The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1918 THE WIMMERA DISASTER

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 387, 28 June 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1918 THE WIMMERA DISASTER

"We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice."

As the Huddart-Parker steamer " Wi mmera'' glided serenely out of Auckland Harbour last Tuesday morning on her way to Sydney with a goodicffmplement of passengers probably no one thought that she was entering upon what lias proved her final voyage, but the fact Is that as the result of Hunnisli devilry she now rests at the bottom of the sea, the extent of the loss of life lieing at present uncertain. Wherein the enemy gains any benefit by the slaughter of Innocent men and women, non-com-batants in the war, is unknown. The broadcast sowing of mines is quite outside the recognised rules of warfare but a day of reckoning will assuredly come when the nation responsible for such fiendish outrages will be called to book. This catastrophe, occurring as it lias on the very shores of the Dominion, brings vividly home to us what German "kulture" really means, but its message is that the people of New Zealand must continue to do their part to ensure that German tyranny and diabolical methods shall be put an end to for all time. To the field of battle the soldiers of New Zealand musfgo" to punish the foe and to those left behind the duty befalls of assisting in the prosecution of the war in every possible way, as for instance in the appeal for funds now being made by the Red Cross Society for alleviating- the sufferings of and succouring the wounded. The Wimmera's fate also casts a warning before us and that is to beware of the enemy within our midst. That information as to the doings iu New Zealand and to movements of ships is communicated to our foes is not open to doubt but the difficulty is to locate the spy or spies within our gates. An open foe is iar better than a false friend and the time lias come, in fact it long since arrived, when all enemy aliens in New Zealand should be interned and placed in a position where thevcandono harm. Whatever the social status is of those of German origin such should carry no weight with the authorities : high or low must be treated alike and should

be deprived of liberty, or else too late we may find that undeserved leniency has been misplaced. It Is unthinkable and an injustice to the victims of the Wimmera outrage that the enemy within our Midst should any longer be allowed to prepare and plan for the murder of those with whom he associates. The Government, if necessary, must be forced to take action and this can be done as the outcome of public agitation.