CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 20 April 1916, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

President Yftlson’s latest “declaration” regarding America’s position, is

about as spinelessly feeble as any previous effort he has made, and ’ many of his past utterances must have

pretty nearly reached the rock-bot-

tom of flaccid timidity or unintelligibleness. The jumble of meaningless nonsense which this academic-Pre-sident exudes in the “declaration” now made, ought to about make the ordinary l white population .of Ame-

riea want to cry—or commit man- ' slaughter. While the United States of America possesses a President who produces nearly as many notes and wheezes as a broken barrel-organ, (and many of them much more out of tune than those of the mechanical production) Germany, Austria, Turkey, Mexico or anybody else that

cards to do so may continue to smack • face with impunity and will v kn6w Ji that the Great ’ American

'proud “to fight”—may flap its )l 'wiiigs, but will not even .a./iJj'.ft .'■ill crow! ;n at: bur-- "‘no

The all-absorbing topic ip Britain is the crisis in political circles, which, however, at latest reports, appears to provide an opening for reasonable settlement without resort to extreme me; siires and the disintegration of the whole machinery of the Nation. Such a position as a general election appears as a spectre of disaster to many of us living so far from the seat of the controversy, Our thoughts are always very: near to the heart of the Empire all the same, and the cables appear at their (worst when the references are to a dissolution of the Cabinet and when there, is a prospect of the control ot Imperial affairs spasming into other hands than, those* \#o, :j if mistakes have been still a marvel-, lousi record!toi.their credit- Take the Premier,' 'Mxx Asquith, for; instance, and recall, iLbtoe can,-all the feats of.states, manship; iandi high-soulod phrases -with which he has regaled the Nation and helped ns to sustain the strain and anxiety of war. Remember, he it was who uttered those memorable and no -' historic words: We shall not sheath the sword which we have not lightly drawn, until Belgium recovers in full measure all and more than all that she has sacrificed; until France is adequate!;, secured against the menace of og gression; until the rights of th< smaller nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable found , tion; until the military domination of Prussia is fully and finally destroyed.

Then, again, there is Lloyd Geofgc, the idol of the Nation, who is out tor supporting the Array Council to the full. How did his masterly brain organise the munition works and re-

volutionise the whole aspect in ;egaro to the supply of ammunition? \\ho is there to speak to the men in the ranks of Labor, and lead them by the hand like he can? Of course there arc othei s in the forefront of Imperial politics able and only too willing to do then share in the fight for "ight, but Asquith and Lloyd George 'lave ingrained themselves so deeply in the life ol the Nation that at a time like this it would bo nothing short of a catastrophe should they bo compelled ,(J give up the reins of government. Liu Asquith has on several occasions before this been able to effect a compromise with the mutinous members of hn team, and to-day all eyes are turned tun him in his position of great trust.

“Remember that the Empire is at war and that your hrst duty is to assist the men who are sacrificing so much for you. They have done their part see that you do yours'.. We want yon to get enthusiastic about it. Come along, get all. your friends to come and thereby assist to enhance the cause of our Taranaki Wounded Soldiers Fund.” Thus runs the introduction to a big splash advertisement in our columns to-day published on behalf of the executive of the Soldiers Day. organisation. There should be a hearty response to the invitation to be present on the showgrounds on Easter Monday, for besides the worthy object of the entertainment extending far into the evening, there will be the visit of the Defence Minister (Hon. Allen), a monster procession through tRe streets, dancing events, exhibitions of physical drill and innumerable side-shows to excite and amuse the youngest and oldest visitor to the eown. The grand parade on the ground at 4, o'clock will in itself bo,worth the journey. and the: price of admission to the ground, but those who cannot see their way to be present for various rea sons’, ■ will, without .dopbt,T-seiid their donations to the secretary; and soutemoVb’ 'the stigma that .is sought to 1 be attached to all who board the outward bound'trains on the day of a memorable effort on behalf of the Soldiers, and by which it is known throughout the length and breadth of Taranaki.