JEWS AND THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 226, 16 June 1915, Page 2

JEWS AND THE WAR.

STIRRING MESSAGE FROM MR I. ZANGWILL. At a meeting at Aldgate to recruit Jews for Lord Kitchener's Army, Major-General Sir Alfred Turner,'who presided, said he had been eight years at the War Office and he used to hear it laughed at and sneered at by people who thought they knew better than those who were in the War Office, but the. War Office had acted excellently in the present war. Colonel Cohen, who represented the War Office, said there were 10.000 Jews serving in the British forces, and he hoped that before 'ong there would be another 5000. Dr. Eden read several striking messages from well-known public men. « Mr Israel Zangwill wrote: “New that English women and babes arc being bombarded in cold blood by Gsrpirates no man who enjoys the priceless prerogative of British citizen ship can without shame refuse to rally to Britain’s defence. Especially does this duty—this proud privilege—fall on the sons of a homeless race that in Britain —almost alone in the world — have found liberty, equality and fraternity. The mere fact that the Lord Chief Justice belongs to the race that, even in ‘cultured’ Germany, is only half-emancipated, shows that in Eng- i land justice is lord and chief, and that the downfall, or even the bare defeat, of Britain, would be a disaster to civilisation. I rejoice that our young Jews, by enlisting* in. more than their due proportion have already testified their super-devotion to the Empire that spreads its wings over us, and I rejoice equally that the War Office, by according them the opportunity of serving together, has recognised that their feeling of special brotherhood is only another link in the mighty and multiple chain of th e Empire and that their union is only a greater strength for The service of England. May your Shofar-call rouse the old Maccabaen thrill of heroic ardour and sacrifice,” The Chief Rabbi (Dr Hertz), in regretting his inability to attend the meeting, wrote: “This is a solemn crisis of our nation’s life and destiny Britain is calling upon her children to fight her righteous cause, and none have offered their lives more, willingly than our Jewish brethren. Now your movement,' as I understand it, is an i attempt to make that Jewish response even more remarkable. This noble aim should command the respect even of those who conscientiously differ from you in your methods. Yon are merely following the suggestion of the Prime Minister, approved by the War Office. And if your movement induces many to join who would otherwise not have done so you are rendering a distinct service to your country and making all Anglo-Jewry year debtor.” Lord Rothschild wrote from New Court, St. S with in’s Lane: “I am very pleased to bear that so many of our coreligionists are already serving in the

Navy, Army' and other branches of thg services and am sure that your meeting will be of great advantage in stimulating recruiting still further*’.