The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1918. BRITAIN'S BURDEN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1918. BRITAIN'S BURDEN

There are certain phases of the war' situation that are apt to toe overlooked. Naturally the more spectacular events claim most attention, but these are only rendered possible by the silent and too often unnoticed forces operating far from the roar of artillery and the rattle of machine guns. We have arrived at that stage of the conflict when the main burden falls to the lot of Britain and the Dominions. France has done her utmost—is bleeding white—yet her armies are performing, ti and will continue to perform, Miracles. Belgium—what there is left of her people—is still fighting heroically. Russia is a back number, Italy is bravely facing the Austrian hosts in defence, heartened by AngloFrench help; Boumania is down and out, and America is not yet ready with that large force that must eventually be the deciding factor in the struggle. Britain alone can be relied on to save civilisation and bear the brunt of the war, and anyone who realises the formidable extent of German military power now available for making that drive whereby she hope s to defeat the Allies, can adequately realise the tremendous nature of the task that faees the British Empire. It is marvellous what Britain has already accomplished, and there is no doubt that she will within two months have doubled, if not tripled, her immediate responsibilities The nation has stood firm as an- will so remait , until finality i s , >CJled . The wor]d may well fail to realise how .Britain has risen to meet this unparalleled emergency, the more so in view of the fact that it is the women who have made success possible. Women have done and are doing wherever possible the workusually performed by men, and Jt h |)v their coming to the fore i n this great emu that men have bwa released for

military service, anil nsw that still more men arc needed ill the battle zone the demand on women labor will be even greater than before. The crisis which has now arrived imposes enormous demands on Britain, and it is for the Bominions to recognise. this fully and help to the uttermost of their power. Britain's task is not only to provide men to hold up the German advance in the 1 West, she has to help in Italy, to follow ,up her operations in Palestine, Mesopotamia and Salonika. Apart from this great work is the equally important business of building and manning ships for transports and carriage of food supplies not only for her own needs, but also for the Allies. The submarine men-

ace has to be fought and overcome, the Navy kept up to the highest state of efficiency to defeat invasion or any attempt of the German fleet to break through and enter upon a campaign of remorseless destruction, while the commerce of the world has to be protected. All this and more has to be adequately appreciated before any true conception can be formed of the burden Britain is now carrying on 'behalf of humanity at Urge. Everyone who follows the course of events in this great struggle for freedom and right must be impressed with tlio seriousness of tho military situation —the most critical problem of the moment. The elimination of the Russians from the war has restored to Germany the choice of time and place for delivering those heavy blows which her large forces permit, and she is making the best of her opportunity, hut at a sacrifice that is appalling. For that, however, Germany has no scruple, though slie is doing her ibest to hide from the German people thg extent of these losses, even resorting to 1 the well-worn trick of paper propaganda to blind the eyes of tile people to the truth by disseminating wilful falsehoods- The consequences of the Italian disaster and Russia's defection have been very far reaching. Some of the effects have already been felt, hut others have yet to appear. Instead of being able to attack, the Allies are forced to be on the defensive against odds such as have never before been encountered, not knowing when and where the next, blow may fall. It is estimated that Germany's fighting strength in the West ha 3 been increased ,by a fifth in consequence of Russia's defection, and beside this addition of man power the Germans have the benefit of the artillery and munitions captured in Italy and Russia, as well as the store released from the east. Even so there is no doubt as to Britain's ability to meet the crisis with what help Arne-

nca can give—an ever increasing quantity. British man power has its limit anrl the drain lias been very heavy, yet it must go 011, for the need at present is extremely urgent,. Britain is finding the men, thanks to the magnificent, spirit of the women, but for whom the country could never face the crisis. If, as one writer pertinently states, Britain went down now, we should all go down with her, and that fact is the measure of our indebtedness to British women. On paiallel lines with the military problem is that of the shipping, for on tonnage depends not only the feeding and. munitioning of* the people and armies of Britain, France and Italy, but also the rate of transport of men and supplies to General Pershing, the commander of the American forces, iiud on Pershing, when Britain has successfully tided over the present crisis in the West, depends the resumption of the offensive and the crushing of the German armies. If Germany breaks the food blockade bv getting access to the rich districts of Sleuth Russia, where the wheat crops ot jpur J ears are stored, the problem of food maj become by the end of next year even more desperate for the Allies than for the enemy. At present Britain's burden is gigantic, but America is doing her best to lighten the load. We need her men, supplies, munitions and ships as well a s her money, but President Wilson, speaking for the nation, has given Jus word that the whole of America's vast resources shall be used to help the Allies win the war. We may, therefore, justly be confident in the ultimate issue,' but before that is settled the Britisu Empire will have to strain every nerve to overcome the desperate onslaught of the enem L an ,l to make prodigious sacriCes 111 tlll! <»use for which s he is now I°, "'"ay lighting for victory on behalf 0 f the civilised world.