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Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1924, Page 2

History cannot be divided into watertight compartments and dates, ns such,

in general, count for little. Hut some of tliem possess profound .significance, and one of these is 1-133, which .11 r IV. F. Reddawny has chosen as the start-ing-point for iiis “.Modern European History.” In that year the Turks captured Constantinople. Greek learning was, in consequence, dispersed over Mu rope, bringing the Renascence, and the Middle Ages gave place to modern times. Moreover, the land route to the Mast was closed by the ti undent Ottomans. A new one had to he found, that this provided the impulse for those geographical discoveries which, at the end of the loth, century, so greatly enlarged the known world. Beginning with l-l-l-'l. Mr Rcddaway carries his chronicle down to the early part of 1!)27. A. section is devoted to the rise of the German peril, and. looking hack on the recurrent crises of which, these of 1!K)8 and 1011 were the chief, we can realise how inevitable it was that Germany’s aggressive spirit should sooner or later precipitate a conflict. The author, remarks a reviewer, gives a succinct account of the war. and discusses the problems of the ‘‘peace.’ in which already there have been two international wars, with many hardly less violent internal and external struggles. lie concludes with an appraisement of the work that the League of Nations is doing. Referring to the Corfu incident, he observes that t has shown the need for a stronger organisation if Europe, and indeed the, world, is to inaugurate the rule of law. In regard to the League, he makes a telling point. Mis history was not written to support any particular thesis, or to prove that the League will make wau -impossible. Xe-vertPieless the moral is ineseapahle. 'I he record ol so many fundamentally unnecessary wars in which the nations squandered their energies to no purpose pleads lor some method of .-netting war by conference. If Europeans had had the smallest percept ion of their common interests they could, in the last four centuries, have driven the Turks back, assimilated tbe Russians, raised themselves to it far higher level of civilisation, and spread irresistibly over the temperate world. This consideration suggests that the League is a logical necessity, and it seems more likely that the new international organisation will teach method to the jarring <orporations within the component. Stales limit that it will again make way lor anarchy.

Nkw Zkai.and has net apart very specially Anzac Day for its day of memories in connection with the Great War. ConsiM|iiently Armistice Day this week was not observed in any way generally. In most cent res tin* ii-quest ol King for a two minutes observame ot silence was retogtiised, ’lbis tribute to the fallen is an impressive for observance, and its oiled on a community is not without its value. In the busy, daily round thoughts are not prone to recur to the sadder side of life, but where under suggestion there is the opportunity for paying tribute, the people not unreadily do so. The service. for such it is. has its value on all about. The oct asion emphasises what the war cost, and brings to the mind of all. memories of those who paid the price The universal marking of the great occasion, however, has its value in bringing to light tbe loyally . f the people On stu b occasions throngs of pro] lr assemble to do silent homage. That situ ere so: vice would not be performed without there was a genuine feeling prompting it. Love of country was the mainspring which inspired the sacrifice of the war, and it i.s love of country still being manilestecl which prompts the people to lie not unmindful of those who made the silpteme sacrifice, ami who by their outward action demonstrates their own inward feelings. W'e can always recall tbe anniversary of Armistice Day because tbe day itself marked ltd of t:image and great disaster, lint tin* loss was so gtcal and ter rihlc that behind it all there is dillr ulty to rejoin* and make really merry on a war anniversary. So it is that we liken tbe New Zealand observance of Anzac Day with its solemn celebration as mote liltin:* tbe feelings anti circumstances. and hi ittging tint in tbe right atmospliete the real feelings of tbe people as a whole towards tbe war. and its aftermath. Withal we must be thankful that these days of commemoration do not pall, and are more thoroughly observed as the time passes.