Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16th. 1918. THE WEEK

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16th. 1918. THE WE EK

Thu week is notable for the great event., the greatest ol r events—-which transpired in a railway carriage in Nor. thorn Franco in the very, early hours of .Monday morning last. That morning tlio fate of the Great war, which had waged for four years and 103 days, was to bo determined by the signing of the armistice—the truce to end hostilities. The armistice was hogged tor by the German delegates seeking peace and two and a half days earlier they liad been advised of the conditions. It was a great humbling of the German military power to thus sue for peace, but the demand was inevitable. The great power of the nation and the resolution of the people had been broken. Four months of terrific attack by the Allies had broken the military power of Germany, four years of close blockade by the Allied .fljcefs had “undermined the strength of the people. Their hopes For victory laid long passed away. For a time they fought on, in the forlorn hope of ultimate victory, but their strength sapped. they could not longer seek to make good the situation by force and fraud, and yield they must. At home the people led by malcontent sailors and .soldiers were in revolt, and the national strength was' further sapped. They had lost confidence in their Kaiser and their leaders. The leaders and ■the Kaiser in turn lost control of the people. Confusion grew at home, as it grow in the firing line. The German military monster was staggering. The pressure of Focli’s unceasing attack effected its purpose, the whole German line broke, and victory $ was in sight. With defeat on the field and disaster at home, Germany had no alternative but to sue for peace. . <■

Wk shall learn presently how dire are the conditions in Germany and the other enemy countries. They can lie imagined, indeed, from the meagre reports already to hand. Dr Solf’s ap- ! peal to' President Wilson for food is an ! indication of how thoroughly the enemy j was “done ” —the war of attrition had , gone on till Germany was worn out and forced to do penance. The enemy coun- ' tries will receive at the hands of the ! Allies very different treatment to that ‘ meted out by the Central Powers to countries over which they held, temporarily, the mastership, Belgium, Iloutnania, Russia- and Serbia, know how lilt.lo mercy or consideration was shown their starving peoples by the ruthless invader, lvveii what little they had in the way of stored supplies was taken from them. The forceful, brutal ways of the victors pro-tern are not to be imitated by the victors supreme. As the French Premier has aptly put it. this is a war for humanity. The reprisals of the Allies will not go the length of starving their enemies because of their power to do so. On the contrary, the President of America and the Premier of France have indicated that they will share what they have with their former foes. It is an outward and visible demonstration of the triumph of practical humanity in this Great War, and is an assurance to the vanquished that under the benign protection of the conquerors, they will he in very safe and sane hands, protected from their former leader? and pro* wstod freai 'bh§irts*lVß3,

Tut: do icm scene.- dencrihed on the Western front were Indicative of the stand-still to which the enemy had been fought. Still pressing forward-, the great Allied war machine rolled over the enemy hosts like a huge Juggernaut. It was not possible for the Germans to longer delay the iindeiii*. able advance—the enemy being swept up along the whole battle-front. The sounding of the cease-fire must surely have been a dramatic moment. The order had been pre-given, like the time, table command so often received to go “over the top.’’ But what a reversal of things—the end of the war had come. No wonder the liberated Belgians asked, “can it he true really?” It seemed too much joy after yeairs of suffering . The occasion was historic surely; for is it not- believed that the finish of the GreatWar is the end of all wars? No doubt the scene on many of the fronts will he reproduced by pictures yet to appear. M hat the soldiers saw in the moment of victory was the Promised Land. To them gladly risking their lives for the world’s freedom, peace suddenly enm« and the willing sacrifice was not required. The relief .from the strain of the war; the tension of military life with all its arduous sidelights, had come to an end; the strenuous hours of action /•ailing ever for vigilance and high courage and so often suffering, had gone never to return. It was a very solemn hour to those bravo men standing out in the van. To them peace gave instant relief and speedy release. Ihe moments must have been impressive indeed, intensified as the newfound stillness was by the enforced silence of the over-booming guns now limbering up to go out of action. Yes, it can be well understood what that dramatic moment of the war meant to the gallant soldiers of the Allies who had won so great a. victory.

