The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1916. FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 137, 13 June 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1916. FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.

(With which is incorporated The Tai tape Post and Waimarino News.)

The widespread spontaneous desire to help the widows, orphans and other dependents of the thousands of men who lost their lives in the recent terrible naval encounter, in some tangible form appears to have pervaded the people of our own district. Next Saturday is set aside as “Naval Day,” a day on which every man, woman and child even, will have an opportunity of showing their appreciation and admiration of the brave fellows who did not hesitate to steer straight into the very jaws of death that we might remain a free people;

that the heritage of freedom handed down to us might be preserved to cur children. Since war commenced in August, 1914, there have been no acts of bravery that could so stir the eniations of a free people like those that characterised the whole British fleet a week or so ago, and particularly the superlative gallantry of the men on the ships under Admiral Beatty’s command. Heedless of all consequences, even of instant annihilation, these comparatively small warships steamed straight for the German leviathans and created such haa t oc that when Admiral Jellicoe came up with Britain’s big ships the enemy had had enough and were ready to turn tail and run, and they did run, to the chagrin and disappointment of those men who had stood the brunt of the whole action, and had risked so much. There is a glow of glory that ought to materialise into a halo surrounding the men who worked under Admiral Beatty in so hugely an uneven fight. Freedom, justice and righteousness, were what they fought for, nothing else was worth fighting for in comparison, not even the love of their own lives. This little naval force fearlessly attacked the whole German fleet, sinking battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines and still finding time to bring down airships and aeroplanes. They lost heavily; it would have been miraculous if they hadn’t; but they neither spared ships or their own lives, and with what glorious result. Admiral Beatty addressing his men said: “This will ever remain the gallant day in cur history. You can take it from me that we inflicted a far greater damage on the Germans than they on us.

They lost so many destroyers that we couldn’t keep count of them. ,We have all lost relatives and friends, but their valuable lives were not wasted. When next we meet the German navy I think it will throw up the sponge.” They all lost relatives and friends, and it seems that what we, for whom these lives were given, have both from motives of love and duty, to specially have in mind the thousands of orphans, widows and disconsolate ones that were created in only a few hours. In only a few hours thousands of children became fatherless, and mothers were left without their brave helpmates, with the terrible feeling that their ships with its precious freight would never return. The whole British peoples are realising what these orphans and widows have sacrificed for their in maintaining the continuity of freedom; in preserving the heritage received from those who won it aforetime, so that it may be handed on a priceless legacy to those to whom it is to be enI trusted in the future. We are asked Ito remember, to have ever in our minds that almost the whole of these thousands of orphans and widows are left unprovided for except for the very small pension some may receive from the nation. With the rest of the people of New Zealand, it behoves us to realise our duty to those women and children w'ho were the dear ones of the men who were literally blown to atoms or drowned while fighting cur battles and to rally around those women amongst us who are tirelessly working in our midst to relieve pain and succour our brave fellows at the front.

Next Saturday th e residents of this large, wealthy district are to be asked to show in tangible form their appreciation of what the thousands of widows and orphans hate sacrificed in the recent great naval battle. In only a few hour s thousands of brave men gave their lives for their country. How much are We going to give of our plenty to those poor bereft people next Saturday. You wealthy farmers on the land, thinlv of these widows and orphans; think c-f what they have given for you, and then give as you can afford and as the cause deserves. This afternoon a meeting of ladies is being held to arrange for gathering in your contributions, let not thenefforts for so humane and noble a cause be in vain. If you will only allow your thoughts to travel to that inferno of fire, that hell of conflicting elements, and mentally see the brave fellows fighting there against hopeless odds, then go with their dying thoughts to the'-homes they are leaving desolate, and see the unasuagable grief of their left loved ones; their widow s and their fatherless children, the glory of their sacrifices will be as clear as sunlight and the rest can well be left to your humane and charitable consideration. It is sincerely hoped that on such an occasion the ladies’ committee of collectors will be enabled by the public generosity to make a brave showing when the figures, the result of Saturday’s work, are published in these columns.