MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1915, Page 4

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

According to a cable received from Sydney, Mr. Hughes is reported to have said: "Had tho number of our forces been doubled, the Australasian armies £ would long ago have been camping in Constantinople." A statement like that cannot fail to set the intelligent portion of the community thinking, and the more this war problem is studied the clearer it "'becomes that many opportunities which should have been promptly and effectively seized upon for furthering our cause and shortening the terrible struggle have been missed, with the result that the war drags on, the casualty lists expand, and the economic strain becomes more teuae. In the first place had the British authorities heeded the warnings and pleadings of that noble patriot and wise general, Lord Roberts, the outbreak of hostilities would have fourfd Britain's manhood thoroughly trained in military work. By parity of reasoning it is only right to assume that if the neces-' sity for universal training had been recognised, then the need for the pfoper equipment of an armed nation would have received attention and have been placed on an adequate basis. Jt did not follow that training and conscription went hand in hand, for the voluntary system would have continued to exist, but the very fact of having become efficient in military drill and routine would have been a powerful lever impelling the manhood of the country to enlist for active, service immediately on the outbreak of war. Had the Dardanelles campaign been organised with more secrecy and an adequate force of men landed when the fleet first bombarded tlallipoli there would have been a triumphant march to Constantinople within a very short space of time from the landing. Had Britain and the Dominions as soon as war broke out recognised that it would take the full strength of the Empire's resources to crush the enemy, and promptly set to work to train every physically fit man, itnd to concentrate, the workers on turning out munitions, the war would have ended long ag6. Missed opportunities! j Multiplied complications! The pity of it is that the hanging-back process is still going on. In Britain it has required herculean forces to ' move the men to voluntarily enlist and save the much detested conscription. In Australia and. NeW Zealand, eligible men are still evading their plainly manifest duty to their country, and it has become necessary to make urgent appeals to fill up the reinforcements. Will this terrible Taihoa policy never be extinguished? The missed opportunities of the past have rendered energetic and prompt action now all the more necessary. Let there bo an end of procrastination, for until that is accomplished there will be no end to tho war. Th« li'.iiiihood of the Empire should :irs, 1 In its might, determined to make a 3j,«ody finish of this awful struggle. It is by such means that the Empire was created, and now is the time to act for its preservation. Another missed opportunity may spell disaster.