The Daily news. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1915. AN INSPIRING CONFIDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 228, 5 March 1915, Page 4

The Daily news. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1915. AN INSPIRING CONFIDENCE.

| Side by side with tlie actual incidents of tlie war itself there will go down to history the remarkable pronouncements made by the English Premier, Mr. Asquith, on matters connected with the war. So far, the important utterances of tlie exceptionally gifted Prime Minister have not been numerous, but each one has conveyed some special message to tlie people, well-timed, dignified, and forceful. It is impossible to glean from the short cabled messages tho full moaning of Mr. Asquith's latest statement, but there is sufficient to enable the people of the Empire to realise that the London Times lias rightly summed up its keynote as being '"the sober, tranquil confidence with which we are facing all the great crises of our fate." It is not that tho people of the Empire requ.re to have their confidence inspired at the present juncture that the speech is so welcome, but no time could have been better chosen than now in which to proclaim to the world that the Allies have the best of all grounds for absolute confidence in the result of their preparations for the great struggle that must short!',' take place. Those who Enow and understand the British Premier are well aware that he is not given to coloring statements, or boastful utterances, but he lias all the strings of the position in his hands; he is kept thoroughly well advised of all difficulties to be encountered, and though the operations on sea and land are conducted by men specially qualified for their various positions, he is in constant touch with tliem all. Knowing what he docs of tlie Inner details of the Allies' forces, he is evidently satisfied that there is every reason for confidence in the result, and we can take his word that all is well. The outstanding theme on which Mr. AsquitU naturally dw:U was Germany's campaign of piracy and pillage, which, he points out, is all on a par with Herman action throughout tine war, commencing with her cynical repudiation of a solemn treaty, and followed by systematic violation of all practices whereby international agreements lmr] sought to regularise the clash of arms. He rightly ridiculed the use of the term "blockade" as applied to Germany's campaign of piracy and pillage, and though Mr. Asquith did not give any details of tlie retaliatory policy that has been set in motioii, it is satisfa-tory to know that the Allies will not allow their efforts to be strangled in a network of judicial niceties, but that, while regretthat the innocent will suffer, they will, as far as possible, prevent all eommodifies from 1-eaehing or leaving f.'er-

main. Hie better service of war news that is now being supplied must tend to i-lill fur!her in-pire confidence in (he ultimate -!l-■■o,. of 1 he Allies, j„ s J. „„ ( |„» fn!-o vi". 1 , n,- r.id censor -hip of bad news u produ -iis'.r a revulsion of i-elitv tieil may have tv- ' " ve:'p!o. especially in vii-v." ■■ ■■■'> end lii-li priee „f f !l0 .l. 'n<e (he 0 f op^ra-

tiohs in the Dardanelles, whicn wili before long result in Russian produce being placed on the English market. Germany i s finding out—all too late-that it was one of the worst moves she could have done to bring Turkey into the struggle, while it will serve the Allies a very good turn. No bonder that the British Premier was "never more confident.'" The huge sums that have been voted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom for war expenditure and loana have been raised without the slightest difficulty, and without strain on the almost illimitable resources of the Homeland. There is every reason to\ believe that Germany is already feeling the pinch, but just for how long she can keep the war going remains to be seen. The only trouble in Britain just now is of iyi industrial nature, for though the workers have never earned so much as they are receiving in wages now, there seems to be a desire to make all fifey can out of the war. As the London Tim.'s truly remarks, this feeling i s sordid enough at any time, but carrying on disputes m a time of the greatest national stress " ia a crime e( l«ally stupid and base." The producers and retailers of the Dominion are trying to reap a golden Harvest out of the war, hence the high prices that are ruling to-day, and sustained in many cases by organisations that are bent on exploiting the public. It is a blot on the honor of the country that sucli offences should exist, but in all thankfulness we can say that such crimes will not affect the issues at stake, nor will they abate one iota tiro Arm confidence of the people in tiro success of the Allies.