PESSIMISTS?—NO!

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

PESSIMISTS?—NO!

CONDEMNATION OF THE HUNS. NEW ZEALA'NDERS "SUPER HEROES." BRITISH NAVAL MEN ON THT WAR. A sailor in the British Navy, who during the operations in! the North last winter met with an accident to Jlis ankle and was thus unable to follow his strenuous duties for same time, writing to a friend in Auckland, is warm in bis thanks for the many articles of food and clothing which have been supplied to the men of the Navy while on patrol duty. He also waxes strong in his condemnation of the German and the German nation, and in his sentiments expresses the true British indomitable determination to carry the war to the very end. "People have been verv kind to the Navy," he writes, ''and huge bundles of socks and flannels have been received by us from various sources. Not only have we received warm clothes but also fruit and vegetables, apples from Canada, and even honey from the West Indies. Of course these luxuries are not needed, and we think there are more deserving cases who would greatly appreciate such gifts. Hospitals, hospital ships, Belgian refugees, and others need support.

"While there is one sailor left, and one ship afloat we shall still fight with the same confidence that we always have had ot old. If you could only see the spirit which our chaps unanimously show when there is a sign of a fight you would feel proud to be British. It is our creed to go under with the flag flying, and if the Huns would only give us a chance we would willingly send half our fleet to help them and then beat them. I don't say they cannot fight. We know they can, but they have not been brought up on the same glorious traditions that the men of Britain have. The only victories they have ever had are those in which sheer force of numbers and treachery have been their means of success. They never will have a Drake, a Nelson, a Wellington, a Roberts, to stir the blood of their futurt generations to the extent these heroes do in the Briton of today. Their national heroes are on a par with Nero, Attila, Herod, or of later years, Charles Peace, Palmer, Crippen, and other murderers and barbarians and crime stained villains. No doubt we know more of the magnitude of their crimes than you do. They allowed ->ver 1000 brave men to drown and never lowered a boat to save one. The Navy will never forget that. We have"saved their crews under fire from their own ships, because our officers ordered us to do so. That is the difference between British and German naval officers. It does not matter what Germany does, we usually find some counter move to upset their calculations; so in all cases of naval tactics we are well on top, and while we have our Navy, you can depenu upon remaining safe from German menace. I am sure the splendid heroism of the Australians and New Zealanders in Turkey has excited the envy and admiration of the whole world. From people who saw they go into action, we get vivid pictures of these super-heroes. They do not know what fear is. All they know is that they are British and must win. They do 'Balaclava' charges every day, and like it.

"I was amused to liear of your sympathy for us. We do not want any sympathy, but the Germun will before we finish. You will notice that I spell Germun with a u. There are no Germans. Remember there is no power on earth that can beat Britain."