Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 3rd, 1917. BRITAIN DEFIANT.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 3rd, 1917. BRITAIN DEFIANT.

Accepting Mr Llovd George as the moutli-pioco of the British nation, we must all admire the direct and defiant language ho used in his speeches in Scotland last week. Ho dealt with the peace question without halting phrases, hut with a clearness and directness which left no doubts «s •*> his meaning. It was a fine J°hn Bull speech. It clears the air as to what is meant, by no annexations. It de-_ fines tho position as to what is to be., done with Germany after the war. Above all it rang clear for victory. He took his audiences into his confidence to tho naval and military situation, and explaining how the Homeland would meet th„ food problem in the certainty thereby of achieving victory. Bad and heavy as the losses hav e been by tile submarine ruth loss ness, the toll is far less than the British Admiralty’s estimate °f what was expected. And withal the great enterprise of feeding and supplying the vast British Army On the. Continent with men, food and munitions has gone on till now th 0 supplies are equal to all As to food supplies, lie plainly says greater sacrifices will have to he .made by the people, but for- the great end to he achieved, li 0 said: ‘We ought to willingly suffer humiliations and restrictionsy” With beautiful figurative speech ho described how the world was in trevail for the emancipation of mankind, t.o gain the verdict of victory in the triumph of right over might, so that never again brute force and barbaric strength would sit in justice on th e world and seek to dictate tne terms of liberty to nil freemen. This indeed is the first and*last cause of the war, and no more defiant not 0 has.-, been struck all through tho long days of the great conflict, than this clarion-like challenge to Prussian militarism. It is not surprising that German circles nr t> greatly interested in Mr. Lloyd George’s remarkable review of this situation- We are told, for instance, that this one speech might alter the whole grouping <pf the belligerents. Tho. speech is likely to" have great effect op the Gciman Socialists, to whom the British Prime Minister open the door for a ponco to Germany far below tho cost of anything the Allies might bargain with the Prussian sid e of military rule in Germany. It js at once a loop-holo and a challenge to the German peoples if they are wishful for an honest, peace. If they wish to accept it they have to sacrifice their Kaiser, and, come to the Allies as a democracy, pure and simple. If not, then the war must go on, and Britain iff-ready and prepared to carry on the conflict to the complete attainment of the objects for which she entered this war. Marshal Haig is not leaving any doubt ns t° the steady triumph of the British forces and their ability and powed to drive hack the enemy from their strongest positions. So we aro at a critical stage in the war, a stage possible of great and remarkable developments. The magic of Mr. Lloyd George's rhetoric is likely to lead to wonderful happenings.