Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY DEC. 19th., 1917. CHEERFUL OPTIMISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY DEC. 19th., 1917. CHEERFUL OPTIMISM.

Thu latest speech of the British Prime exudes cheerful optimism I’here is not a note to confirm or support the dire calamity which Mr. Watt in the exuberance of his verbosity on the Australian reinforcement campaign permitted himself to give voice to. Mr. Watt evidently drew a' very long bow, hoping to reach the la:-oil' back blocks of great Australia, there to bestir the sluggish minds of those far-removed from tile turmoil of the war’s happenings. He was out vote-catching, seeking to drive the indifferent and the go-easy public into the “Yes” fold. Mr. Lloyd George’s more cheerful note on the outlook completely submerges Mr Watt’s pessimism Die towering British Minister who has won the confidence of his vast peoples by sheer force of chara'eter and action stated specifically in lu’ s latest pronouncement that “there was no ground lor panic.” He had been reviewing the outlook of the war. With an illuminating figure of speech, he told how the Navy and Army were bridging a' river of titanic flow to carry a new world to safety on the other side. Tt was a giant superstructure in the making. Some of the scaffolding had been carried away, other parts were submerged, hut the work of construction was going on vigorously, and now supplies to take the place of the damaged material were coming in. Russia had gone out of the play, hut America' was coining in. Italy was in extremities, hut the relief sent there still left the Allies with a marked superiority in France and Flanders. And there were still considerable reserves at Home, where more and more man-power was becoming available. With this encouraging news and notes on the situation he gave the whole Empire words of comfort and confidence in the future. Passing on, he spoke no less hopefully of the future, desiring all and appealing to all to help in the great task of winning the war, the task of crushing the dominating Prussian military power and giving to the world a sense of peace and security which will not he obtainable otherwise. He traversed the peace question, giving a clear understanding of the only peace worth having, a peace to ensure tranquility by the power of force of victory, not a' peace by compromise recorded with ink and paper in the form of / ri treaty which might be torn to pieces at the will of any signatory without concern for the world’s happiness. Such a speech as that now recorded must become a notable land mark, even in this time of great passing events. When historv in the years to come reveiws what has gone before in the light of happiness which followed, a safe will he found for the invigorating speeches of Mr. Lloyd George, who in all phases, kept even Before him and the nation the true ideals for which Britain enter-

ed the war and fought on to the victory yet to bo gained. Resting on the assurance of one who knows tho reality of the contest ahead and who feels the ability of the nation to win 'through, ho will encourage a supiwrting confidence among his people which will carry the nation to that final haven of a truly victorious peace.