The Dominion. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1918. THE FINAL TEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1918. THE FINAL TEST

At'a time when the British Army is being subjected to an unexampled test, nothing is more necessary than that we should realise how much depends upon the spirit of the nation behind the Army. The demand of the hour is for'the speediest possible expansion- of our military effort, but when all that ran bs. done to strengthen our fighting forces on land and sea has been done, a call will still bo made upon the moral resolution of the British nation—a call that will not bo honoured as it should be- without a conscious effort, inspired by an alert perception of the vital issues that are trembling in the balance. It should be clear .enough by this time, and yet it cannot be too. strongly cm-j phasised, that the ultimate dangers j we have to face and guard against are not merely, those which arise from the enemy's use of armed force. ' Even in these days of tempestuous battles it may bo said very confidently that our national fortitude and resolution will be most severely-tested., not in coping with the enemy's military efforts, but in withstanding;'the temptation frraccept a peace which would clishon.-. our the memory of our gallant dead and leave the world exposed to the horrors of German domination [ of a worse kind even than that already witnessed in .the countries she has trampled under foot in this I war. Certainly it is wise to recognise in good time that this temptation is liable to arise, if only that we may steel our hearts to resist it. We-'have. ..no reason at present to fear that the enemy will suctved in his efforts to overwhelm the British •Army as a preliminary to winning a decision over the Western Allies. But it is very possible that the titanic conflict, now in progress may ultimately subside, leaving thy Allies as well as the enemy for the time at a standstill. It is quite conceivable that, the Allies may utterly break and defer.t the German offensive, , and yet may lind that they need time, witli America's aid, to build up the .decisive superiority which .would justify them in striking a blow calculated to end the war. In that case now tests will be imposed upon the warring nations, and in ji. more definite sense than ever before the war will become a spiritual contest—a contest of willpower and moral fortitude. Should such an interval occur, the military masters of Germany will make unsparing efforts, to undermine the resolution of the Allied nations by holding, out delusive hopes of peace —hopes which most certainly can

never bo realised while Germany remains under tbo control of tin: master criminals who engineered thu war.- At this moment the preservation of freedom in- the world depends visibly upon the Allied .armies, and most of nil upon the British Army, which is earning deathless 'renown on the Flanders ridges and, in the fields of Northern France. A time is perhaps near when the determining factor will be no .longer the valour of our fighting forces on land and sea, but the ability of the whole nation and of the Allied group of nations to maintain a firm grasp, upon the realities of the war and to reject the dandled lure of a peace which would U'i no peace. The whole

truth of the matter and the demand that is made upon our nation were epitomised by Lonu Deuuy when he recently addressed the Liverpool Working Men's _ Association. "Make up your minds," he 'said, "that we have got in front of us a hard and stern time that is going to try cv-.'ry one of ur.; but steel your hearts to it, steel your hearts to hear perhaps hardships at home, but nothing like the hardships home by the men -at the front. If you do that—man, woman, and child—there is no doubt as to the ulti'iiato result."

While we must be ever on guard against allowing war-weariness to weaken our determination to impose- a just peace, the existing state of affairs in no way warrants lack of confidence. We have lately had inspiring proofs that the British nation and its Allies arc resolved to shrink from no sacrifice in attaining their goal. ' At the same time what is known of the. public sentiment of enemy nations, while 't emphasises the necessity of. implacable determination on the part of the Allies, yet suggests that Germany and her vassals are in poor condition to faco the last and supremo test of the war. The most instructive, evidence on this subject'which las recently come to light concerns not Austria, the weak and failing yi'.vl-

■ ■■: in the Teutonic Alliance, but i ■rmany herself. For the moment all parties in Germany are plastic in. the hands of tho war lords. The Reichstag groups which a year ago were demanding peace ''without annexations and indemnities," are now dazzled by the promises of triumphant victory and rich spoils of war. A great part_ of the German people is no doubt inclined to look favourably, though with desperateanxiety, upon .the last gamble of their taskmasters, but it by no means follows that the nation is capable of bearing up . under the crushing effects of disappointment and disillusionment which are no donbt in store. .One of the lest accounts lately given'of conditions in Germany is supplied by a Times correspondent at The Hague. He cites as his authority ;:n acquaintance who recently returned to Holland after a long residence in Germany. The whole German people, according to this observer, have lost their mental balance, and he goes on j to show.that amongst tho German masses opinion veers like a weathercock from day to day. On occasion i tidings of military success will mIducc a spirit of bellicose jingoism, jAt other times revolutionary propaganda is in progress and tl;cre is talk of active revolt. _ The observer sums up his opinions in a sentence: The truth, I think, is that, while tho conditions cxistiii" at present in uermany would infallibly linve produced at least a Midtspreod revolutionary move-, went ami probably violent outbursts two years n*o: now there is neilner spirit nor physical (strength left tor real reaction. . . . There is little doubt Ihat tins is_ a true and faithful picture, and while it shows very clearly that there is little prospect of a spontaneous uprising in Germany—at all events while the most shadowy hope of an outright victory remains insight— it at tho same time emphasises her moral poverty. The one inspiration remaining to the German nt.tion is the vague hope oi rounding oft the war in successful conquest and spoliation. In comparison with such a state of enervation and degradation that of the Allies is in brilliant contrast. Fighting, riot 'for conquest or plunder, but to rc-cstabhsh liberty and justice in the world, *l.cy have nothing to fear so long as they keep tho realities of tho-war in plain sight. Tho one great danger they have to provide against is that as time goes on their war-weary populations may be tempted or ucluded into the belief that the just μ-ace at which they aim is to bo attained by some shorter and easier i-cthod tliau Germany's utter defeat and overthrow.