The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1919 BRITISH EMPIRE'S CONTRIBUTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 490, 15 July 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1919 BRITISH EMPIRE'S CONTRIBUTION.

"We nothmo extenuate, nor ir.t down auahl in walice."

WiiKN Sir Douglas Ilaiggave vent to the pardonable boast that the major part of the lighting during the late war fell on the soldiers and sailors of the British Empire, lie was voicing not only the opinion or all well-informed men, hut an undeniable fact. True, as the hard-hitting, steadfast general states, France bore the brunt in the early period, but on land and sea dining the latter two and a-quark-r years it was men of J}rltish blood who stemmed the tide and rolled back the foe in France, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Russia, and Afric i. And it was the British Navy that conquered the terrible submarine menace, kept the enemy fleet bottled up except for rare and risky excursions under cover of mist and darkness ; and, in fact, held the key of the situation from start to finish. Wherever one looked in the war zones there were British soldiers, whose sea communications were guarded by the Xavy, and always where therewas stiff and continuous campaigning, Apart from their numbers, the characteristic pugnacity, perseverance, and cheerfulness—in the midst of his grumbling'—of the British soldier told immensely In strengthening the morale of troops of more volatile temperament. Probably there is no finer fighting man on earth than the Frenchman—when he is winning : but, taking soldiers generally, and making no allowance lor "crack " or " cracked " regiments, your

typical lii iiisht-i i\ the finest lighter wlieti conies tu long odds and a seemimrlv hopeless struggle. 'llk- lesson taught in the will also he taken to heall h\ ether nations having large ideas about world dominion, and it is sale lo ~a\ that a couple ol centimes will rlapn- In tore allot li' I ll.' I ion \l|i'W:. : llUl'.'k lit loolliaidiiii s.-i to thiow down tlie gauntlet lo " (iieatei Hi it.on ' a. ' | 'an (id mania did in I" M