"Steady."

Manawatu Herald, 3 February 1900, Page 2

"Steady."

Leader of " The People " December 17th. It would be foolish and impossible to deny the bitter disappointment felt at Sir Redvers Buller's check on the bank of the Tugela. Still, , despite the truth of this, there is no sufficient reason for too greafc anxiety. . The Franco-Prussian War has always been regarded as one uninterrupted triumph for German arms; yet Saarbruck, Verdun, and > Pharlsburg were repulse^ costing many hundred of lives, Witjiin one calendar month Germany lost over , 48,500 officers and men, killed, i wounded, and missing. Our losses, ', 30 far, an^ a mere bagetelle to such figures, even in proportion to numbers engaged. The truth, ' indeed, is that through the Soudmi and in the late Indian frontier war our victories have been marvellously ihe&p. We must remember this, ind be brave of spirit. To-day at the front all are heroes who are facing death. Here at home the . mass of people must show them^ves of equal courage and toughness ot | spirit. Dispiriting as such check?! | | as we have received may be, tha ; country must— r-uay, does — face them < ' with calm ftquanimity. It may h<» ' sad at heart, it may be bitterly diisap- : pointed; but its confidence rightly enough stills run high. Therms no , loubt — there can be no douot — of tiio eventual result of War. All Europe may howl about our ears, vejoiciiig at .our trials, magnifying + eraporavy reverses into terria^?!' ~ 'ford -to' remain calm and v"*^ steady. Europ9 knows thafe iha •night of Great Britain lies in her 'natchle3S Navy. On every ocean o£ ■. the' world she rides supreme. -Sho -,an affqrd to see tfih war , through — she will see it th-onsh — without anv rfok *■* h°":r«H\, whilst her fh**-innr w;^ • p J *"' 1!^ °,ady to f«vw anv o V »-' T- >* •■^oifcs* •"•^ infii ?*■•""•■ :*"o f.hi?; t& '••':"■' ■ '<■'■* \ '■•.1 /" !"•: a d^re^ *: '' -~ s o L *yt t "-; "f» •joror to tak'<* hi c - plnofi. It .••'~- • ' ■' wind that . blow 5 : no good, i\i<? very difficulties that lie before is in this present hour ate not merely^ making a nation — as war so oit^n ■ ' ha=»— but are binding a huge empire Into one solid whole. Once men " bought that the ties that bound •\rreat Britain to her colonies wore dender and sentimental. This war " has now and for ever strengthened her bonds into the imperishable^! chains of love and ready self-sacrifice." '" Whilst, "however, we confidently look to our generals in the field finally to orove themselves the men we believe them to be, it is to the Government ' all eyes are turned. There must be no hesitancy, no niggardness, no ~'}\-\ formality of red tape. More men we wanted, more cavalry, and more Tuns. Offers of Colonials and offers , u home from ex-cavalrymen and /food riders ought to be accepted. Indeed, Australia's last offer has been accented. It is well, for ill- a country like South Africa, 'sftflt • gainst such an enemy as the Boerts, ' xr forces should be as mobile as . ■vssible. There need be no waste of nnav. bit thfl^e must be no stint. 'f we have undervalued our foe, we nu^t realise our error and straighjbTay put foHh our full strength and ■srush him. Our tide of victory ->iust from the hour of the arrival j.,i >f reinforcements be unquestionable, f| rresistible, and overwhelming. ;^ ).!. There must be no spoiling the ships 1 ; ! or a ha'porth of tar. The swiftest .; "■! '; j■• liners of our merchant navy, not !;i|i low tramps, must be requistioned&a >';'! |; >ansports. .The whole world waitfi I !';' ii vatching. We must and we will be i tw ue to that place amount nationfif < \ vhieh the life-blood and the bravery 0^ our forefathers gainei foi- xi and ' assed down to us as our heritage on jarth.