"Stick It Out"

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 April 1918, Page 1

"Stick It Out"

R® USING MESSAGE PROM FRONT BT GENERAL. GLORIOUS SPIRIT ©P OUR MEN IN THE FIELD. Burning with appreciation of our gallant soldiers was the maiden speech in which Lieutenant-General Sir A. G. Hunter-Weston addressed the House of Commons during the debate on the Man-power Bill. Amid rousing cheers he delivered this fine message from the front:— "The Army, your Army, the flower of the manhood of these islands and of the great self-governing Dominions across the seas, is in magnificent fettle, full of calSi confidence and unconquerable cheeriness, imbued with a glorious spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty, determined to 'stick it out' doggedly when defence is the order of the day, and ready to strike, and strike hard, when the time comes for attack or counter-attack." Germany had chastised the small nations with whips; if ever she were to conquer us ehe would chastise us' with scorpions. In a certain town in North France,, out of which our troops had just driven the Germans, and by whose women we were hailed as deliverers, and greeted with showers of flowers, he, as commander of the advanced guard, was besought by a fine, sturdy peasant woman of France to press on his already quicklymoving troops to "kill, kill the retreating fiends," who had raped her daughter publicly before her very eyes. Could they wonder, then, that he appealed to the men and women of Great Britain and Ireland to support the Government in their determination to give the Army the young men it needed to carTy the war through to victory. Let there be co-operation and mutual confidence—soldiers and politicians, civilians and military trusting each other, and working hand in hand. Both were needed. What most struck an observant, but at present infrequent visitor to England, was the courage and resolution of the majority of the people. There was, however, a minority, whose selfishness, ignorance, and self-com-placency were but too apparent, and there was a noisy and vociferous few, some of them honest, though mistaken, who did infinite harm to their country's cause. To them he appealed in the name of those at the front—"help us by helping the cause of victory by every means in your power." There | was a strong feeling of resentment ' among the soldiers at the front against the young, able-bodied men staying at home in comfort and safety, and draw- | ing large pay. He was afraid that feeling would last long after peace, and that the men at the front who had "done their bit" would, after the war, get even with the "blessed" skulkers, as the soldier called them—only using another adjective. The hon. member, proceeding, paid a high tribute to the men of the Irish regiments, and expressed the hope that among the great men of Ireland, whether known or as yet unknown, a leader might be found who would cause Ireland to join America, France and the great Dominions across the seas in this great struggle for liberty and justice. (Cheers.) He pealed to every man under 25 to come forward willingly tind join the men in whose hands the future of this country lay. "I say, therefore, to all: Have courage, confidence, and resolution. Do not fear to face facts. Both at Home and in the field we , have difficulties before us. But the difficulties of the future are small compared with those we have surmounted in the past. Our position and resources are such that, if we as a nation "stick to it," we are certain to win. (Cheers.)

Germany is hard pressed, her people are hungry and suffering. Her allies are in even worse plight. In every respect she is worse off than we are. But her army is still intact, and her leaders know the value of resolution. And it is on our resolution, our determination, and our grit that the immense issues of the future now depend. If only'the Empire will but to herself be true; if all individuals and classes in the nation will co-operate loyally with each other and with the Army, which is the nation at the front, standing resolutely shoulder to shoulder, calmly, confidently, and courageously, we are certain of ultimate victory and of the only peace which would be a lasting peace."

The general concluded amidst long and warmly appreciative cheers.