Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. FEB. 27. 1917 FACING THE WORST.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. FEB. 27. 1917 FACING THE WORST.

The Prime Minister of Britain has once again done a very gallant thing. He has called on the nation to do its part no less nobly than the men at the front. That is that the stay-at-homes, too, mast make sacrifices and end are discomforts for national purposes. He directs that the nation mast get its back io the wall, and facing the worst possible conditions, show by its grit and determination it is going to pall throagb. He draws the veil of seorecy and reveals mach that has been hidden. The proposals he pats before the coantry, and the length he is prepared to go to safeguard the nation, bring home the real crisis of the war. Then he says in very solemn strains:—

If it were conceivable that the nation is not prepared to do and endure all these things, then I say with all solemnity that 1 do not know of a body of honorable men wbo will undertake to be responsible for one

hour for this terrible war.” We have to remember that Mr liloyd George speaks not only with a full sense of his responsibilities, but with a clear knowledge of the faots as they are on all the fronts, upon the high seas, and in the enemy countries. He knows full well bow the pendulum might swing, to a word supreme notion is necessary to gain the victory the Allies are striving for. It were as though the parting of the ways had been reached. The way he indicates leads to peaoe with victory and honor. The other way also leads to peace, but without the final victory, and at a price really spelling defeat. The nation has, in fact, to face the very worst and take its choice of the situation, and this was how it was summed up :

My Lio.yd George, concluding his speech in the Hones of Commons regarding the restrictions and the consequent saving of tonnage, said that there were millions of gallant young men in the various theatres of war facing torture, terror and death and daring and doing. They WBre the flower of the race and unless the nation was prepared to take its share in the sacrifices their bravery would be in' vain, It would be a crime, a black crime, for any Government to ask them to risk their lives in the coming conflict if they knew that the nation behind them was faint-hearted and selfish, Their sacrifices would be thrown away, i’or that reason be bad submitted to the House and to the nation these proposals which he bo; d the nation would approve

find endeavor to carry out with an •unflinching and ungrcdgiog heart. This appeal carries right to the heart. It is a olarion cal!, and the nation should steel itsalf and respond as gallantly as the soldiers answer the call to duty. The British praea put it admirably whan they say to the Ptirae Minister :—"Carry on.” The crisis is here and at such a moment there must be one leader and complete discipline. The statesmen guiding the destinies of the nation, and with whom rest tbo justification of the policy Mr Lloyd George enunciates, may be trusted to do the best that human minds can devise to pnll the nation through. It is the hour of trial and tribulation. At such a time the fullest confidence must bo in the leader*), and t seir advice, draatic though it may be, mm>t b 9 observed to the letter.