Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 4

(ANSWERING THE EMPIRE'S CAUL.. The cabled report of Mr. Asquitlfs speech which appears in this issue should be read with the keenest interest throughout the Empire, hut especially m New Zealand, Australia and Canada, where the splendid work of the foroes sent from the overseas dominions Iras stimulated recruiting to a marked degree. That the young men of England hare responded to the call to- arms ; is clearly indicated by the British Prime 'Minister, who emphasised the fact that the gravity of the situation was so well recognised that the available manhood of the (country needed no powerful rhetoric to induce, a response to the call of duty. In his allusion to the promptitude of those who had enlisted and referring -to it as a record in the history of the contry, there is no doubt Mr. Asnuitli had also in mind the immediate response of the overseas dominions. It is significant that he considers as yet only a commencement nas liecti made to stem the tide of aggression, and It certainly conveys the impression that those large reserves of men " unsuspected by the enemy'" will be called upon to swell the ranks at the front. It is a coincidence that last night at Tc Kuiti Mr. Massoy intimated that another Maori contingent would be asked for; that the 17,000 New Zealandors now at the front would -shortly be raised to'2;?,(m(), and that if called upon for. another 25,000 they would be forthcoming. Mr. Asquith's reasons for taking an optimistic view of the progress of the war will doubtless appeal to every member of the Empire. He certainly struck the right chord when lie said there must not be a "man or woman 'Who at the end of the struggle would not be able to say, " I wasn't idle in the greatest of tasks in the storied annals of our country that have ever fallen to the lot of the British." This should be taken to heart throughout the Empire, each doing his or her best, if not by personal service, then by all. other means'ln his or her power.