UNTIL THE END

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 272, 6 August 1918, Page 6

UNTIL THE END

WAR ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES

STERN WORDS FOR FAINT HEARTS

NO TIME FOR WAR WEARINESS

The fourth anniversary of the declarafcion of war on Germany was marked in fitting fashion by the public meotiug in the Town Hall lust night convened by the Mayor. The words of all tlio speakers breathed the fighting spirit of the nation, and it was u very responsive audiouco to which they had to speak. In addition tu speeches i liere was music. Mr. Bernard Page played on tlio organ, Mr. Leslio Hill sang "Rulo Britannia," Messrs. Glanmoro Jenkins and T. C. Connell sang "The Battle Eve," and Mr. John Prouse sang "Arm, Arm, Yo Brave," tho accompanist in all cases being Mr. H. Temple White. Mr. J, P. Luko (Mayor) received ft letter of apology from His Excellency the Governor-General explaining his reasons for not being present. The Mayor snid that on this the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war the people were j just as determined as they ever were to sec tho war to a successful conclusion. But for the absence of so ninny men at the front there would not have been an empty chair in tho hall. He wished to express his admiration of tho splendid spirit and steadfast earnestness of tho people in their patriotism, and especially in this regard lie appreciated tlio willing and continuing holp of tho women of this city in all war activities. Germany had been false to. every one of her oaths/ but Britain and the Allies slill stood for tho same principles as tlicso for which Britain had entered the war. Perhaps there weTc somo faint hearts who were a trifle wur-weary, but was there any reason to-day, in view of tho latest news, for being war-weary? (Cries of "No.") Ho believed that we should support the men at the front. Nor was there any reason why we should be sparing in pur effort. "\Ve should carry on. (Applause.) To those who said New Zealand had "dono her bit" ho would say that our "bit"' was rather bigger than these people, might suppose. We should go on sending men until wo were advised by tho Home Country that no more men wero necdel. The Resolution. Ho moved the following resolution, declaring that a person who; would not support it was not supporting the men uow fighting for us:-

Tlmt, on this tho fourth anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of Wellington records its inflexible de-

