The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1916. THE KING AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1916. THE KING AND THE WAR.

The King's speech, winch was made at the proroguing of Parliament, contains sentiments that should commend themselves to the people of the Empire as well as to the Allies. The occasion was not one for pronouncing opinions on the events of the war or forecasting its future trend, but, as will be seen in our cable columns, King George expressed confidence in the Allies achieving a final decisive victory. We have heard so much from the Kaiser concerning the fiction that Germany was forced into war, that it was only right for King George to remind the Empire that for eighteen months the naval and military forces of Britain, in concert with brave and steadfast allies, and with the cooperation of the overseas dominions, had been defending the liberties and public law of Europe against unprovoked encroachments of the enemy. He plainly states that the struggle was forced upon Britain and her allies by those who hold in light esteem the liberties and covenante which Britain regards as sacred, and that the Allies will not lay down their arms until they have vindicated the cause which carries with it the future of civilisation. The position could not well have been summed up in a more appropriate and convincing manner. Studiously moderate in tone as is the it forms a terrible indictment against Germany, and implies far mdre than appears on the surface. The conoluding words of the speech ai« no

mere ornate phrases. They "are meant to hearten up the people of the Empire at the critical stage of the Avar. We are about to face the hardest part of the road to victory, and the King relics on the loyal and united efforts of all his subjects to vindicate decisively the cause for which they are so worthily lighting. He reminds the people of the Empire that in the past they have never failed their Sovereign, and his confidence in their continued loyalty and assistance will certainly be justified. As a rule the speeches proroguing Parliament are more or less of a stereotyped form, but that cannot bo said of the King's speech on Thursday, which was really a message to the Empire, and as such should inspire the people lo put forth their utmost efforts, make the greatest sacrifices, and vie with one another in furthering the attainment of that victory by which alone the world can be freed from military tyranny and the cause of civilisation advanced,.