The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917. THE TIME FOR A SUPREME EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917. THE TIME FOR A SUPREME EFFORT.

In his address to Congress, President Wilson particularly emphasised the fact that the supreme moment in the history of the nation had arrived. With equal force it may be asserted that the supreme moment in the history of the British Empire has arrived. According to a recent cable message from London, the Times is quoted as stating that the war has reached a stage when no man or woman is justified in remaining in occupations not essential to the war, and that unless the whole adult population is thrown into the struggle for national existence, those who have died for the Empire have died in vain. We have only to hote the desperate efforts the Germans are making to strike a decisive blow on the West front, and then we cannot fail to realise how urgent is the demand for the utilisation of the utmost resources of the Empire in defeating the enemy. That is why our London contemporary so strongly insists that the whole adult population must be Utilised if we are to win the war. We have to bear in mind that the German High Command is utterly unconcern 1 in the matter of spending the lives of thousands of their soldiers in the endeavor to carry out any military operations that may be decided upon. They pin their faith on the weight of numbers both as regards men and guns. Prussian militarism is a hideous Juggernaut that has no limit of sacrffices. It issues orders regardless of the wastage of life involved, the cruelty and remorselessness.of the sys-. tem being inherent to military autocracy in its most malignant form, The enormous armed masses that Germany has been able to put in the firing line necessitated the most careful conservation of the Allies' troops, hence the pro> lenged wearing down process adopted by Sir Douglas Haig. Being able to withdraw large bodies of troops from the Russian front, the Germans have been "all out" to break through the AngloFrench lines by means of continuous waves exercising relentless pressure. The fact that all their efforts have been in vain is goading them to even greater en> deavors, and though we may justly be confident in the ability of our officers and soldiers to continue their successful defensive and offensive, there exsits the need for the Empire putting forth iU best. "Never," says the Times, "has the world's salvation more depended on the fortitude, the resolution and the sacrifices of Britain and the overseas Dominions and we believe that the people are ready for far greater sacrifices than ever, and resolute in their determination to press on for years with the war, if necessary—to go on until both the great Central Powers have been completely humbled in the field." Mr. Asquith aptly described the war as being between freedom on the one side and force on the other. The Allies force* consist of none but free peoples and they are fighting for freedom and to teach the Prussian militarists that war does not pay. It is a question of staying power. The nerves • of the people have stood the strain hitherto and will do so to the end, but there are other things even more important ihan nerves that are wanted—the greatest need being more men to end the war with the utmost possible celerity. There is a consensus of opinion among all clear-sight-ed people that there can be no thought of peace until after a decisive victory, and the Allies will need continuous supplies of reinforcements until the final blow is struck. It is obvious that the Teutons' aim is to deliver a decisive blow before the vast resources of Ame-1 rica are actively taking part in ending the war, Our chief concern is the more j

immediate present, for the future is bright with promise. No ell'ort should be spared by any part of the empire to uo all that is humanly possible to \v<nr down the enemy. It is suggested tli::j should be an immediate raising of tinmilitary age, but in this, as 111 otlior mutters, v/c must look for guidance to those responsible for the conduct of the .-truggle, though every section of !Ik> : community should be thoroughly ready arid willing to answer any and every call for assistance, recognising that the time for supreme efTort has arrived and that the issue of the struggle for national existence depends on every man and woman obeying the call for -whole-heart-<d co-operation in the great task that lias been -forced upon, the Allies.