termination to continue to n victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those Weals of Liberty and Justice which aro the common and sacred cause of the Allies." Time for Peace Not Yet. .Mr. A. R. Atkinson seconded the mo' tion. Four years Ago, ho said, wo had set out to save France and Belgium, and to save tho Empire, to innko the world tree, to mako the world "fit for decent people to live in." How much of this had been accomplished? If peace wero mado on the war map of to-day Germany would have the whole world at her feet. Failure now "would be more disgraceful and iuore disastrous than four years ago. We could seo now exactly what it was that wo were fighting. Four years ago any man accusing Germany of ono per cent, of the cruelty and perfidy of which she had been guilty would have been adjudged a maniac. If there were any waverers in the population they should ba hardened by the facts of these years of war. Nothing had been sacred from the polluting touch of German bestiality. Four years ago no one would have believed that such things could be done outside of hell. It had been said that no man who, having put his hand to the plough, looked back, was fit for tho Kingdom of God. Surely if this wore so, tho British Umpire, if it made terms now with the Germans, would bo fit only for tho kingdom of hell! This was strong language, but surely if there were vicegerents of Satan on earth they were tho rulers of Germany. He was thankful that there were few pacifists of the Lansdowne school in this country. But there wero other pacifists of sorts-people with a half-hearted patriotism. He referred to those who said that we should cease sending men and send wool and mutton instead. He would have none of this half-hearted, wool-and-mutton, shandy-galf patriotism, and he regretted that one of tho propouuders of these doctrines was the High Commissioner of New Zealand. He (Mr. Atkinson) had never listened with greater satisfaction to any words than to the speech by Sir James Allen in repudiation of thai 'idea. (Applause.) What nonsense it was for us to talk of slowing up when we re. jhembered what tho people of France, Belgium, and Serbia had suffered! (Applause.) Tho Germans were saying that England was losing heart. But the truth was that England was never further from losing heart. England had never fought better than when her back was to tho wall. (Applause.) England's heart was not going to fail, and her splendid example should bo an inspiration 1.0 us. Th% Germans were reeling hack from the Manic for the second time, but let us not indulge in any foolish confidence. There must be many hard fights yet. Let us show ourselves worthy I of the principles for which we had entered the war, show ourselves worthy of the men who had i gone to fight for us. If we all folbwed Sir James Allen, who had declared for staying in "till the end," thero could be little doubt about what the end would be. (Applause.) "Let Them Have Force." Sir William Frasor'apologised for the absence of. the Actiug-Frime Minister, who, but for his absence from Wellington, would have been'only too glad and ■ proud to be present. It was quite right that tho Acting-I'riino Minister and tho [ Government wero steady in their desiro to continue the war until final victory was achieved. Sir William Eraser read Mr. Miassoy's message (published yesterday) oxpressing his entire approval of tho sontiments it contained. Thero was no shrinking back or f'aint-hcartudness in that message, and it expressed very fairly and quite rightly the sentiments of the members of the Government. He was tired of reading of the pacifists in the English Press. There wero some few pacifists in our country, but to tbem ho paid no heed. He 'had not lived liO years in this country without knowing what was the spirit of the people. They were not pacifists—Oh, dear, no! "Somo of the pacifists at Homo Inlk of making an honourable treaty of peace," ho said, "an honourable treaty of peace with murderers and burglars! A treaty of peaco with people who consider all treaties as scraps of paper, with men whose boast it is that they rocogniso no laws, human or divine, which run counter to their wishes. In fact, their idol—the thing they worship—is Force. Then let theni have force! (Applause.) Let force decide, the issue between us. Some of my friends call mo an absurd optimist. I think I have 6onw good grounds for my optimism, because I know tho spirit of the race from which we have all come. Although we have had set-backs when overwhelming forces have driven us baoj: yard by yard, we have never fled. We had such a retirement in the retreat from Mons. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe it was the. finest thing that ever was done for us. When the history of it is written, as it will one day be/people- will wonder how stoadfast inen could have borne all that those men had to bear. . . . Let them havo force! Wo are going to win. Jlake no mistake about that. We are goini; to see this thing right out. And when we come to make peaco we will dictale our own terms, and these terms will !» such as honourable, honest men can propose." (Applause.)

for restitution an.l retribution. The Germans xiiu.st evacuate every acre of the soil of Prance, Russia, Belgium, Serbia, and Rumania now in their occupation. J.he Germans had nothing to hope froma peace such as Britain would give, so the rulers of Germany kept on fighting in the hope of terrorising England into giving peace. And would not Germany have to make good the desolation she had lought on tho fair lands of Pranco and Belgium? Now, as to retribution-he was not a vengeful man —the term "vengeance" was not used when a murderer was hanged-but those murderers of Germany must suffer for their crimes. Tliero could be no peace with such men. The Hohenzollems must go. (Applause.) No peace could come without retribution on tho men who had incited the nameless crimes on the women and children in Belgium, for he held tlio rulers to blame more than the mere soldiow forced to battle like driven cattle. In the olden days garrotting was stopped by fear of the lash; let the fear of the rope bo tne deterrent to prevent a repetition of the, crimes of Germany in the future. .Shooting was too good for such men. (Applause.)

Just Pride. This day, the fourth of August, would be rememboi'ed lons after all otlier dales of history had been forgotten. "We are proud of the boys we havo sent away," ho said, amid applause. "And, sir, I ani proud of the way New Zealand has risen to the task before her. 1 feel confident, porfectly confident, that the vast majority of the people—ave, ninety-nine hundredths of them-are determined to see this thing fought out to the bitter end, until a peace that we <v,in honourably call peace may come, and a recurrence of such a time ns this bo made impossible." (Applause.)

