The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1916. ULTIMATE VICTORY ASSURED.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1916. ULTIMATE VICTORY ASSURED.

When Britain entered into the war—compelled thereto by tlhe force of circumstances that left no other alternative if her continued adherence to an inflexible code of international honor was to be the reality which it had been in the past—the fixed belief in licr ultimate triumph was at once apparent, any other result being unthinkable. Whether such optimism was rash mattered not in the least—Germany must be humbled to Wie dust. As an expression of national confidence in the ability to win this war ultimately, as all other wars in wliWh the Motherland had been involved for many years past 'had been won, it showed that the old spirit wa9' very much alive. What did it matter if Germany hud been utilising the past forty years in preparing for world conquest? It would only be a, matter of time when Britain, too, would not only be prepared, but be well on the way to victory. More than two years ihave passed; many blunders have been made, seme' remedied and others past redemption; slowly, but surely, the grim reality of the struggle and'' all it involved impressed itself upon the people, and then they settled down to work with a will —that indomitable -will which was always awaiting the call to action. Through all this preparation for the task that was to end in victory there was always) the perfectly sublime faith in the ability to achieve the desired result, and the same inspiration will continue till the end. There lias never been a shadow of doubt—Britain and her Allies must win. Tlicy had taken (hold of the enemy and would hang on grimly ur.til that enemy's vitality was exhausted, even if it took years, knowing that each year would find them stronger and more bent on crushing the foe. That was the foundation of their optimism, but, after all, it did not suffice to carry conviction until the day arrived vvllien the Allies proved that the initiative had been wrested from the enemy on his whole battle front, and that though, all the endurance of our race, in every part of the globe, was needed in order to secure a complete victory, ttat endurance would be furthcoming, coupled with determined effort. It was only last week that Mr. Lloyd George, speaking ■in the House of Commons, pointed out that "our concentration of great forces had enabled us to hold the Germans while Russia dealt with the enemy." He thought tHwit in the dim distance he was beginning to see the end. Britain and hei Allies were marching and working together, and were assured of victory. Germany liad missed her chance—and knew it. There is no longer any need for optimism arising from perfect faith' in British afiility to win through. "We mean," said Mr. Lloyd George, "to win the war, with all the country's resources. That was the only consideration which dominated the Government." It is the only consideration that doihinates the people of the Empire and our Allies, and it is a consideration backed up by such and equipments, and supplemented

by such vast reserves, that confidence in complete victory is absolute ami trustiv,;iliiy. The outstanding feature of the new campaign in the Balkans is the -irilcing illustration it affords of the strategical unity of the Allies, which is nuiking itself felt throughout the whole ot the war zone. To arrange this highly important movement and bring it to the stage of practical utility has taken much time, forethought and technical ability, and what may have seemed like a deporable waste of time and 1 energy has in reality been a master-stroke of genius, resulting in a double front war so dreaded by German strategists. In directing attention to this great accomplishment, the London Tunes, which has been one of, the most severe critics of tilt military authorities, has evidently at last become satisfied that the conduct of the war is in safe hands, for it states: "We have the initiative everywhere, including Salonika, and ultimate victory is assured." Such an assurance, emanating from a notably pessimistic quarter, is certainly 110 mere boasting, but is a clear and logical deduction from the military position of the Allies as it presents itself to all observers. Few there are who realise the immense importance attachable to the Balkans operations, but it 'Will probably be recorded in history that they form a decisive factor in the issue of the struggle, and provide one of the powerful jaws between which the enemy will be squeezed to death. The serious part of the struggle is now commencing, and that is why the whole of our resources are needed. The whole position has changed, and the day has gone when the enemy could rush troops hither and thither to selected points. The attackers of L yesterday have been forced to become defenders—not at any one point, but at all points on every front.. <