WAR'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1916, Page 5

WAR'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY.

SEEING IT THROUGH TO THE END. BRITAIN'S INFLEXIBLE DETERMINATION, Thrnnehnnt the Empire yesterday, tlie ; following resolution was moved in all centres:— ''That, on tins, the second anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals 01 liberty and justice which are (he common and sacred cause of the Allies." AT NEW PLYMOUTH. At New Plymouth there was a large attendance of the public in front of the Courthouse. The High School senior and junior cadets, under Captain .Ryder, paraded, and the Citizen's Band was in attendance. After the National Anthem had been played the Town Clerk (Mr. F. E. Bellrhiger) 'read the following letter from the Right Hon. W. F. Massty: —At this stage when the struggle is approaching its crisis, 1 need not elaborate to you the necessity for the whole of the King's Dominions presenting a United front. Sufficient to say that the passing of the resolution at meetings held in every city, borough, county, towit district and road district in this Dominion will indicate that New Zealand, whose sons have, since the first anniversary, been given the opportunity they so eagerly craved of taking their place with our Allies in the main theatre of war, is at one with the other units of the Empire in the determination to maintain those ideals of liberty and justice, which, as the resolution truly states, are the common and sacred cause of the Allies. I shall be glad if on August 7 you will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held on the previous day and of the resolution having been carried." The Town Clerk also read the resolution as above. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) then moved the resolution in a forceful avid eloquent speech. He said: I have called you together to-day in response to the request of the Prime, Minister to place before you for your approval and confirmation the resolution just read by the Town Clerk. This •esolution is cold and businesslike. There is no waste of words. No one can misunderstand its meaning, and I am sure will be passed unanimously by all present and endorsed by those who are nfit present. To-day is not an occasion to d.vcll on the achievements of the Allied forces, hut rather an occasion to dwell on the ruthless waste of human life In Europe, Asia and even in Africa; of thewilful murders of innocent civilians, men, women and children; of the poverty and suffering of the women and children of Belgium and Servia; of the wanton destruction and pillage of villages, towns and cities of France and Belgium; of the unspeakable acts of a so-called civilised nation, two instances of which are recorded this week in the. murder of ihe master of the Brussels and the deportation of some '25,0110 women and girls to somewhere in Germany. It is of these things we want to think, and, coming nearer home, of the lonely graves across the sea at ("lallipoli and Egypt; of the newly made graves in France and the newer ones still to come; of the children around us to-day and all the children of the Empire. Then we should ask ourselves if the nation can consent to anything short of a decisive victory, whatever the cost. (Hear, hear). If we consent to anything less, what shall we have gained for all the cost of blood and treasure poured out? Nothing but a breathing space wherein to take up the burden of preparing for another war that shall be. ten times more ruthless than the present. In the next war and the reparations for it the Domin-

ions must have their share of the hurt den, and it will be no light one. We have fought shoulder to shoulder with' the men of the Motherland and cannot, go hack. Nothing can ever be tho fame again as before the war. There is another aspect of the qu.es>' tion, however that leaves us practically no choice. The Prime Minister of Bri-j' tain has pledged the word of Britain! that the war shall not cease till Bel« giura is restored to its people and full restitution made. The debt the Allies! owe to Belgium cannot be calculated; in words or figures. This gallant nation, almost the smallest in Europe, defied the mightiest military power in the! wo'Jd, and suffered accordingly. Had she chosen the easy road she might hava been, to-day as prosperous as we are, as Holland is, and as all the neutral nation are that are reaping l such a rich! harvest from the wars necessities. Wbaii if Belgium's position to-day? Crushed, bleeding and starving but still flghting!| (Applause). I have, therefore, much' pleasure in moving this resolution, and in doing jo would appeal to all not to) forget our gallant ally. Surely of ourJ plenty—and we have plenty—we can give generously to a nation that haa suffered so grievously while we live i/j peace and prosperity. (Applause), ' " Mr. W. A. Collis seconded, and in doing so made an appeal on behalf of the) Mayoress for flowers, towards "Flower! Day" to-day (Saturday! in aid of tho fund for succouring the Belgian children. The motion was carried by acelamay tion. i Three cheers were given for the King, the National Anthem was sung, tha band played a patriotic air, and cheeri ~j ; ~,,, for tho band and the Mayor enflefl't>tt% ]■£'£ proceedings. : *'\ ME. MASSEY'S MESSAGE. TO GUILDHALL '.MEETING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August 3. The following cable was sent to Loin don to-day as a message for the meet* ing to be held in the Guildhall, London* on August 4, from the Prime Minister off. New Zealand:— ''The second anniversary of the declaw ation of war reveals to* the world thai British Empire welded together roorej firmly than ever by the tremendous effort which she and her gallant Allies are putting forth for liberty and freedom. We shall unswervingly pursue this great struggle to a victorious end, confident in the justice and righteousucss of the cause for which we have taken unj arms. "The foul atrocities perpetrated by, the Germans against humanity and the 1 law of nations, as disclosed by the report of the Belgian Commission, and especially by the recent events, brand for all time the German nation with shame and dishonor. Those responsible for such crimes cannot be allowed to) go unpunished. "The sky is now becoming clearer, and 'final victory is assured, tout great sacrifices have yet to be made. Near; Zealand affirms, with' redoubled determination, her steadfast resolve that" the lives'of her sons, laid down in defence of our national heritage, shall mot have been sacrificed in vain. We are at ona with the whole Empire in our inflexibk purpose to crush for ever the menace, of despotic militarism which*is threat ening the very basis and ideals of civil' isation.—(Signed; W. F. Massey." -: i RESULTS REVIEWED, INITIATIVE IN ALLIES' HANDS. THE GAINS COMPARED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, London August 3. A high authority, reviewing the results of the two years of War, says the Allies ■ occupy 1,071,000 square miles, against the Central Powers' 107,000 aquaremiles. The initiative has been in our hands on all fronts since the Verdun failure, even in Mesopotamia. Wo control the Shatt-el-Arab and the Irak province, while German influence has been eliminated. General Smuts is progressing, an.l the Serbs are presenting a formidabla front to the Bulgarians. We have amplo munitions for ourselves and the Allies. Five 'million and forty-one thousand Britons have voluntarily enlisted, and our whole manhood is now in the service of the nation, in addition to the help from the Dominions and India. SYDNEY PROCEEDINGS. Received August 4, 9.15 p.m, Sydney, August 4. The war anniversary was marked by a few minutes' ccssatioi from activity at noon, shipping blowing sirens. Optimistic notes were characteristic of the speeches at the various meetings, each recording inflexible determination to carry the war to a victorious end. PROCEEDINGS AT WELLINGTON. Wellington, Last Night. A large gathering at the. Town Hall to-night adopted a resolution affirming the determination of Now Zealand to see the war through to victory, and efface l'tussianiein for ever. Stirring addresses were given by Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward Sir Robert; Stout, and the Mayor. The audience warnlly applauded a reference to the necessity for post-war measures to ensure the cliuiinatiiu of Germanic trade within British and Allied countries. A similar resolution was adopted at suburban meetings, and the united latercessary service at St. John's Church was largely attended.