MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

I THEN AND NOW.

THE BRITISHER'S PART.

A FIGHT i'O A FINISH,

LLOYD-GEORGE'S STRIKING WORDS.

Received Sept. 20. .".5 p.m. i

■New York, Sept. 2R. Ta a striking interview <;lvt-n to the •London press, j\lr. Lloyd George said the British soldier is a good 'iportsman. He enlisted for the war in a spoiling spirit, in order to soo fair play in international dealings. He has fought as a good sportsman, and by thousands he has died as a sportsman. He has never asked anything more than a sporting chance, and he lias not always had that, but when he couldn't get it lie didn't quit, he. played the game. He has not squealed, and has not asked anyone to squeal for him; and now that the fortunes of the game turn s bit towards the British, he is not disposed to stop because of the squealing of the 'Germans, or for the Germans by probably '"ell-meaning, but misguided, sympathisers and luimu.nitaria.nis. The British soldier for two years had •a bad time. Nobody krc.vs so well as he what a bad time 't was. Tie was sadly inferior in equipment, and on an average, inferior in traiiiing. He saw the Allied cause beat"ii .ill about the ring, but did not appeal to the spectators or the referee to stop the light on the ground that it was InuUl, ;ior did he ask that the rules should bo changed. He tool; his punishment, and even when beaten-like a dog he was l game dog. When forced to take refuge in a trench, when too badly used up to carry the fight to the. enemy, ho hung on without whining, fought olf every attack, bided his time and endured without wincing. He worked without nagging, and at this time what was the whining Geiman doing? Was he worrying over the terrible slaughter? No. He was talking of annexing Belgium and Poiar.d as the result of his victory; ami while he was re-making the map of Eur.ipe without the slightest regard for tha wishes of its people, the British people were preparing to pay the price which we knew must be paid for the time to get the aviny ready. It is one thing to loci; hd; on the pounding the British soldier took during the first two years of the war, but it was a different thing to look forward, as die did, and know that hc.itirig couldn't be avoided during those months when it seemed that the finish of the British army might come quickly. Germany selected to make it a light to a finish with England. The British soldier was ridiculed and held in contempt. Now we intend to see that Germany has her way, for the fight must be to a finish and to a knock-out The whole world, including neutrals of the highest purpose and humanitarian? with the best motives, must knoff there cannot bo any outside interference at this stage. Britain 'has not asked for intervention, When she was r.ct prepared to light she tolerated none, ami now she is prepared to fight until Pn« sian military despotism lias been broken beyond repair. There was no regret voiced in Germany over useless slaughter, no tears by German sympathises, when a few thousand British citb.en.i, v.ho never expected to be soldiers, went out to be battered, bombed, and gased. The people, who mere now moved to tears at the thought of what is to cone, watched the early rounds of the unequal contest dry-eyed. None of the carnage that is to come can he worse than tin' sufferings of those Allied dead who stood the full shock of tihe Prussian wot machine before it began to falter, but in British determination to carry the fight to a decisive finish there is something more than a natural demand for vengeance. The inhumanity and pitilersnesa of the fighting that must come before a. lasting peace is possible is not comparable with the cruelty tihat would be involved by stopping the war while there remain's a possibility that civilisation might again bo menaced from the same quarter. Peace now, or any time before the final and complete elimination of this menace, is unthinkable. Jvo nation with the slightest understanding of the temper of the British citizen army, which took its terrible hammering without a. v/hine or grumble, will attempt to call a halt now there's neither elo.ck nor icsult that counts the time consume; in achieving. It took England twer.ty years to defeat Napoleon, the first fifteen of which was black with British defeat. It will not take twenty years to win this war, but whatever time it requires it will be dope, and I say this while recognising that we have only begun to win, There is no disposition on oar side to fix the hour of ultimate victory. We arc. under no delusion that the war is rearing its end; but we have not the slightest doubt how it is going to- end. There will be no quitters among the Allies. '•'Never again!" has become our battle cry. This ghastliness must never again be re-enacted on this eact':. And one method, at least, of aiuweiiii:' that end is the infliction of such punishment upon the perpetrators of fchi". outraje against humanity that the temptation to emulate their exploits win be eliminated from the hearts of th; evil-minded among the rulers of men.

FURTHER EXPORTS PROHIBITED. Received Sept. 29, C.30 p.m. London, Sept. 2S. Official: Xo further licenses will be issued within the Empire for the exportation of vaseline, casings, rubber anil balata manufactures, or powdered tale to Denmark, Holland and Sweden. Privy Council licenses will wot be accepted by the' Customs for- shipment without the War Trade Department's special authority.

XEW ZEALAND AND TORT OF BRISTOL.

Received Sept. 29, 8.50 p.m. London, Sept. 29. The Lord Mayor of Bristol welcomed Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir J. Carroll, mid Mr. Y 0111:5; when they inspected tilio decks and cold storage. ' At the reception given by the merchants and manufacturers the presidents of the local trading associations in tine Wiwt of England advocated closer trading relations between England and Australasia. Sir T. Mackenzie described New Zealand's post-war proposals for increasing her trade with Britain,

ROYAL REVIEW.

of dominions' moors. THE SPECIAL OUW.R. Wellington, Sept. 29. Tlie High Commissioner reports from London, under date September 28, 8.12 p.m.:— The following is the King's special order issued at tlio conclusion of tin- inspection of the Australian of tin- Australian and New Zealand troops m Wednesday: 'T inspected for the first time in this country troops from my dominions of Australia, and New Zealand. These successive contingents are a recognition by the dominions of their obligations to the common defence of the Empire. 1 ,va-- particularly impressed with the soldierly appearance and physique of the men of the various units. The warm-hearted greeting' accorded me on my departure touched me deeply. The keen spirit which animate? all minks shows that officers and men realise what careful training and strict discipline are necessary to reach the high standard of elliciency demanded in modern war. I am .sure they will make good use of their time at Salisbury Plain, and reinforce, the fighting line as worthy successors of those who made 'amous the name of Anzae. I shall ever watch with interest their progress unid wellbei'ig."