AUSTRALIA'S DUTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1917, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S DUTY.

ruxscuiiTKi:; j.ssn; •I'liji; UP -HEAT I'rJIILL A btivriii;; appeal to Australians to prove their luvaiiy was made bv the I'iinie Minister, -Mr. \\.'M. Unfiles, in mi address at. the MiU/ns Club in Sydney last week. "I wi#i I could (ell you things as 1 know |iiil,i. but i can't do that," said Mv Hail's in tin- course of his speech. "lint 1 have drawn the curtain sullicicntly to allow every man in this country to see something of the danger that lies behind, not far behind, not incredibly remote, not something that may happen, 1m something that will happen as surely as night follows day." .Mr. Hughes said enough was known'to satisfy every loyal citizen that it is absolutely essential iliac every citizen throughout the Umpire should do his duty. Tie referred to the reverse suffered by the Italians and the eollapse of Russia. The latter, he declared, -vould mean the reledse'of 1,200,000 soldiers, and of thousands of guns for concentration on the western front. It would lie impossible to imagine that if Australia knew the whole truth if.would lie necessary to de more than say to the people of Australia:—"Your country is in deadly peril; citizens, do your duty.'' GERMANY'S NEW STRENGTH. One. blast, of such a slogan would be enough to stir t-s action the conscience of the most apathetic. It would not bring the traitor to the walls of the citadel, but all loyal men would be there. When thero is a defeat or reverse it is broken so gradually that when at last you realise it, its consequences have been repaired, perhaps, by a new offensive. Take Cambrai. The German counteroffensive means that, although bst yesterday there was a glorious achievement by the British arms, the German legions, reinforced as they can be and must be by the release from the passive warfare on the Russian front, are now gathered behind : iri such dense masses as threaten to break down our firm defence. There is Italy, struggling desperately to'maintain her foothold at the very gates of Venice. There arc the German and Austrian legions released from the eastern frontier by this treacherous parleying of the Bolsheviks. Is it now that any man should be here speaking of the sac-red-ness of human life when tens, aye hundreds, aye millions, of men of our . ee are risking their sacred lives in order that we may be here free? "I trust the people of Australia will not follow those who seek to lead them into paths of dishonor and shame,' 1 Mr. Hughes continued. "These very men who now talk about free speech ate the nun who howl me down, and the very leader of'these men openly rejoices at the fact that I have got a touch of Sinn Fein (Voices: 'Shame/ and 'Why not deport him!'). It is enough, and raoro than enough. , As I have said, Archbishop Mannix is free to'say what he likes and write what he likes, hut Ihj will have to take full responsibility for his actions, and I shall demaml'for my part that freedom. (Applause). Mob rule shall not obtain in Australia, no matter who stands for it. Thank God, I have done nothing to deserve the approval of Germany. Thank God, although I have been a Home Ruler, no Sinn Feiner can ever pat me on the back and say 'Well done.' (Applause). - Although I have given M.j best part of my life to the cause of the Labor, Party, no I.W.W, an pat me on tlie back and say 'Well (tone' From :!;.; disgrace I have been saved THE GOVERXUEXT'S POLICY. "I ask you to point out "n position dearly to your friends, telling them ./hi I, is their plain duty, and if "you do this I am more than satisfied that there shall be a great victory for Australia and the Empire on December 20. (Loud nnd prolonged applause). If the proposals of the Government are accepted, every pledge I have made shall be. kept in the spirit anbV the letter. If they be not accepted I wash my hands of all responsibility. I shall do what I think ought to be done." "There are some who say it is the duty of Australians to remain in Ana-" tralia," said Mr. Hughes in another ppeech. "All of you know that that is the counsel of cravens. It is a counsel that appeals, if you like,, to selfish instincts, but it is i counsel of cowards and destruction. Every man knows where his place in when his country is in danger. It is where the enemy' is. I have been waiting to hear Australian unionism's indignant protest against the enforced slavery of Belgian unionists by the Hun. They are now compelled to work for threepence per day or die. Yet there has not been one voice raised on their behalf. Yet, to the unionists of Belgium the Workmen of Australia owe their lives and liberty to-day. The Labor nWn and the Unionists of France, England, America, Italy, and other democracies aVe in the light, and they need our help." FACE TO FACE' WITH DANGER. 'The 'balance of power is against us," declared Mr. W. A. Holman, Premier of New South Wales, in a recent speech. "Our men will <have to stand on the the moment Russia's downfall liberates the enemy forces on that front. Until America is able to land a million men upon the shores of Europe—an immense task, and one which will take many months to accomplish—our men will have to face a superior force now that Russia is out of the scene. Just now we are face to face with a period of immense danger. The man who says that Australia will be safe a year after this war has been finished unsuccessfully —a year after the allies have been defeated—is a lunatic, is unfit to be entrusted with the responsibility of a vote. No man dare say it and retain his reputation for sanity. Our hope for the safety of the future lies in the victory of the allies. And to bring that victory about We eari do something substantial. We are not asked to increase our effort; all that we are asked is that our forces shall not diminish. Let us do that.''