Blue on the Horizon. Tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, also supporting ike motion, recalled the facts in very rapid review of the causes of tho war, showing that Britain last of all .the belligerents came into the war, and came in io redeem a pledgo honourably given to Belgium. Having come in, .Britain had achieved remarkable things in this war. There wero still thoso who talked of Britain "muddling through." But not in the wholo world had there ever been a country which had done so much as Britain and her dependencies had dono in this war. (Applause.) Brittain had not at the beginning of the war a standing Army. She relied on her Navy, and the war had shown how fully Britain's trust in her Navy was justified. Britain's record was honourable. But what was the record of the Hun? The trail of the Hun was marked on every front by unspeakable crimes and cruelties. Until tho Huns wero able no longer to perpetuate crimes it was not for any man to say "New Zealand has dono enough." "We are not," ho said, "going to bo iho first part of tho British Empire to hoist tho white flag to surrender to tho Hun." (Applause.) Ho spoke of other events of the war, noting the deeds of tho New Zcalanders. He declared his contempt for '.hoso who said Now Zealand had "done enough." Ho hoped that one day this country might bo ab'.o to bid good-bye to all thoso littlo New Zcalandurs. And lie hoped that at tho end of this dread war there would bo a League of Nations which would prevent any nation, or any man, or any madman, from again drenching the world in blood. (Applause.) There was a good ray of liopo in the sky now. On tho far horizon caere was a speck of blue. He hoped that the long dark night of strife and tragedy would soon end, that out of darkness and death would come the golden dnwn of glorious victory. (Applause.)

"Carry On!" Mr. 0. W. Batten, president i)f the New Zealand Keturned Soldiers, aaid that lie had brought from the Beturned Soldiers a message, and it was "Carry On." He spoke of tiiose who declared that New Zealand had "done enough," had "dono her bit," and 60 oil. As proof of that returned soldiers did not cry "enough'' he mentioned that'2ooo of them had been lound "lit" and had re-enlisted. Mora would yet bo found "lit," and they would go forward again. He stressed the point that this fight was a fight to make war impossible) again, and the returned soldiors stood lor tlio policy,.of "finishing tlic job now" rather than having a peace which would leave open possibilities of more war. (Applause.). The resolution was carried bv acclamation with ringing choers. Afterwards the National Anthem wfvs sung, and there wero in ore choers.

Restitution and Retribution. He went on to say thai; in tho peace terms provision would have to be made

MEETING AT KIIANDALLAH

ONE PEOPLE, ONE DESTINY,

A. meeting of Onslow residents was held in the Khandallah Town Hall last night. The Mayor of Onslow (Mr. J. M. JJale) Presided. The lion. Sir Erancis Jitll (AUorney-General) and Mr. A. Curtayno (representing tiie Keturned Soldiers Association) wero also on the plat-

fhe Mayor moved the formal motion expressing the indexible determination of Uuslow residents to assist in carrying tho , ™ l ' ™ a victorious conclusion. Jlo said uiat the fourth anniversary of tho war was u tragic anniversary, and it was celebrated n ot in any spirit of rejoicing, but with the object of fortifying the nation's determination to see the war to a victorious conclusion. . The war, on Srituin s side was a righteous war. The iii? boon satisfied of that ai the start, and the conduct of Gcrwany and the verdict of civilisation •"hi n * t . llu I Br I ltwh PMPIo had J*>en ji D nt. Britain iuid not Bought war. Tho Uermans had willed tho war, and had bet themselves deliberately arid unscrupuously to wreck tho ideals of freedom and jisico that wero dear to the J ntish nation. In such a war iln" r !"° • fnlt(!l,ill S- Britain w hi-ranee, America, and the other Allies, was lighting for a principle, and s determination was inflexible because Ui.it pimciple must either be maintained ntact or abandoned altogether. A peaco by compromise would be the defeat of the principle, ltussia had tried to bartijun lor peace, and (he world had seen tne terrible result. Prussian militarism i ''"lit be broken deliuitely and finally. ■ '"J,, 1 , 1 : 1110 ,". 1,11,1 Ixlll,l !irm 011 Uiat point in tJIJv Jl the tusk was greater than it had seemed, then tho nation must show that its resolution was strengthened, and not weakened, by difficulties. Tho mesfi'S® I" sond to the Governmont now was that A'ow Zealand would' fight on unninchingl.y linliil the essential uid had been attained.

