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Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1918, Page 2

With tho startling occurrences of the past few days on the western front in our minds, the need of the “Supreme Effort” that was so forcibly referred to by Sir Eric Goddes last week should hear fruit. There have been several similar warnings during the past three or four months, so that the outstanding facts of the international situation are patent, even to the most selfishly indifferent. It would, therefore, be folly were we to regard these deliverances merely as something that is said for the purpose of influencing public opinion. They are meant to do this, it is true; but they are infinitely more than this. They aro mainly a call to action. Tho men and women, not alone of the Mother Land, but of the Empire, must recognise that the war has now reached so crucial a stage that it calls for the exercise of the highest and best in them. They must, physically and actually, as well as morally and spiritually, endure and suffer, as they have probably never yet been called upon to do. What are the facts? The First Lord of the Admiralty had something to say aboutthese, and, as far as it is possible to gather, it was not of the most inspiring character. It is not cheering to he told, as the House of Commons was told, that six million tons of shipping were sunk l>y the enemy for the year ended January 31, and that of this enormous total British shipping alope contributed more than one half; bfit there is no reason why we should not lie told it provided we all resolve, as a consequence, to do what in us lies to lighten the position. Perhaps there are those among us who can better realise what these losses mean if we state them from another standpoint-. It was simply not possible for British shipbuilding yards and British shipbuilders to overtake them. After deducting all new' shipping, Britain was over a million and a-quarter tons to the bad. The painful (or horrible) fact has to he faced that the assassins of the sea have been destroying far more shipping than all the allied workers in the world together have been • able to replace. This is something that should not only arrest the attention hut call forth the resolution of every man and woman who values freedom and happiness to do his and her best.