The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1915. PRUSSIAN PEACE TALK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 85, 14 April 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1915. PRUSSIAN PEACE TALK.

The preposterous peace talk, which is emanating from German sources in America indicates that the Hnnnish official mind realises that Prussia’s wild ambitions have failed, and that utter defeat awaits bandit hordes. Every effort is being strained to create a false impression both inside and outside Germany regarding the reverses Prussian arms have sustained, •nul blatantly boastful statements are made by superlatively Imaginative Teutons, who vie with each other in their attempts to save their discredited country’s face now that the day of disaster and retribution is upon them. In neutral countries persistent effort is maintained in the endeavour to create the impression that the Allies are not in perfect accord, and that one or other is prepared to make peace on its own account. Gorman treachery has been too thoroughlyj exposed to permit such a thing to bo thought of for one moment, and it is certain that Prance, Russia and Britain stand more firmly together to-day than ever. Not long ago the Prench Prime Minister, M. Viviani, in the course of an interview with an Ameri-j can correspondent, reaffirmed the unity of Franco the perfect mutual understanding between the Allies, and the grim determination to light this war To the bitter end. Prance had no desire for war: it was forced upon her by Germany’s insensate ambition. Though she has always mourned the loss of Alsace and Lorraine, it has been said that the idea of “revanche” died with M. Paul Derouledo. Rut now her territories have been rudely ravaged and her peaceful people trampled on and foully murdered. It is hut natural that she demands retribution and she will not now lay down arms until the constant menace of war which must hang over Europe until Prussian militarism is crushed, has passed away. Since the German foirent was cheeked at the battle ol the Marne, the world knows that Germany must eventually he beaten, Rut it is not vet time to slacken our efforts in any one direction; rather they should he made greater for the defeat of the eifemv must he complete. One wiifei in a leading Home journal puts the case well when he says; *lt would he hotter for civilisation that we should go on lighting lor years than that we should leave Germany the power again to play the buccaneer. It is good for ns to know that Prance fully realises this, and that with all her heart she stands for the treaty of September I—no peace that is not conclusive, no peace that does not satisfy all the Allies.”

MUNICIPAL MATTLRS.

The apathy of electors—municipal electors especially—is proverbial, and it is time Stratford electors awoke to the fact that a very important election is to be hold on the 28th of this month, when the new .Mayor and Councillors will he chosen, in the case of the former’s election, the circumstances are altered for the first time according to statute duly passed hy the Legislature of the country in the third session of the eighteenth Parliament, which met in 1913. Whereas, prior to that year, the .Mayor was elected annually, the Councillors were appointed for a term of two years, and in the wisdom of the legislature it lias been deemed advisable to make provision for the election of j the Mayor of all boroughs for the latter period. With this, ail those whoi take even a little interest in their town will agree, ’the difficulty in the past has been that Mayors who, as we have pointed, out, were elected for twelve months only, have very often found that the term of office has been too short to allow them to carry out the policy upon which in so many eases they have been appointed by the electors. Prom now onwards, then, this will be avoided, and the Mayoi will he elected in all cases ior a term of two years similarly to the term of the Councillors over whom he presides, and an anomaly disappears. In view of the altered and more satisfactory condition of affairs, it seems strange that here in Stratford less interest than formerly is being shown in the election. So far, only one candidate for the Mayoral seat has declared himself, and from present indications he has an excellent chance ot a walk-over. Certainly this candidate, Mr J. W. Boon, is held in the very highest esteem in the town, and the Borough might make a much worse selection from the material available. Nevertheless we certainly agree, to at least some extent, with the remarks of a correspondent in another column of this issue, who maintains that healthy rivalry in municipal matters can only result in good to the Borough, and that a contest for the Borough offices acts as a spur and incentive to better work on the part of the chosen. So far as our correspondent’s eulogy of .Mr W T . P. Kirkwood is concerned, every resident in the Borough will admit he certainly deserves the highest, credit for the work done by him. He has, however, been unfortunate in the) fact that the Councils with whom he has been associated have failed to support many of the measures which he) has brought forward. In much of the criticism and treatment lie has received at the hands of his Councils Mr Kirkwood has our complete sympathy : lie deserved much better, but we do not see that there is likely to he any very great change in the near future, and Mr Kirkwood realising this, probably prefers to stand down for a time. Should lie, however, decide to come out again he is certain to obtain the loyal support of a large following. As before stated, Mr Boon is a most worthy citizen and a man who commands the very widest respect, and Mi- Kirkwood, or any one else who may outer the lists against him, will have all their work cut out to make it anything like a close contest. But really there ought to he a contest, and so far as that is concerned, we are in accord with our correspondent’s expression. It is indicative of lack of interest when elections are allowed to go by i default.