Mr. it. Ji], .A ndorson seconded the rr.ouon. He said the words meant that JJrmsh people were ready to endure, flnlrer, and .sacrifice until the war was brought to an ond in the only tolerable way by the military defeat of Germany. No decision short of victory would secure the punishment of the hideous crimes of which Germany's war lords had been guilly. A compromise peace would mean (ho palliation of those crimes. There was no doubt about nip dotennimilion of New Zealand's War Minister, Sir .Imnes Allen, and the people ol the Dominion were not less determined (Applau-ie.)

Sir !'rancis Roll, who was received with applause, Haiti that every Government under His jMajesty the King hud injitcd the people of the British Empire to adopt l.lie, motion just moved l>v the Mayor. Britons were meeting •ii OV S rec Q l 'd again their mllexible determination, after four sad but not inglorious years. The motion meant. One people, one destinv." The ?lTntl, h Bl n'' s ! l race ,vcrc wattored Mmir world, but they were one in their common purpose of fighting for

justice to tho limit of their strength and endurance. Material interest bound , ew Zealand to Britain, honour and duty bound her oven more firmly. Tin. wholo world know that Dritain hated war. Foreign nations had said tliat tho .uiitish wero a nation of shopkeepers.'' Britain would have avoided war if that had been possible. But every Briton in 1911 If T M I lu,nlble l ll t'> "tlio dust in 1911 if the Imperial Government speaking on behalt of tho Empire Inrt consented to stand idle.and watch Bei»iu'm manj had challenged tho rules of j„s- ---' ' ,o , nm,r ' Mid decency that Britain regarded as essential. Germans lln/l immt/tV?'" W#S tho ohfof'cnd'of Tlmi. i " i i i Peaco was contemptible liioy had declared long before lit? fi, n/V^ 1 " nd gi - fttetwawi,*New Zeahnd 0 '' 1 "P™ cor nf W le Doinl "ion had a rcproud; a record' of Tr r" S wo " ld " e accepted and willi^,fg cause, it n-as meet on t) f .. u » 1 niversary of the war to record tlmf fi'V sfr ,„s r^jsrS P'tentative of Wellington Suburbs until our years ago. Cnpt!ai " 801 l had W tcer for npf" of parliament to volunfitrU;!? ■ 5T e Mrv «*. an<l he had died ghting in I'ranee. Ho was onn nf Hm wen who had died for the great cause Those men were still a part of the Bri' sire tint n and r it: lrould be their dcl"i wire's? 110 i,s f «» tnrned Soldiers' Association was to assist in the prosecution of the war to a vieto ! ions conclusion. I'he idea of a patched«p peaco would not come from tho men hid 3 ,i f rV°'\ froi » tho lncn who had returned disabled. The soldiers tiolf m ft" COmpromise wil h such n nation as Germany was impossible. Tliov knew that the stories of German brut lity wore true. Ihe cvideiico availablo, on tho spot would convince tho most rabid peace propagandist that the Allies must carry on until victory was attained Tho Germans made war in women „ nd ' nAnnw' - Thcy trfcatod helpless civilian populations worse than ever black slaves had been treated. There would be no peace with tho Germans. 'J'lie cnemv must be finally and crueLingl" doffl th aW 80 ° ft . ho raen were dohfthe fighting was "Carry On." nrnl ft, n m ° hon ]™ s c " rrici! unanimously f?™ t ) h VT? Ceeclin! ' ,s cloSflcl "''th the National Anthem and cheers for the men at the front. During the oveninc seven musical nurabm -we™ contributed bv Bryant. ' B " m ' * ewmM . «" d Mr".