CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 April 1918, Page 6

CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY.

An optimistic speech was was made l, y General Sir FiUiam Robertson at Xdncoln early in Marcll * • “When you. are thinking of war,” he «aid, “you should all try to look on Ithe-bright side of the picture as well As on the dark side, because undoubt, ©dly there is a bright side. Think of the- many difficulties of the enemy. Think of what the navy does for us day and night. It ceaselessly and silently guards these shores from the terrors of invasion. Think that there is not a single German soldier on British- soil after three and a-half years of war with an enemy who came into the. field with the greatest army the world has ever seen, and after many years’ preparation. Think that our Dominions have sent their men from every quarter of the globe fd assist this country. With not too great encouragement, we have every reason to he confident and to be satisfieu with much of what has been done. More might have been done, but there is nothing to complain of in the conduct of our own people, so I suggest that this side of the picture be more frequently looked at than it is.

“This is not a war merely between armies and navies. But between nations. Every effort therefore must be made to sustain the moral of the nation. I suggest that matter ought to be definitely and systematically taken ■up in all parts of the country. We have every ground for confidence in the result of the war if we only make up our minds to continue ’"as before, resolute and determined to see this thing through to a proper finish and to gain the kind of peace which we want. Do not think that I am eftneT a' blasphemer or a Pharisee when I say, let us never forget in all we do that the measure of our ultimate success will be governed largely, if not mainly, by the strength with which we put our religious convictions into actions, and hold fast firmly and fearlessly to the faith of our forefathers.” (Cheers.)