THE THIRD YEAR OF WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 217, 13 October 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE THIRD YEAR OF WAR.

STRIKING MESSAGES TO THE NATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF BRITAIN'S GREAT DECISION GEORGE BARNES, M.P., SAYS, "KEEP IT UP!" ' Mr George N. Barnes, M.P., the courageously, loyal and level-headed Labour leader, lias lost a son in the war. Th© most important thing about the war is to get on with it. Too much time and energy have already been given to the German peace talfe-real or imaginary—and to subsidiary Questions. . , We are an unimaginative people, or else a good many things which have occupied attention would have been swept off the board and the national mind and resources focussed on the war. . . The men who are doing the fighting should be in our thoughts in the opening of the third year of the war. borne of them have been at it all the time. They endured the horrible conditions of. the first winter when the-trenches were knee-deep in water or liquid mud. Some contracted illness (which will never leave them, some were wounded and many laid down their lives. If we are going to be worthy of the sacrifices of these men w,e will sink our own petty squablbes and our-still more petty troubles, and each of us work with a will to do our bit here at home in the coinfort and security which they have won for us. I know nothing of German talk, and if I did 1 should pay no heed to it. I onlv know that the-re is no room in the world for German modes of life if the world is to l>e worth living in for those who are to follow us. *Vo are in this war for the principle of liberty, and that is enough for me to go on doing my Little best to win it. Let us all be soized with that idea m the opening of the third* year and, il need be, till the close of the third ye.ir. We can do but little here at home as compared with what is done by the "trench population.' 4 Let us at least do that with all our might.

JEROME K. JEROME, TELLS A STORY. Mr. Jerome K. Jerome, known the world over as a humorous philosopher, has written of nothing but war since the war began. I remember a talk I had about thu war with a leading business man of America back about Christmas, 1914 " We will assume for the sake of the analogy," he said, "that I am a highi.v objectionable and utterly unscrupulous man cf business. I have the will to ruin my rivals and take possession of their trade. I complete my preparations and choose a moment when, us it seems to me, their credit is at its weakest to striko home. "I find that 1 have made the mistake of my life. My rival turns out lo bo much'stronger than I imagined: and the issue is doubtful. I acknowledge my folly, atid purpose our both returning to peaceful rivalry. 'No,' ho answers, '1 can't trust you. If I let you go now, you will only prepare for another and letter timed attack upon me. Now I have you by the throat, and I intend to strangle you.' "I cannot blame him. There is nothing else for me to do but to put up as good a fight as I can. And as the result proves, we turn out to be about equally matched. "What, as plain business men, arc we to do? Go fighting until we are both ruined and our trade captured by new firms? Or had not he better li-t me go and trust to my self-interest, if notlrng else, not to start playing monkey tricks a second time. "Am I likely tor Haven't I learnt my lesson? Shall I not be only too careful to leave him alone for the future, and advise my son that, when he comes into business, he will find that the peace game pays best?"

Millions of young lives, invaluable to the future of Europe have been sacrificed since then. But the same -word's could be spoken to-day. If. as tho result of the next fewmonths fighting we can .insist on Gomany evacuating all h&r conquered terrtory, concurring with Russ'a and Austria'to give back Poland to tho Poles, and abandoning the Balkan dreams, shall not that be sufficient? TO TALK OF A "WAR OF ATTRITION/' TO BE CONTINUED YEAR AFTER YEAH TILL GERMANY LIES CRI'SHED AND HELPLESS, IS AS VILE AS IT IS SENSELESS. Even if practicable, it would drain us of our life-blood. A peace that had taught all Europe tho futility of war would be more lasting than a victory that would leave hohind it the seeds of revenge. When we have defeated run- enemy, in God's name let us mako l'oace. FATHER BERNARD VAUGHAN'S CRY OF "VICTORY OR DEATH!" Father Bernard Vauglian, the most eloquent of preachers, proved liiniAelf the m:>st fervent of patriots.

It seems to me that England has paused through three stages in her appreciation of the real meaning of this .slaughter of the human race, euphemistically (-ailed warfare. In its first stage she felt she was fighting for her national interests, the highest of which was her national hon--011 pledged word to ■recogniso and maintain the integrity, autonomy and independence of Belgium. Then At began to dawn upon England that the fight was not merely for national honour, hut for national existence itself. She hegan to realise that. the aggressive and arrogant foe with whom she had come to grips was scheming and campaigning not only to storm Paris and capture Potrogrnd, hut. to invade England and raid London. England was to he the Kaiser 1 ! coalng si a I ion ! Finally England hegan to wake up to the real inner meaning and signifiranc.i of the li'ftwuid-deatli struggle t, which she had committed herself and her people. I ihnl; I may say that i'l of us. without ."xception of rank, creed or politics, have had at last to face tip awful reality that England's sword has heen drawn not. t<> defend national <la.:m< on'v hi't in' '•national r'jjhla also

In other words, the Allies, from PeV rograd to Rome, and from Rome t • Paris, and from Paris to London,' are linked together, resolved never it sheathe sword, or silence gun, or cry "Hold, enough!" till they are in a position, not to come to terms with the enemy, but, on the contrary, ix> dictato'their own terms with him. You cannot make terms -with an enemy who has no respect for his own word of honour; you cannot come to terms with him when be makes it hu proud boast that for him "might is right," and that warfare, when it suits him, is a "bialogical necessity" and "the religion of valour." With as enemy such as we are fighting we must impose conditions of peace which shall secure to Europe and to Christian civilisation the right to live long years of peace and prosperity, without the everlasting menace of invasion by an enemy who claims it to bo Ins divine mission to make his own what belongs to another, leaving "frightfulness" as the trade-mark of his bloody business, no matter where he has planted his iron heel. Our splendidly equipped and indomitable British Army is winning from all the world thp encomiums it has so deservedly merited, and we may rest assured that these brave and daring fellows will not return from the fighting lines till they have achieved wnat they had set out to do—to defeat th? enemy so certainly, securely and completely that even he shall be compelled to acknowledge with hands up that *ie has boon beaten all along the fighting line, and is prepared to accept whatever term* of peace may be offered him. UNLESS THE ALLIES ARE RESOLYEB TO FIGHT ON TILL VICTORY IS THEIRS, IT WERE BETTER THEY HAD NEVER FOUGHT AT ALL. ' Peace short of a fight to the finish enemy was prepared once more to would mean a armed truce till the enemy iwas prepared ioncei more "to shouts "World-conquest or Death." God avert such a catastrophe to Europe!