ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 82, 5 August 1915, Page 7

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

I . 1 MEETING AT TOWN HALL. The Stratford Town Hall wan crowdled last night, when a large patriotic I meeting was held to mark the Anniversary of the Declaration of War be* ' tween Great Britain and Germany. { The Territorials, Home Defence, Senior Cadets and Boy Scouts marched from the school gymnasium to the hall headed by the Bugle band, 'and occupied the front seats.

j The meeting commenced with prayer |by the Rev. C. W. Howard, then the hymn “0 God our Help in Ages Bast” was sung by the audience; and the Rev. .1. Battison read a pol l ion ot the Scriptures.

I The Mayor read apologies Iroin .Mr J. B. Mine (.member for the district), Messrs W. Hathaway, A. Meredith, W. P. Kirkwood, J. McMillan, S. B. Hunter, and the Cardiff Home Defence Corps.

I In his opening remarks tiie .Mayor said he was pleased to see such a large audience present, and especially such u Utrgt- muster oi men in uniform. Not one of ns was pleased to hear that England uad declared war against Germain, and many ot the people had not got over the shook of it yet, England, in ins opinion, did the right thing in declaring war against Germany. For a long time Britain had been a peaceful nation, and we were then-fora not prepared for a war to be waged on land. Britain lias only now commenced to organise bo.j- industries. The conflict between Austria ami Serbia could have been settled b\ arbitration bad not Germany been behind Austria and forced her to light. England unsheathed her sword because Germany broke the Treaty she

|had with Belgium and threw it aside |as worthless. For over a generation | Germany had been nursing the spirit of militarism and at last this spirit had broken out. Germany at the present time wants all the territory she can get, and also the commerce of the j world. During the last tew years the enemy had been the leading nation as |far as commerce was concerned. For the last live years Germany has been preparing minor details in connection with war and; twelve months ago she thought England was asleep, and that she could take Baris before the English people woke up. 11 it had not I been for the British lleet, said Mr Bonn, Germany would have taken possession of the sea and, later on, the land. Germany was still a powerful nation, as she had made great preparation for war. It would not have been righteous for Britain to stand aside and let a nation of sixty-six million people destroy a small nation of only seven million people. As soon as I the Huns set foot on what was then neutral country, England declared war against Germany. The first Englishmen to land in Belgium to help her with bor battle against Germany was some bine jackets, who were easily defeated and had to retreat, ft takes a long time to got soldiers fitted out for war, and even then this was only one of many items. For years before war was declared—and never thought lor by many people—Germany was 'busy erecting powerful wireless stations and sending cruisers out to all parts'of)the world. As soon as the news of war reached the cruisers, they started to attack merchant ships, but {thanks to the British Navy, the sea at present is practically clear of enemy ships. Mr Boon, continuing, said the people had not assembled to rejoice, but to celebrate the anniversary of the war. It was thought in England that this was a good time to show our appreciation of the good work being done by Britain and her Allies.

Mr Boon then moved the following r “That on this anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this I meeting of the' burgesses of Stratford records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of liberty and justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.” This was .seconded by Mr N. .1. King and carried unanimously.

Speaking to the motion, the Mayor said: We feel to-day that we have a long fight in front of us, and we must carry it to a successful conclusion. By the newspapers lately it will be noticed that the Russians had to retire, but this was not on account of her soldiers—for they were superior to the German—but because the supply of ammunition was short. The Germans have plenty of ammunition. In one case 200,000 shells worn fired on a trench, but after the dusthad cleared,, tho Russians got up and fought with the bayonet. He hoped tho large audience would see the thing through and stand loyal to Britain and her Allies. If we gave in now, Germany would eonie out later and

possibly beat the whole world; we must settle it now once and for all. Tho war would not finish until the Prussian military system was broken. The loss in tho sacrificing of both lives and money was great, but the money could be replaced. Tho largest cost was the cream of the young men of tho country, who were willing to give up their lives and liberty for the freedom of the world. He was

pleased to see tlx- nav m wliidi parents gave up their boys, although it | was certain many of these hoys would not return. i Mr Moon then called upon !■ X. ,J. King, of the Patriotic Committee, to speak. ' ' i Mr King, on rising, s.:id that when the history of the war comes to be (written, someone will hare to “toe the mark” in eonnection with the Mons battle. TJie English had retired in this fight, but indicted very heavy, but it was for a good caxi.se. the Russians—who belonged to one of the largest nations in tiie world—get ammunition, they would start a march to Berlin. New Zealand had (every reason to be proud, for it was one of the smallest countries connected with the war. and it had despatched between ‘20,000 and 25,000 troops. The Turks bad already sampled some of our men. The gallant New Zealanders and Australians took a great part in the work on the Gallijxoli j Peninsula, and the losses have been heavy, but it was for a good cause. He asked if we had done enough in keeping with other countries, and saiil we would have to sacrifice still more before the war is over. He questioned if it was right lor us to spend so much of our money on amusements. Wo were fighting a fair fight, but the Germans wore using every devilish method that human beings could devise. There was no doubt the war was caused by one man, the Kaiser—(groans)— who'bad ordered the destruction of innocent men and women. He was bl the opinion we should meet vdliany with vilSiany. There should lie no half measures, as it was a life and death struggle. Fighting was one oi the most unscrupulous methods of determining a Quarrel, and if beaten we would have to sacrifice more thanks now imagined. Twelve months ago Belgium was a peaceful country, but the Germans slaughtered everything that came in their way, and so we made a vow to bring the Prussian to his knees. When the peace terms are considered in London, New Zealand hopes to have a say. If the German fleet shows itself, it will bo knocked into a “cocked hat” by the 1 British Navy. On resuming his seat, Mr King was loudly applauded. Adjutant Cook, of tho Salvation Army, announced the closing hymn, j “Lest we Forget.” 1 The meeting closed with the “National Anthem” and “Rule Bri- | tania.” THE METHODIST SCHOOL. ( Pi iov to the meeting in the Town j HrII, a meeting for intercessory | prayer was held in the Methodist School, Began Street, which was j largely attended. The meeting was conducted by the Rev. A. Reader. Hymns suitable to the present crisis were heartily sung, a portion of the i Scriptures was read, and a brief ad- | dress delivered, after which r A number. 1 engaged in prayer for * guidance and j deliverance iii this time of national need and i peril. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. A ' short intercessory service was held lust night in this church, when intercessions were offered for the successful prosecution and termination of the war. A short address, pointing out the important duties of Christians at home, iteing ready to intercede for the needs of more real Christian life within the Empire, was delivered by j tho vicar. The service was well at- 1 tended and terminated with the Litany for tho War. Next Sunday mem- | orial services for our fallen soldiers are to lie held in this church, and i throughout the Churches in the Dio-I*. 1 *. cese. CELEBRATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. in the House yesterday Mr Massey, in moving the resolution adopted for tho anniversary of the declaration of war, summarised the year’s warfare and outlined the share Now Zealand had taken in tho fight. He mentioned that there wore in camp now 7200. ( With reference to the future, it was j proposed to send an additional force , of two battalions 0f t .2250 men, and j additional reinforcements at the rate of 300 a month. Sir .Joseph Ward, in supporting the resolution, stated that the resolution expressed the sentiments of the whole of Now Zealand. He paid a tribute to the excellent j work of the man of tin* day. Lloyd George, and the rallying of workers around the Ministry at Home. He thought that this loyalty would he I one of tin* greatest factors in breaking clown the social and political harriers in English society. ' The resolution was carried unanimously, and the National Anthem was sung. I Demonstrations were held in all the towns in New Zealand, a half-holiday ibeing observed in many places