A GREAT STRUGGLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 43, 7 October 1914, Page 4

A GREAT STRUGGLE.

“There is no escape from consciousness of the solemn and stupendous fact,” states the “British-Australa-sian,” “that the Empire is engaged in a struggle greater than anyone now living lias witnessed, and whose result is fraught with even more momentous issues than those decided by the Napoleonic wars. Nowhere indeed, in any part of the Empire has it been sought to blink this fact, and Australians and Now Zealanders have no cause to be ashamed of the share of the burden which their countries are taking upon their shoulders. Australia’s Expeditionary Army of 20,000 men, and Now Zealand’s of 8000 have been gratefully accepted by tho Mother Country, and the preparations for tbeir despatch are going quickly forward. Here it will, we trust, not be thought invidious to remark that proportionately to population New Zealand is just now doing more by land than Australia., in sending a force two-fifths the size of that from the Commonwealth, though she has little more than cne-fifth of the population; but, on the other hand, it must be remembered that Aus-

tralia has thrown a float manned and paid for by Australians into the scale. Each country is doing all Ithat is required of it at present and undoubtedly will be ready to ddAnore should the need come. This, we must remember, is possible. The Commonwealth and the Dominion are as wealthy as England; as full of men of strength and spirit. "We have made her quarrel ours, and we shall be ready to see it through, even if it should involve raising and devoting to the common cause more scores of thousands of Australasian soldiers. These islands are equipping close upon a million men, and if they are not enough, Australia and New Zea-j land will further supplement them.”