“NEVER AGAIN.”

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 202, 2 October 1916, Page 3

“NEVER AGAIN.”

THE ALLIES’ BATTLE CRY. BRITISH BID NOT WHINE_ ' GEE-MAN WHINE NO AVAIL. NEW YORK, Sept. 28. In a striking interview given to the London Press Mr Lloyd George said: The British soldier is a good sportsman. He enlisted in the war in a sporting spirit to see fair play in international dealing. He has fought as a good spoilsman. By thousands he has died Like a sportsman, ho has never asked anything more than A SPORTING CHANCE, and not always had that. When he couldn’t get it lie did not quit; he played the game. H e has not squealed,

and not asked anyone to squeal for him. Now that the fortunes of the game have turned a bit, the British are not disposed to stop because of squealing by Germans or for Germans by probably well-meaning but misguided sympathisers and humanitarians The British soldier for two years had a bad time_ Nobody knows so well as .he what a bad time it was. He was sadly inferion in equipment and qn the average inferior in training. He saw the Allied cause beaten all about the ring, but he did not appeal to the spectators or the referee to stop the fight on the ground that it was brutal, nor did he ask that the rules be changed. He took his punishment. Even when beaten . like a dog, he was a game dog_ When

forced to refuge in a trench when he was too badly used up to carry the fight, to the enemy, he hung on without whining, fought off every attack, bided his time, endured without wincing, and worked without flagging. And at this time what was the winning German doing Was he worry ing over the terrible slaughter? No; ho was talking -of annexing Belgium and Poland as a result of his victory, and while he was remaking the map of Europe without the slightest regard for the wishes of the people, the British people were preparing to pay the price we knew must be paid for the time to get the array ready. It is one thing to look back on the pounding the British soldier took during the first two yeans sof the war, but it is a different thing to look forward, as he did, and know the beating could not be avoided. During these months when it seemed the finish of'

the British Anmy might come quickly Germany elected to make it. a fight to a finish with England. The British soldier was ridiculed and held in contempt. Now we intend to see that Germany has her way: the fight must be to a finish—to a knock out. The whole would, including neutrals, of highest purpose,, and humanitarians with the best motives, must know that thtre cannot be outside intereference at this stage. Britain did not ask for intervention when she was unprepared to fight. She will tolerate none now she is prepared until Prussian military despotism is broken beyond repair. There was no regret voiced in Germany over useless slaughter, no tears by German sympathiers when the few thousands of Britisn citizens who never erpected to be soldiers went out to be battered, bombed, and gassed. People who are now moved to tears at the thought of what is to come watched the early rounds of the unequal contest dry-eyed. None of the carnage which is to come can be worse than the sufferings of those 'Allied dead who stood the full shock of the Prussian war machine before it began to falter. But in the British determination to carry the fight to a decisive finish there is something more than a natural demand for vengeance. The inhumanity and pitilessness of the fighting that must come before lasting peace is possible is not comparable with the cruelty that would be involved by stopping the war while ■there remains a possibility of civilisation again being menaced from the same quarter. Peace now or at any time before the final and complete elimination of this menace is unthinkable.

No nation with, the slightest understanding of the temper of the British Citizen Army, which took its terrible hammring without whine or grumble will attempt to call a halt now. It took England 20 years to defeat Napoleon, The first 15 were black with British defeat. It will not take 20 years to win this war; but whatever time is required will be taken, and I say this recognising that we have only begun to win. There is no disposition on our side to fix the hour of ultimate We are under no delusion that the war is nearing its end. We have not the slightest doubt how it is going to end. There will be no quitters among the Allies, ‘ ‘Never Again ’ ’ has become the battle-cry. This ghastiliness must never be re-enacted on. this earth, and one method at least of answering that end is the infliction of such punishment upon the. perpetrators of this outrage against humanity that the temptation to emulate their exploits will be eliminated and the evil-minded among the rulers of men wall be exorcised.