WHY ARE WE NOT YET READY?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 286, 1 December 1914, Page 4

WHY ARE WE NOT YET READY?

If ever true and weighty words were uttered hy any man in this world, the Inst words of Lord Roberts are those.words,* writes ‘.‘Shrapnel” in the Otago Times, Belgium has paid the

price of the' British fatuous policy ol never having her army ready, 01 rather, of never having a proper army ready for events which some of her statesmen know are bound to eventuate at definite periods, but at indefinite moments.' The crime of war, and the devastation of Belgium, so cynically and brutally carried out, ( must be laid at the doors of the Little| Englanders, tiie pacifists—the peace at any price party—and the antimilitarists or auti-coiiscriptionists. j All # Lord Roberts asked for was aj mild form of universal training | standing as an adjunct to the professional army of Great Britain. If Great Britain had had a couple of million trained men, not necessarily two million under arms, hut men ready and material to equip them, as Germany had. the violation of Belgium might never have been attempted, and certainly the devastation of that country and the capture of Antwerp would not have taken place. the sequel of the occupation of Belgium is the terrible struggle and loss of life taking place in West Flanders. Where are those anti-military heroes now? We have heard their cries in New Zealand. Why do they not pose for public sympathy just now? They have ratted to their holes; but we shall hear their squeak again in the piping times of peace. There are men in Britain who would in effect have betrayed their country if they could have impressed their unbalanced conclusions upon the public mind. These pacifists are 'responsible to a great extent for the fact that. men have now to be on the battle field, and consequently are morally responsible for the death of tens of thousands. It is no excuse for a number of them that they are extremely patriotic now. One would like to know how many of them have sought the firing line.