Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNK 18th 1918.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNK 18th 1918.

THE MOKE MEN PROBLEM. The ooul'so of events on the Western Front appears to lay bare the fact 'hat the British forces in that region are sadly depleted, and quite inadequate to bear the strain of a continued enemy offensive. More and more men are needmen and with this end in view, Britain lately sent to the United States a special recruiting mission to endeavour to reach and rope in the ,'150,000 British and Canadian eligible* who ire reportel to be living within the.. United States territory. One of the leaders of that mission in a press interview to a New York paper threw a flood of light on the more men problem for Britain, and laid the true situation hare in such a manner as to discloso quite plainly the very' serious plight in which Britain stands regarding reinforcing her army —on which so much depends now. 'I he officer in question who has been speaking so plainly is Colonel John S. Dennis, and these arc the straight forward terms in which ho put the matter to the press interviewer: —“We have- been telling Britishers over here for the last six months that man power is the one essential thing to-day on the Western Front and. it so happens that the number of Britishers and Canadians in America | form the only reservoir that is still left for British man power. In England the i Government has to go into the machine | shops and to all essential industries and comb out more men for the trenches, although iithese men are urgently required for immition making etc.. In Canada we are in much the same position and the military act can prodileo only a limited number of men. In the United States, however, there is an inexhaustible reserve of man power of which Britishers form a small but useful factor. What every Britisher in this country ought to remember is that he can get to the front quicker than any man that goes into the American Army today, and therefore is more useful as a fighting man at- his minute than an American recruit. In the second place it is far more useful for him to go into tho firing line, where every man is needed, than to stay over here in any industry

whatsoever, whether ha himself may think it essential or not. There are plenty of people in this country to carry on the essential industries. What is mostly needed from the Britishers in this country is man power for the trenches. We have said this before, hut the great battle in France brings this fact vividly before us in such a way Hint no man who looks facts in the face can possibly fail to see where his duty lies. The great battle isn’t ov ( er yet, and it is quite possible that at any moment a surplus of 100,000 or 50,000, or oven of only ‘20,000 men one one sid,. or the other may just upset the balj mice and bring victory to one. side or ! the other. Any man enlisted to-day 1 in the Recruiting Mission will go to

Canada and can get to France in time to tight this summer. He may even get there in time to take part in the battle which is now going oil and which will continue to go on possibly for several months with various phases.” This outspoken statement leaves little doubt as to the position. Soldiers’ letters from the front vocal an equally accentuated condition of affairs regarding the need for more and more men, so as to meet the still steady growth of the enemy forces. It is clear that the enemy is

adding to its strength all the time. Despite the heavy losses which are being ■met wiith, fresh reserves nre being brought in, and the task of the Allies calls for a supreme sacrifice .on their part to cheek the enemy forces bent on determining the issues of the war in their own way. With the position sue.li as it. is, we. may express again gratitude to the foresight of our Statesmen which enabled Yew Zealand to play its pari and rank with other parts of the Empire in doing its utmost to provide more men to stem the enemy hordes.

Mr. Asquith’s speech in London reported yesterday emphasised the gravity of the position on the battle front. The All ies are at the moment passing through the most critical period in the fortunes of the war. The Russian defection has released enormous enemy forces from the eastern theatre, and these brought to the Western Front arc being used to force a decision before the full force and effect: of the American intervention can he brought to its overmastering power. Mr Asquith’s remarked that the situation was equally grave at the outset, of the war and he says that on that occasion “the threat was brought to nothing by tlio counter strokes of genius and audacity.’’ That puts the situation excellently, and there is the call for the same qualities now. Perhaps we see something of the opening phases in the new British offensive which has begun at a point which offers possible contingencies Under certain conditions. , With these latter arc not unconnected possible naval developments, in which circumstances, both “genius and audacity” may be looked for with every confidence. As is usual with Mr Asquith’s oratory, it goes right homo. He gave the nation wise counsel. Above all a sense of the proportion of things must not be lost. What Britain has done is a guarantee that she will persevere to the end with the same dogged persistence. Disquieting though the news may be and well beat, times, it must not be allowed to deter the nation from the great objective for which it set out, and which in the fullness ol time will bo attained. Mr Asquith’s most excellent advice is the panacea the people should take to heart, and go forward resolved, by deeds to see the war through to a victorious close.

Thk appearance of the Overseas Premiers and delegates on British soil is responsible for a flood of oratory. Some of the English newspapers appear to think the speeches will have a stimulating effect on tile public and are calling on Air Hughes to again rise to the occasion and lecture the British people. Air Hughes, is 'sure to be equal to the task, but it appears strange that while bis oratory failed to move his own people, and lie shirked putting his own convictions into practice, he should be regarded still as a figure capable of wielding convincing power in Britain. His colleague, Mr Cook, has joined Air Hughes in "telling the ’Motherland that Australia is behind her, but it must be confessed that fho material support in men is not as adequate as the ciieumstancos warrant, because Australia has refused to submit to conscription. Really, Alossrs Hughes and Cook cannot carry the weight which the representatives of a great country like Australia should sway, because tlioir country is not wholly in the war. Australia, is naturally concerned about tlio future of the Pacific, but its people are not displaying any practical concern for the present position in Europe. The Austra Ban delegates applaud American for hei magnificent action, but they failed to place their own country on a like plane, so as to onsurc the men being forthcoming to fight, the battles not purely of the Pacific, but of humanity as a whole. The fate of the isles of the. Pacific i« being determined on the battlefields of Europe, and ‘it is there where Messrs Hughes and Cook should see that their own countrymen are streaming in adequate numbers. Till they go that far it is rather presumptive for them lecturing Britain on “how to win the war.’