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Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1926, Page 2

C eh many's entry into the League of Nations has been overlong delayed. The relief felt when the tension was passed and Germany’s entry accepted, has been evidenced in the cable news this week. The entry of Germany is a manifestation of goodwill which means that internationally the hatchet is buried and there is to he a general strivings for universal peace among all nations. The League of Nations is not us yet all that it was planned to he, hut (he acceptance of Germany carries the League plan a long way towards the goal set for it. The European situation should he much more secure now heeau.se of Germany’s admission, and the fact that Germany may not now negotiate any “peaceful” tactics with Russia. The League can afford the bulwark of a great international force for tin' protection of Germany, il such should he needed, and peace may he negotiated now without the occasion for rattling the sabre as was so often before the way of seeking to secure peace. The rattling of the sabre was too often provocative of the opposite to anything peaceful, but so far as Control Europe is concerned, the occasion for such alarms and excursions is laid, mid this achievement must count a good deal towards the general pence of the world. The League of Nations in itself is a great movement for universal peace. Its achievements so far are not greatly outstanding, hut all its works are in the direction of positive .success, and the latest seat to he filled at the League table will bring to the counsels a new force to count for peaceful possibilities. German tradition is essentially warlike, so that in itself it is no small achievement to have Germany ranged on the side of universal peace. It its remarkable that the entry of Germany has been delayed for so, long, hut international jealousies by small nations were the cause. Those prejudices have been overcome fairly satisfactorily—which in itself is something of a triumph for the ideals of the League. It is to be hoped that in the international rehabilitatment which will now go on Germany will lose no time in justifying the step of the League and bear active part in aiming to achieve all that tlio League designs to win. and establish.

Tiie miniature Zeebruggo in China waters is a reminder once again that in any and all circumstane.es the British Navy is “ready, aye ready,” in accordance with its traditional motto. Tho affair in China is the result of the revolutionary conditions in that much divided country. There are at least three Generals in the field of operations with designs on the Government. Hut China is so large and the population so vast, that it seems impossible without generally stable conditions for any newly created party to gain supremo power. There are too the factions created by Russian agencies in which Bolshevik tendencies predominate. The occasion which caused the loss of 'British lives appears to have been brought about by an act of brigandage on the part of irresponsible Chinese. The desire to rob has been very rife of late in China, and on the high sens there have been numerous acts of piracy by designing Chinamen. The forces under Yang Sen are considerable, and it appears a party of his soldiery took possession forcibly under arms of two British steamers. This of course was plain piracy, and ns the British sailors were being kept- prisoners it was necessary to secure their rescue, and if possible, that of the steamers. Only a small (British force was available for the task, but nothing daunted it was attempted, and the prisoners rescued. The story told is that the river gunboats had to run the gauntlet of the Chinese shore batteries and then hoard the big steamers the sides of which were bristling with the rifles and guns of tho numerous Chinese in charge. Despite this, and the great odds which the British naVais had to face, they did tlheir job as far as was possible, humanly. With so vast an Empire, and British interests spread through the seven seas, it is imperative to have a mob if e Navy, ready for all emergency. There is no task which the Jack Tar will not set about if required by the necessities of the occasion to do so. In the latest emute the British Navy again displayed its conspicuous dash and gallantry in carrying out a task which called for courage and resource. In the piping times of peace we are all too prone to forget all that we owe to our fleet in being, and to the necessity of keeping that first lino of defence in « most efficient state. Here, then, is another reminder of the value and. virtues of the British Navy, and of the onus on the Empire at large to maintain that Navy full and efficient for the task which is before it always.