Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 29th, 1919. WRITING UP THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 29th, 1919. WRITING UP THE WAR.

Australia was exceptionally fortunate in its choice of an official war correspondent. Throughout the war Mr C. E. Bean’s communications were always interesting and distinctly informative, and the Australian has come to be reI garded as no mean authority on the war. Since the armistice Mr Bean has been writing up the war from various view points, but none more interesting than from the point of application to Australia itself. For instance, in one of his latest works (the profits of which by the way are devoted to the funds of the A.1.F.) yclept, “In Your Hands, Australians”, the writer exhorts his fel-ilow-eountrymen to prove themselves worthy of the great traditions established by their army. Mr Bean’s argument is briefly that Australia pulled together magnificently in the war; her army, a happy band of brothers, immornlised her name on a hundred battlefields; let Australians honour their debt to those who fought, died and suffered for her by pulling together in the tasks of peace. Each of us has a direct and individual responsibility which none can evade by pleading that it is “impossible” for one person to do much; that was not the spirit which animated tho A.I.F. They did not know the meaning of the word “impossible.” They achieved the impossible a score of time's at Anzac, at Pozieres, at Villers-Bre-tonneux, at St. Quentin, and they did no: do it by weighing the chances or waiting for a lead or slavishly adhering to military precedents. These impossibilities were accomplished by strong men who made instant decisions and "dug in” to the immediate job ahead of them. “Many of us believe that tho young Australians with enthusiasm cm do anything.” Mr Bean would be the last to blow the trumpet of the Australians undeservedly, but he is sincerely convinced that for certain qualities of initiative, determinaton and self reliance they are unsurpassed. Arc wo to suppose that these qualities which war- so conspicuous on the battlefield will fail when called upon to deal with the problems on the solution of which Australia’s full self-realisation depends? Our fate is in our hands. By individual endeavour general co-operation, and any systematic effort we can make ourselves masters of it. “Wo have never used brains upon any sort of place worthy of tho name for tho progress and liapponoss of our nation. We have the only country in the world that is still to make. Fitfy-sevcn thousand young Australians who loft Australia in high hopes to fight for her, 57,000 who will I never return to her dear shores, have preserved that power \o us. We can make her what wo will.” Mr Bean does not indulge in vague generalities or pious aspirations; ho shoW;s exactly what each can do and how lie can set about. TTis appeal is an inspiring one, and is it not an appeal also to tho N.Z.E.F. ? The Now Zealand soldiers, tco, covered themselves with glory on the battlefront, where they did everything they were asked to do. Their courago and initiative wore not any loss inspiring than their Aussio comrades and what Mr Bean says of tho Australian fighting man and his adapt-

ability to unusual conditions and problems, applies with equal force to the New Zealand fighting unit. It is well to have the war written up from this point of view and if some writer were ' to do the same service for the Diggers of the Dominion, a great purpose could ;be served. In America where more at--1 tention is paid to the practical cultiva--1 tion of patriotism and civics, books such i as Mr Bean has wrtten would bo circui lated as text books for schools, and j become a standard reader. It is one ; way of getting some practical good out \ of the war, and this country might well ! move along the same national lines. The 1 highest ideals should be set before the ’ returned men as well as the rising generation, and out of the sacrifices of the j war can be drawn lessons to instil into the minds of the dullest, the noblest ideals of patriotism and civic service for 1 the common good. If the war is written ufion these lines,, posterity, will derive/ a lasting lesson from the great purpose which can be served as now suggested.