The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1916. BRITAIN'S ADAPTABILITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1916. BRITAIN'S ADAPTABILITY.

The report of the interview accorded by Ml. Bonar Law to the correspondent of the New York Times, which appears in this morning's cables, will well repay careful perusal, for it contains some extremely sound and enlightening views on the war and its aftermath. It was well that Mr. Bonar Law took advantage of the opportunity to strongly emphasise tli< one great principle which overshadows all other considerations in the relentless prosecution of the war. "If," he remarked, "militarism, according to the Prussian standard, is not crushed by the war, nothing will prevent a repetition of the present catastrophe and the civilisation of Europe will go down be- . fore barbarism, and all the outpouring of blood and treasure will have been in vain if the piling-up of armaments which preceded the conflict proceeds with undiminished energy afterwards." This undoubted fact is the main reason for the necessity of victory by the Allies being of a most decisive and complete character. It is that aspect of the struggle that has created a resolute consensus of opinion and action on the part of each of the Allies not to enter upon a. separate peace. The work of crushing Prussian militarism must be so thoroughly carried out that not a vestige of its ashes will remain to be fanned into life. It is also this great fact that should of itself act as a powerful lever for recruiting as well as for making supreme sacrifices. The mere thought, of this work having to 'be done again is too horrible to contemplate, so it means that every available man and the full resources of the British Empire and its allies must be employed in ridding the world, for many generations at least, of the frightfulness and horrors perpetrated on humanity by the barbaric linns. As Mr. Bonar Law pertinently remarks, nothing matters except winning the war. In reviewing what Britain has accomplished since the outbreak of hostilities, he points with pardonable pride to the enlistment of nearly four million volunteers out of six million offers of service, and, what is of criiial, if not greater, importance, he prates there no longer exists anxiety on account of the munitions supply. \*ew Zealand and the other dominions will thoroughly appreciate Mr. Bonar Law's generous acknowledgment of their wonderful help, all the more praiseworthy by reason of their being under no nhl'igation to send a single man, but they had taken a big view of the war and shown firm faith in the cause for which Britain was fighting. It is, indeed, a marvellous record of loyalty—Canada sinding half a million men into the field, Australia ten per cent, of her population, and New Zealand even more, while the West Indie* and Newfoundland had also sent line contingents. It is also reassuring to learn from Mr. Bonar Law that he has no fear of Britain's financial position, which is so great that it has not yet begun to feel the strain, and can continue the struggle lunger than her enemies without straining her capacity to pay or reaching the limit of self-sacrifice. In referring to the manner in which British manufacturers had risen to the occasion in remodelling factories and stimulating inventions. Mr. Bonar Law pointed to the result as showing what the nation could do when strung <:■ its highest pitch of energy. It was the most convincing proof that could ■he furnished of Britain'™ adaptability. It is. this grand national trait that will receive full play after the war in the framing and ca'Tying out of an economic entente between the Empire and our allies, so that never again shall we eom-

pete on uneven terms with (lermany in tin- realms of traile and shipping. One great lesson has been driven home by the war —that the Empire must rely move on it* own resources, and this will be of infinite assistance in the process of recovery from the colossal financial and social effects inherent to the war. Taking the sentiments expressed by Mr. Kenar Law in conjunction with the optimistic speeches of Mr. Asqnith and Lord Kitchener at the recent opening of Parliament, there can be no question that \vc should regard the outlook with confidence, but at the same time Mere should lie no slackening of effort to insure that final victory which we are all bent on achieving, rather should the vastly improved position serve as a stimulus for that supreme effort wliich is shortly expected to -;a!:e p!c.c\ and we need not I" 1 di" jrr.nopd ! ■- >wy s>rcl! temporavy v:.' scoa scored l'v t'.e er.emy.

ARMED MERCHANTMEN. If it were not that the dispute between Germany and tlio United States is fraught with such grave issues, the communications which have passed between the two countries over the settlement of the Lusitania question might afford amusing material for a comedy on Gilbertian lines. There have been quite a succession of crises and calms. One day diplomatic relations are so strained that a severance seems unavoidable. Then follows a How of oil on the troubled waters of diplomacy, but just as the situation is being cleared there comes another rift owing to Ccrmany's duplicity. The present complications between the two nations are due to the question of merchantmen carrying passengers being equipped with defensive armament. There is h certain amount of grim humor in Germany's announcement that if passenger steamers, leaving American ports with defensive armaments, are to be immune from submarine attack (as Germany promised through Count BernstorlT) Germany expects definite assurances that the liners will not attack submarines. Germany's objection to the defensive arming of merchantmen is not surprising. Submarine commanders have frequently found the guns on British ships inconvenient, and at times fatal. The sinking of a ship is so much simplified when it is unarmed that the Germans' desire to see guns taken off all British ships is easily understood, ft is, however, more dillicult to find a reason for the American change of front contained in the suggestion that merchantmen carrying arms may in future be treated as belligerents in American ports. It is now announced that America will not accept the 'Lusitania settlement until she is assured that the Teutons' programme of assassination of non-belliger-ent merchantmen without warning will not nullify the Arabic promises; but President Wilson and Mr. Lansing seem to be at variance on this point, and the president regards the situation as becoming more difficult. Mr. Lansing .states that assurances are wanted extending immunity to all merchantmen, but the German authorities have just announced their intention of making even more extensive raids on merchantmen by means of more powerful submarines. It is the way of the Hun. To expect, or to stipulate that armed merchantmen should not use their guns against submarines is tlie height of absurdity. It is for that purpose that the guns are carried on these ships, for neither America nor any other country trusts the Huns. Germany has forced merchantmen to he armed in self defence, and she will have to bear the consequences. L'nfortunately, no dependence is to be placed on American action, so that Britain and her allies will have to take their own course in this matter, and the more drastic their action the more fitting will it lie.