THE LAST ROUND

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1917, Page 4

THE LAST ROUND

Speech by Hon R. McNabSpsakiog at the send-off to the Hastings seotion of the Twenty-foorth Eeinforoements, the Hun Dr M’Ni.b made some interesting and pertinent remarks. They had come, he said, to the point in this war that anyone who wants to be in at the finish mn&t be sure of getting into the next reinforcements. Germany bad called up her last man, even those who had taken part in the war of 1870, and every man, woman and child had been assigned a war station. This was the last round. England had changed her Government with the one solitary purpose of e.dug tha war. Germany was crying for peace, but to cmalude peace now would mean that the present generation would hardly have passed when war would break out again, and all the blcod spilt would have been spent in vain. There could be no peace nutil Germany was driven from the Allies’ territory, and this was going to be dene during the comiDg summer. §,Referring to compulsion, he hoped that no distinction would be drawn between the volunteer and the consoript when they both got into khaki. Everyone was a soldier of the Empire and was entitled to equal respect, "Volunteers,” ha said in conclusion, "I wish you God-speed in the mission in which you are going. lam confident you are going to be in at the fiaish, and it is going to be a finish that will end the German power in deed as well as in word. It will be a new world that you will live in after this war, and I hope that all soldiers will take a more active interest in the affairs of their country than they have done in the past. It is nnneoessary for ms to urge upon you the necessary for giving implicit obedisuoß to the commands of your officers. You must absolutely give up all personal individuality. I have no faith in the man who considers he is degrading himself by becoming subordinate to another man. Many of the men who are your offioers to-day may be your servants to-mor-row. This is one of the glories of democracy and one of the things we are trying to accomplish.”