Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1917 THE WEEK

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1917 THE WEEK

♦ Another very important week in the course of the great war has passed. The week is mainly memorable for what is praotioally the entry of America into the war. President Wilson has been pushed over the brink at last, and taken action which has been all too long delayed. For the sake of the American nation we are pleased to see this great Power siding with the Allies. There are reasons why Britishers, for- instance, would not welcome the United States

into the fray. As spokesman for his nation Mr Wilson not so very long ago offered the Allies a great insult, when he referred to the belligerents as a whole fighting for gain. It was a weak pro-German statement on the part of Mr Wilson, and was promptly answered by British statesmen. Mr Wilson’s all too recent effort at a peace which coaid be bat a premature n peace, is another instance of the flabby n attitude of that gentleman’s oonduot. n The reply of the Allies again was ade. n quate, and probably convincing, for y now after a few short weeks we see d this amateur peace-maksr in the ring himself, and condemning Germany in y the roundest of term?. Mr Wilson has been a long time realising the 5 peril of civilisation, and the plain duty 0 of ihe United States as a great Power, 5 to take its place in restoring the 1. northern hemisphere to peace and security by the only possible means—h the domination of a human power r which has respect for treaties and obligations, and which puts honor and justice before over-reaching vanity and a desire for world dominion at all costs. 't When Mr Wilson sounded the a Entente Allies in regard to a premature peace the latter put forward a 1 plain statement which summarised g the position, and as we hope it has helped to convince Mr Wilson of its 1 justice and reason, it will not be ont , of place to requote it here to-day, for the present situation means that America now espouses the same cause. The Allies declaration said : ‘‘Mr Wilson is anxious that the bellir gerent Powers should state in the full light of day the aims they set before tb6m in prosecuting the war. The Allies find no diffienlty in responding to this request. Tbt>ir war aims are well known ; they have been formulated many times over by tbe heads 1 of their respective Governments. • These war aims will not be set forth j in detail, with all the due compensations and indemnities for the damages i suffered, until tbe moment of negotiation. But the civilised world knows that they involve of absolute necessity and before all eiee the lestoration of Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro, and j the restitutions which are their right ; 3 the evacuation of tbe invaded terri- • tories in France, in Russia, and in Roumania, with jast reparation ; the re-organisation of Europe, guaranteed i by a stable regime, and founded both 1 od respect for nationality EDd on the right to foil security aud to freedom g of economic development which be- • longs to all people?, great and email, and, at tbe same time, on territorial I agreements and international settlements capable of guaranteeing land and tea fromifra against unjustified ats tacks ; the restitution of provinces or j territories taken form Allies at some former date by force or against the 1 express desire of the inhabitants ; the liberation of tbe Italians, Siavs, Roumanians, and Tcheeo-Siovaks from , foreign domination ; the liberation of the peoples subject to the blood- • stained tyranny of the Turks; the expulsion from Europe of the Ottoman Empire, which has proved itself alien to Western civilisation, The iGtec-

' , tions of Russ' a with regard to Poland k have bean clearly indicated in (ha proclamation recently addressed to tbe armies, It goes' without saying that, while the Allies desire to save Europe from the brutal lust of Prussian militarism, it has never come within their purpose to seek, as has been alleged, the extermination of the German peoples or their political extinction. Their foremost deeire la to secure peace on the principles of liberty and justice, and on that inviolable loyalty to international obligations which has always animated to Government of tbe United States.” Events are marching swiftly in the West. The big Pash has developed into a huge Drive, tbe enemy involuntarily retreating before the dominating armies of France and Britain, which are sow invincible. The attack on St Quentin is dosing in. The French on the south aod the British on the wegt are making continual p ogress, and as usual tbe enemy me preparing to evacuate. All along the British front from Arras south, the grand army has been operating with vigor and guccess. T,he advance steadily continues, and the Germans being levered out, of their concrete dug-outs, they are not likely to have any rest for the summer months, It is clear from Sir William

Robertson’s epeeoh that big things will be happening in mid-sntnmer. He is calling for a dominating force tt that period and it is the duty of the Empire to provide the men. Sir Wiliiam has not posed as a speaker, but as a worker, and leaving his toil to address the nation, the people on this rare occasion should be all attention, aud paying due weight to utterances take the message to heart, and give him the backing he asks for. It is only three months to July, and within that time he calls for half a million men. The call again brings home the magnitude of the task to win the war. At last, after nearly three years, the Allies are in the way of winning, and must not falter now. The giant task pat upon Britain has been taken up with wonderful spirit, Her achievements since August, 1914, have been remarkable. Truly, ail mast be proud of our nation. Alas that there shoald be those amongst ns who think little of the welfare of the Empire 1 The “ gn slow ” party are such, and now we have the miners challenge to the Government and the Dominion in the infamous RunuDga resolution. If there were any answer ueeded to that

queerly and untimely expressed resolve, surely it is the speech of Sir William Robertson from the other side of the world. The caU for men is still insistent, and we can understand that Kitchener’s successor wants what Kitchener himself said he would require—a million men at the critical moment to enforce peace upon a beaten e: emy. We are fighting an enemy which can appreciate one thing only—foica; and Sir William is laying his plans to have adequate power aveilable when the coup de main of tbe great war has to bo delivered. Sir J imoa Alien in referring to the “go slow” policy tbe other day, hoped the country would be behind the Government in this time of crisis The ecting-Pretnier need have no fear on 'hat account. What New Zealand has done already is a guarantee of-its desire to see this war through quickly and honorably. Least of all will it permit forces within to waste and weaken the resources of tbe Dominion in cstrying through the war. The miners who have been foolish enough to the resolution they have at this late hour, are not doing their class as a whole justice. Many of their mates have gone voluntarily to the front, and if they have personal obj ctions to the conscription method it is still open for them or any one else to enlist. But men must be had oos* what it may.