The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1916. THE SPIRIT OF THE ALLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1916. THE SPIRIT OF THE ALLIES.

In considering the ever-recurring question concerning the duration of the war, there must, above all other considerations, be taken into account the fulfilment of the task which the Allies have determined must be accomplished before they lay down their arms. That task was tersely summarised in the King's Speech as embracing reparation to the victims of unprovoked and unjustifiable outrages, and the effectual safeguarding of all nations against German militarism. Commenting on this question of the duration of the war, the Dunedin Star says:—Naturally and inevitably, as day succeeds day, with no definite indication of the cessation of the horrors and slaughter with which the criminal ambition of a diseased mind has for more than IS months afflicted the world, the hopes and prayers of mankind are turned increasingly in the direction of peace and the possibility of its early realisation. Unfortunately for that real, and therefore lasting, peace which is the goal of our desires, there are differences of opinion not only among the belligerents, as to what is and is not necessary to bring about peace; and, as far as those of England arc concerned, it is those differences that constitute the most serious barrier of any. That Germany should talk preposterously and in the language of assured triumph rather than express herself in tones of diffidence and of conscious recognition that her murderous onslaught has failed is but natural. It \- part of that amazing and inexplicable dementia that has taken possession of the Kaiser, statesmen, generals, admirals and people. The whole nation is under the delusion that Germany is either winning or has won, and that her enemies are beaten. Therefore it is for Germany, not her foes, to dictate what the terms and conditions of peace shall he. Roar-Admiral Kalau von Hiiufe positively affirms that the gunnery and tlie guns of the Gorman navy have proved too much for those of the British, and that "the English Government and Admiralty are afraid of something," while the mighty Hindenburg repeats the same story of successes on the land. There is but one answer to a nation thus oliscssed, and that answer the Allies are preparing to 'make. France, Russia and Italy, through their respective men, have again reaffirmed their unalterable determination, and that of the Empire we know. There can and there will he no pence until it is a peace resting upon something more and n''>er than German scraps of paper. To our shame, however, there are those among us who would not only ignore the appalling •scries of crimes committed against humanity by the Germans, but who are prepared to welcome back those responsible for them into the comity of nations without first compelling their authors to make public expiation, as far as it is humanly possible, for these their offences against God and man. Peace—that peace for which men are now laying down their lives—can never come upon this earth by such ways as these. The Allies are conferring and coordinating for a common purpose, and that purpose is not to give serious cor to the puerile chatter about peace now emanating from many German sources —which is of value only as evidence of He sore plight to which Germany is being brought—but. in the words of the lUissian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to uglier Auitre-G&iuan}" ''perfectly harm-

less." How long this task—still gigantic, though nearer its accomplishment than hitherto—will take we do not know. 11. Sazonoff does not think the present year will see the end of the war, hut lie is of opinion that the war cannot he protracted, as Germany is unable to bear the strain, and her financial position is very grave. This belief i.i in line with the opinion of President Poincare, who in the course of his New Year's letter to the officers and soldiers of France said: ''The year which is opening will brinj,' you pride. It will complete the defeat of the enemy; it will give you the joy of returning to your homes and the sweetness of celebrating victory by the side of these whom you love.'' In a further passage the President says: "We shall not grow tired." Neither France, nor Russia, nor the Empire will grow tired in waging this life or deatii conflict on which they have entered. It was forced upon them; therefore they will stay with it and see if. through. "Yesterday," wrote Sir Robert Borden, on January 1, ''the authorised forces of Canada numbered 250,000, and the number of enlisted men was rapidly approaching that limit. Today, the first day of the New Year, our authorised force is 500,000. This announcement U made in token of Canada's unflinching resolve to crown t' justice of our cause witli victory and unending peace." Groat and wonderful as Germany has shown herself in many ways, she cannot bopo to hold her claims against a spirit such as this. She may delay, but she cannot avoid, the day of reckoning. To borrow the simile of her own presumptuous Imperial Treasurer, "the handwriting is on the wall," and, dimly but apprehensively, Germany is beginning to read and decipher its meaning. The words, "We shall not grow tired," express the decision not alone of France, but of that civilisation for which France and her Allies stand. Until that peace is attained to which the Allies are pledged there can and will be no peace.