter by the Allies and tho enomy in no way represented what lord Lansdowne had intended. The Prime Minister referred to the very aotive minority of people who thought, mistakenly, that they had found a leader in Lord Lansdowne, and said that tho danger was not tho extremo pacifist. No Halfway House Between Victory and Defeat. "I warn the nation," Mr. Lloyd George continued, "to watch the man who thinks there is a halfway houso botwoon victory and defeat. No such houso exists. These-are tho men who thinks you can ond the war and have some sort or : what they call'peace by setting up a league of nations, with attendant conditions. That is the right policy after victory, but without victory it would bo a farce. To end a. war entered upon in ordor to enforce a treaty, without reparation for the infringement of the treaty, which was treated as a scrap of paper, merely by entering into a now and nioro sweeping and comprehensive treaty wonld bo a farce in the setting of a tragedy. There is nothing so fatal to character as half-finished tasks. Though it was a mean, attitude to assume. I could understand the man who opposed the war from the start, but I could not comprehend the man who holped to commit the nation to a career of honour, and now, before the task.was nearly accomplished, wished to shako hands with tho malefactor and trade to mutual advantage. The enomy would simply be invited to enter into a bargain and join with you in winching the head cf the noxt man who dared to imitate his vilalinies. The enemy desires such, peace terms. It is idle to talk cf a security won by such feeble moans. Let there bo no doubt regarding tho alternative wherewith we are confronted. One is to make easy terms with a triumphant outlaw, which means abasing ourselves before lawlessness. It means also that ultimately tho world would bo intimidated by successful bandits. The other alternative is to go through with the task of vindicating justice so as to establish a righteous and everlasting peace for ourselves and our children. No nation with any regard for its self-respect and honour can liositato a moment in its choice." Peace Overtures at present would be a Betrayal of Trust. Intensely as they realised that victory was csseiitial to the condition of a free world, there would not merely be no object in prolonging tho war, but it would be infamous to do so if they thought things would get no better the longer they fought. It was because he was firmly convinced that despite some untoward ovents and discouraging appearances, wo were oaikng steady, progress towards our goal, that be would regard peace overtures at present as-a betrayal of tho great trust wherewith he and his colleagues had been charged The deadly grip of tho Navy was having its effect, and the valour of our troops was making an impression. They were building a.bridge which when complete would carry us and the world over the river, which for the .moment was .in a state of flood. "Some scaffolding has been earned awav and much progress we have made seems to be submerged and hidden, and some men say, 'Let us abandon the enterprise atogether; it « too costly; it is impossible of achievement. Let us rather build a pontoon bndgo of new treaties and a league of nations and understandings.' It might last some timeX wouldallays be shaky and uncertain. The first flood would sweep it away. Let us go along with tho pile-driving and mako a real solid and pormanont structure." Task increased by Russia's Withdrawal. "Continuing the Primo Minister referred to the added difficulties owing to Russia's threatened withdrawal, and the serious addition to our task, akeadTormdable enough. It wouU bo folly to under-rate the danger; eaually it would be folly to exaggerate it; and the greatest folly of all not to face it. He enlarged upon the entry of Amor.ca into the struggle. "She stepped Lto Russia's place. America is not yot prepared but she soon will K' the enemy's desperate efforts to force an issue beforo she is ready. tin not He urged the need for greater efforts and sacrifices. ?iriot the time o cower and falter, but to place our eet firmer than rter and square our shoulders to bear the increased weight. Ho never doubted we could bear it all right to the end. It was absolu tdy necessary and we must further drain our man-power in ordor to sustain until tho American Army arrives. _ '■ Allies' Numerical Superiority In France and Flanders. There was no ground for panic. Even after sending troops to Italy'" •„+„f™ +£» Allies had a marked numerical superiority m Franco and assistance, the Allies naa.a.mar* £ M uch greater proSs d ha B d 1 mad h eln«*ver, especially in the last few month,, £an gress nau dbbh iu npce s sarv to increase our trained reserves in order Cabinet had preparedl recon, w "«,e how wjuw t, was a k o mvestigating that these formidable masses would never find their way into the battle hne - Increased Food Production Essential. Mr Lloyd George foreshadowed a further withdrawal of men from nonessential war trades and occupations in order to increase shipbuilding. He S a further saving of tonnage not only by economising consumption but production. If wo increased our homo food production by increabiufc, huwo i . , j be hgerent who 1, two or low »*» (»■« 'S™J* Zt It *«. osi.lM .« .kookl the sin stei power that was menacing the world w.th enslavement. t SI have been better never to have challenged unless wo meant to ear y ?rtShM'Lloyd George concluded: "People who. think wo can bog n lfc efaof pe'acwhile tho Prussian military power is unbeaten are lab*J™ during a strange delusion."-A us-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteuter.

AIR BOARD FAVOURS REPRISALS «AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH." (Rcc. December 16j 5.5 p.m.) London, Docombor 15. T„rd Rothemerre, Air Minister, following Mr. Lloyd George at the Air dinner, said the Air Board whole-heartedly favoured reprisals, if the