BEN TILLETT’S OPINION

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 206, 9 October 1916, Page 3

BEN TILLETT’S OPINION

PERILS OF PRUSSIANISM. The well-known Labour leader, lir. Ben Tillett, has been to the front and back. Speaking after his return, he said that he was, and always would be, a rebel. The'world over never stood in such peril of Prussianism as it dici now, and he was a rebel against Prussianism. He would be a rebel unto death, and he would stand by his country in this war. Lord Kitchener invited him to the British front, and he travelled up and down. He wen-, out because 24 out of every 25 belonged. to the class he loved. The others were officers. With all the soul and sentiment he possessed he declared he was proud to belong to the country that had such officers. He produced a German saw-edged bayonet and notched bullets, that made wounds that would not heal, and appealed to people living at home in safety—thanks to the Navy —the people among whom the only grumblers were found, to ao all in their power to help our boys in a war the like of which was not recorded in the world's history. By winning we gained a victory for humanity, and saved the better type of German from Prussianism. He asked his countrymen and women to stand against a patched-up peace, and hold out for a fight to a finish. He had been in villages where the Huns, under their officers, had murdered all the males, where they had crucified and mutilated our boys, where the walls were splashed by the blood or the women they had outraged and killed, and where the golden hair of innocent children was seen on the walls in the blood of their mothers. Our boys did. not want crocodile tears, but shells and guns send them munitions. Peace would not come by prayer alone; let the rich help with their money, and master and man help to the utmost of their ability those who were bravely giving their lives.