The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1915. DEMOCRACY AND MILITARY EFFICIENCY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1915. DEMOCRACY AND MILITARY EFFICIENCY.

We arc so imbued with democratic principles that we are apt tu consider they stand for all that makes for the wellbeing of the nation. Tor centuries liritain°has fought for the rights of the people, from the. days of the Magna Chart* until the present time, and little by little the privileges of the people lWve been attained, consolidated, ami become a cherished heritage. As a consequence there has ensued the one groat paramount doctrine of "government of the people by the people, and for the people," .Tebal and practical democracy. Naturally the new dominions have outrun the Motherland in tills race for tlie supremaev of the people in all that concerns their national life. But there Is a weak link in the chain, and the present war has shown this most conclusively. The citizens of (frcaler Britain hare gradually come to devote all their encr gies to politics, as if the era of everlasting peace had arrived. Tliev would not believe it possible that Britain would ever be engaged in such a terrible conflict as that which is now raging, and the need for military training was never recognised until Lord Hobcrts entered upon bis energetic, campaign to o-jicn the eyes of the people lo the fact tliat tlicy were, so to speak, living on the edge, of a. most dangerous volcano, and even then the warnings of this wise and distinguished military enthusiast fell mostly on deaf ears. (hie truth that the war with has forced borne is tile imperative necessity of re.ognisiug that there are times when liberty must be in order ih;\t tne cause of liberty may thereby triumph. It is here that democracy and military efficiency >-ladi. While the people of the 'Empire have been devoting themselves lo flie highest arts of peace, developing thir national rights and -privileges. and basking in the sunlight of freedom and democracy, the f.'erniatw have been absorbed in eliminating individual ■ rights and building up an untied nation subservient to tile will of an autocrat. Holding as they do that might, is right, they have gone lo work systematically and thoroughly to possess the might, and how well that work has been done is well known, for to-day. with only fhe aid of trie. Ihey arc fighting (he greatest Powers of Kurope. The question is, then, whether it is not time to consider what alterations in our system require amendment so as to enable us to cope successfully with the powerful enemies with whom we are now at war. The annals of the British people f.park'le with mighty and valiant deeds in the past, bill there tame a time wlu.ll heroism oil the battlefield gave phce to rhetorical triumphs on the 'public platform. The old spirit .still burns brightly, though its li»lit has been somewhat obscured by the dust of pence. Britain is still the champion of freedom and the, oppressed, but her military organisation was far j'roin eflVent. Trade, commerce and development of material resources ami wealth were the chief characteristics of the nation, coupled with the confidence that, as Britain ruled the sea she was sjfe from atta k. When the upheaval took place it struck Britain in her weakest place- unpreparcdness for war—anil Iheu the awakening came, and with it the need for action in order to attain military efficiency, I'V the time being her democratic machinery has been arrested. and the people have bad to learn that the ordinary laws must be suspend, ed so that force can be met with force—a force of arms and not that of argument—for that nation must win that can apply the most crushing b'ow. It

is s, matter for extreme thankfulness mul pride that the British Empire possess the right stamp of men for the purpose. They are mostly ready and eager for the fray, hut in faee of the grave peril that exists it is necessary that every man should do hk share for his country's cause. The ethics of democracy have kept compulsory service out of the range of practical polities, but it can no longer so remain. Exceptional circumstances require to be specially dealt with, so that if we are to achieve that victory on which we have nil set our hearts there must be provided a material, and if the voluntary system fails in this respect Britain must either adopt compulsory service or .so under. Moreover, we owe a duty to our Allies, all of whom can call upon every man in their respective countries to serve with the army. ft is unthinkable that Britain and her dominions should fall short of the Allies in this or in any other detail that will either make or mar their ultimate success

THE RETAKING OF VLODAVA. The news relative to the operations in the eastern theatre of war as contained in to-day's cables bears flattering testimony to Russian prowess. So far from being demoralised by their enforced retreat, the Russians appear to be in better fighting trim than ever, for the recapture of Vlodava is described as an irresistible wave of Russian bravery, and one of the most glorious episoAos' of the war. -It is stated that General 'Mackensen's great effort to break through th? Russian line on the Bug nearly succeeded in cutting off large Russian forces. As usual the German general entirely disregarded the cost, and has apparently sacrificed n large number of troops on (he way to Vlodava. It. is also evident that he reckoned without taking into account Russian tactical initiative. The unexpected happened when a Russian general rushed (forward all his available troops and guns and gave the order that Vlodava was to be retaken. As evidence of the great fighting power of our eastern ally, that order was not only carried out with conspicuous success, but the enemy was driven for twenty miles. The Germans are finding that the vitality and combative power of the Russians are an obstacle to their progress, and the further they attempt to drive into Russia's vast area so much the greater and more costly will be the attempts. The Russians are now holding a convex line from Lomza to Vlodava, having a front towards the enemy with a strong base that should prove a great barrier to the enemy and afford the Russians a most serviceable means of inflicting considerable losses on their foes. It is considered that before the Germans can find a satisfactory defensive line that winter will have arrived, so that there does not appear to be any probability of Austro-Gornum troops being set free for operations either in the west, at the Dardanelles, or on the Austro-Ttalian border. One of to-day's cables states ilmt the worst of the fury of the German storm is over, and that the Russians are holding their own. The Kaiser's pronouncement that the war would be over in October seems on a par with other empty boasts of a similar nature. The Russians, on,the other hand, never predict the effect of their moves, but they have by their recent brilliant successes proved themselves worthy allies, and every week that ensues fliould see them better equipped lo cope with (he Austro-Geruian hosts.