ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 81, 4 August 1915, Page 8

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

ADDRESS TO SCHOOLCHILDREN

To mark the Anniversary oi the Deda ration of War to-day the Mayor (Mr J. \V. Boon addressed the infant children at the Strafford School in the big class room at 1.30 o'clock.

Mr Tyrer, headmaster. briefly introduced the Mayor, alter which Mr Boon made a few remarks.

In opening, Mr Boon asked the children if anyone could tell him why he had come to speak to them. A little girl replied: "To tell us about the war." Mr Boon replied that that was right. He further asked who was the war between, and he received the answer "Germany and Russia!" The speaker said that the 1 answer was partly right, but he was gfoitig to speak of the declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany. To-day was the Anniversary of the Declaration of War between these two great nations. Mr Boon asked a little boy what did "anniversary" mean, and as no answer was forthcoming he said "What is a birthday:-'" A wee tot said that it was the day when he got a present! Mr Boon said that for Germany to light Belgium was like a big boy giving a small boy a thrashing. England declared war because the Germans trespassed on Belgian and French soil. He said that none of us would give in until'the enemy was beaten—not to beat the nation but to give its people a sound thrashing so that they could not rise again. The Mayor then declared a holiday for the rest of the day. to mark the anniversary of the greatest war in the history of the world.

Mr Boon then addressed the elder children from the school steps. The classes were marched up, headed by the school drum and fife band, and were arranged in rows in front of the main entrance. The Mayor's address was mainly on the lines of his talk to the smaller children. To-day, he said, we can see no possibility of the war terminating for years, and w.e have got to see Great Britain through to the end. Great Britain is a peaceful nation and does not believe in war, but we have had this conflict pressed upon us. For years Germany had been graining her soldiers, getting in big supplies of clothes and food, and building big factories to manufacture guns and ammunition, and twelve months ago she thought that the time had come to declare war. The war had started between Austria and Serbia, but these two countries, he thought, would not have commenced hostilities had not Germany been behind Austria. Belgium had stood up for right, and had not Britain stepped in she would have been declared a coward. In New Zealand we can scarcely imagine war; we have not been brought up to fight. It is not war to merely supply soldiers with clothes, munitions and food. It means that we have to supply the cream of our country for fighting men, engage transports and find the necessary guns and ammunition, and everything that is required. England was .not prepared, and did not have a large stock of shells, and was only now building factories in which to manufacture munitions of war. In conclusion, Mr Boon said that be hoped next time be met the children they could hoist the Flag and rejoice, and say peace had been declared in favor of the Allies. The children then saluted the Flay while the drum and fife band played the National Anthem. The singing of the .Vatioual Anthem concluded the demonstration, alter which the children were dismissed.