The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1917. THREE YEARS OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1917. THREE YEARS OF WAR.

I At eleven p.m. on the fourth of August, HU4, war was declared between Great Britain and Germany, the latter having throe day., earlier declared -war on Kus" sia, the day before entering French territory. To-day the war will enter upon its fourth year, but no one can say whether or not this will be the final year of this world-wide struggle. To the historian must be left the task of chronicling the events which have happened during the last three years at the various war zones, f or it would be impossible to make any detailed comments on so great a subject in tho slort space available in this issue. To-day throughout the Empire there will be gatherings wherever a community exists to place on record the conviction that the war is a righteous one, which the people are determined shall be continued to a victorious end, in order that those ideals of liberty and justice, which are the common and sacred causo of the Allies, shall be maintained. Although there have been three years of most j intensivo war in which the latest and | most deadly destructive weapons have been used, although our sacrifices in' blood and treasure have been colossal, and although the end is not yet fa sight" there is no flinching from the one great determination of tho British race tho world over to go forward to victory no ! matter what the cost may be, and despite the certainly that we must pay the price. There is no thought of turning hack, no thought of compromise, no thought of forsaking our bravo Allies. Our principal enemy (Germany) has revealed herself in such a light as to make it absolutely essential for the world's peace that her power to deluge countries ivith blood and to commit barbarous outrages on humanity must be rendered impotent. The Kaiser has just issued a proclamation to his people, his armies and his navy in which ho professes to bo totally indifferent to the fact that one nation after another has joined the ranks of his enemies, but it is apparent, reading between the lines, that he fears tho news of tho Anglo-French offensive that is now proceeding will cause a feeling of despair unless he can enthuse the people by means of his stock misrepresentations and blatant boastings. His armies have fought valiantly, but now that the Allies have ample munitions and men the Herman hosts are forced to act on the defensive and are being driven back slowly but surely. When the war entered upon its third year in August last Portugal promised active co-operation with the Entente armies. The close of the third year finds a far greater and mightier nation than PortnI gal on our side, for the power of the greatest of the world's democracies, as exemplified in the United States of America, is now with us in heart, soul and pocket. This vast machine will be of illimitable service when it has been fully Get in motion, and our best hopes of shortening the war rest upon the welcome aid of our American cousins. The •.'rent battle which is now raging on the West front may be the beginning of the end, but that end seems still afar off. Though the progress of this titanic .struggle has been marked by rrightfiilncss and barbarous inhumanities on the part of the apostles of "kultur," there is no talk of prosecuting it for the sake of vengeance. The factors which actuate the Allies in their unalterable resolutions to achievo final victory all arise from the imperative necessity of stamping out the menace of Prussian militarism, as exemplified in the conduct of the war and the insatiable lust of these territorial vultures. The close of the third wear of war finds the British Empire united, determined, resolute and powerful. Never before has the might of 'Britain been demonstrated as it is to-day. The Motherland and her offspring stand shoulder to sho'uldei\in the cause of humanity, justice and'free- ' dom, strong in their faith of the rightc- , ousness of the cause which they are '. determined to uphold, and confident in ' their ultimate success. The resolutions ' which are to be passed to-day ought , not to be regarded as formal. They arc. ' expressive of the true spirit of the people ' of the Empire and serve as a landmark '. in tho history of the war. They are f also full of promise, for they demon- i strate that the sacrifices of the past, the ' present and the future shall not be in j vain, and they point to the final sue- ( cess of the cause which has been cluvm- ( pioned not for the purpose of aggran- ' discment. but in the interests of long ! suffering humanity. To-day the people j of the Empire arc asked to give a solemn t pledge of their determination to achieve ' the end in view, and we are confident ! 'that in giving this pledge the people will do their utmost to bring it to r fruition. Nothing has weakened or can ' weaken the Allies' fixed purpose to finally achieve a vietory that will usher „ in the blessings of peace. ; c