Nkw Zealand's part in the Great AVar is something to he proud of. The deeds accomplished are in keeping with the high reputation this Britain of tho South has maintained always. New Zealand sent almost 100,000*men and women from its shores for active service. The exact number was 99,822, and to this highly respectable total has to be added 12.648 still in. camp, (at Oct. 1 Stlil so that the Dominion’s contributions .to the war stands at over 112,470. This is virtually ten per cent, of the population, so that this distant outpost has (lone its fair share in fighting the battles of the Empire, and assisting the Allies to maintain the rights and privileges of civilisation. While quantity has been sent forward, the quality has been of the highest also. New Zealand soldiers won the highest praise from the outset. Their demeanour and general behaviour first found praise with the authorities. On the occasion of their baptism of lire on'Gallipoli they quitted themselves like men. Later, when operating alone in Egypt they won praise and high distinction. But it was on the western front that they won the highest renown of all. There they were in the limelight with the picked troops of the Allies—veteran forces lighting under flags of great renown right through the traditions of military history. A'et, despite, the very excellent company in which they were placed. New Zealanders were credited with being the best on the front .their smart ness and efficiency being' to their outstanding credit. When the New Zealanders were rushed to the front at the end of March to stem the enemy onslaught, they performed prodigies of valour in checking the threatening advance. Later, they operated in the Allied advance with distinctive success and many names may now lie inscribed on ihe New Zealand war banners.

Tim groat relief after the tension of the prolonged war, was manifested by the manner in which the people received and marked the reception of the good news. Although the false alarm of the previous week might have taken a little of the “steam’’ out of the enthusiasm of I'.liJf’ people, then' was no doubt about the unalloyed joy actually felt. Friday’s preliminary was useful at all •events ns something of a rehearsal, and everybody seemed to know exactly what they were going to do when the news came through. It was expected with a full degree of certainty on Tuesday morning, and folic were eagerly on the outlook. Then when the signal flag flew and the resounding bell boomed the glad tidings over “the town, the citizens Hooked forth without loss of time. As by magic shutters went up, and blinds came down, niid the business side of the town was obliterated. The revellers soon made their appearance decked in brilliant colors, and with joyful demeanour made a tour of the town. The procession in the afternoon showed how spontaneous was the public spirit, and the whole arrangements for the celebration were in admirable tone and excellent effect for the purpose filling every bodies mind. Not the ic:-.st noteworthy was the afternoon given to the children on Cass Square. The gathering by its very nature was typical of the peace it marked, and the careful way in which the young folk enjoyed themselves must have made the adults who regarded the gathering with pleasure, value the victory of the Allied arms and the fruits of the true peace to come in a higher degree of appreciation than ever. The day had been one for the children and they were enjoying it to their hearts’ content.

Tun local authorities have been busy throughout the week grappling with the influenza scourge which is running its course throughout the Dominion. The Mayor has lake vigorous action all through and has been ably backed up by the Chairman of the Hospital Board, and well supported by the County Chair man. Everything possible has been done in the way of anticipating events, and assisting in regard to remedial measures to help the community cope with tin* outbreak. The Mayor’s idea of fitting one of the large rooms of Victoria School as an auxiliary ward for the overflow of patients from the Westland Hospital, was a wise precaution to take in advance, and the ladies and gentlemen who came forward to assist in this work of mercy are to be commended for their ready action. It is to he hoped that their names will be submitted to the Government to ensure a lull measure of thanks being accorded them for their services and self-sacri-fice for the benefit of the community. Dr Teiehelmann and Mr. Williams are both having very busy times, and as usual do not spare themselves at nil in their service to the public. The outbreak promises to be well grappled with here. It is largely for the people to help themselves by taking all precautions about themselves, and seeing to the sanitation of their homes and working places. At the first symptoms they should take effective remedial measures and not carelessly expose themselves. This should be noted for attention, particularly ia the convalescent stage. With a fair degree of attention it should lie jKtssible to greatly minimise the dangers of the outbreak.