The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1916. PAYING THE PRICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1916. PAYING THE PRICE.

The exceptionally heavy casualty lists that have come to hand the la-it few days bring home to every resident in Now Zealand the terrible ordeal through which the Empire is passing, and the destructive conditions that prevail in modern warfare. It must be remembered that the fighting on the Somme is desperate oh both sides. The Allies are determined to break through the German defences and drive the enemy back to the country whence he came with evil intent, and the Teutons are equally desperate in attempting to stem the Allies' advance. They are fighting for thfc intamotts principle of autocratic aiid tyrannical militarism-, embodied in the claim that might is right, and their defeat means the downfall and probable extinction of the ruthless military class and possibly the overthrow of Kaiscrdotm. It was inevitable under Such coiwlition-s that when the' Sow ZValftnders took a prdminent part in attacking the Germans that the casualties would be heavy. We all knew' that when the Dominion soldiers started in it w'ould he in the same spirit that made for them undying fame at Gallipoli and events have proved that they hAve far out-stripped all their pre-' vious performances' and proved more than a match for the lifelting trained troops of the Kaiser. Fearless and deti'ririincd the'}' entered the fray, only to emerge with leest-netl numbers hut with glorious records of brilliant and suecessiul achievements that stunned and almost paralysed the enemy. Much \ as we grieve for the gallant dead, and [ sympathise 'with- the suffering wounded, the sentiment that overshadows all others is thankfulness that the Dominion has such 'splendid manhood ready and willing at a moment's notice to forsake their ordinary avocations and profitable 'occupations to free the world(especially tlfcir own cciuhtvy) from the most awful, menace and deadly peril. If we only thoroughly realise the immensity of the service the New Zealandei'S are rendering to civilisation, to the Motherland, to Europe, and to the Dominion, we cannot fail to realise that heavy as is the price the country is paying, it is a mere trifle compared with the unthinkable and revolting horrors from which we are being saved by the defeat of the barbaric Huns. We are apt, at time, to lose sight of the fact that Germany's scheme of world conquest embraced the annexation of New Zealand, which was 1 one of the prizes she meant to grasp, so that our hoys are fighting for the preservation of the Dominion quite as much as for the Motherland. The price that i* 'being paid is, therefore, to be weighed in tile balance' ■with what we should have lost were the Hiitti to be country, our liberties, and all that we prize and cilerifefc, including our very existence as a

free people. The other portions of the great British Empire were also involved in the same menace, so that it is not surprising there should have 'been a n']ioJe.-5P.u)Rd rally in Empire defence, and, incidentally, im maintaining the right of the smaller nations to work out their own destiny untrammelled by the tyranny and oppression of the ruthless upholders of the cause of might against right. It is indeed a matter for intense gratitude that the struggle for imr liberties should have taken place in Europe instead of in Australasia, and though the sacrifices 'have been and will be colossal they bear no comparison to the gain that will accrue by the final crushing of the mad dog of Kurope. We must not forget that «o ninny of our brave men have made the supreme sacrifice with a courage a.nd buoyancy of spirit worthy of the best traditions of our race, the countny is enjoying a prosperity that is phenomenal and is able to help the Motherland bear her gigantic burdens It is one of the marvels of the'war that the overseas trade has not suffered except a.s to increased freights and higher prices. We honor all those who have gone forth from these shores to fight for their country, for they _ have nobly done their duty. The end is not yet, and the call on the manhood of the Dominion is more urgent now than ever. When the end does come we shall be justly entitled to rejoice, and even those who have lost relatives or friends will surely be proud of paying so heavy a price in order to reap the splendid reward 'which these great sacrifices will have secured