MINISTERS PANICKY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 3

MINISTERS PANICKY.

To the Editor. I Sir, —When Ministers of tlie Crown be- | conic "pan.cky'' about things happening it becomes one's duty to protest. That, at (be moment we are getting a sound umbbiiig iroin the Germans on the West•rn front appears, unfortunately, only too clear. But it is iniquitous that Ministers should, therefore, ana there and then, proclaim that (lie fate of England is hanging in the balance, that they, or two of them, may not be able to go to Knaland, that it may be all up with the nation in ten days. "Xo! I'ive 'ays," says Mr. YVilford, who is appai rntly particular as to details, and knows all about ft. Snrclv such i.-oclamations from our leaders are likely to do half the damage feared, and are in the highest degree impolitic, not to say cowardly. At a time like the present, statesmen should display calmness, courage, and confidence, irrespective of what they may feel. It. is no time for creating alarm. No good can come of it. The crisis is on, and no panicky mouthings from anyone can at the moment help tlie situation- The time for that sort of thing is when all appears to be well, and an over-confidence and self-

satisfied publio wint stimulation to renewed effort by more or loss pessimistic forecasts and warnings, and. all said and done, does tlio position Justify tlie grim forebodings shouted from (lie Senate by our Senators? I say emphatically, No. Certainly the fate ot Germany is hanging in the balance, not that of England. Not vet- This battle may, and very probably will, decide whether Germany, .is represented by Prussianism, is to continue as a power for evil, or whether she is in the snme sense crushed. The loss of this battle, which will probably con tin no for months (not five 'lfiYHi, means no more to England than a terrible set-back, and at the worst that she continues the fight, not as now. for the establishment of a principle, but for tiic defence of her own realm Supposing it comes to that, have we not men, money and munitions, and, at the worst,, can hope our losses in this battle will be no greater than that of the enemy. Then, why because we are not getting all the best of it at the moment should we proclaim ourselves as beins? ill imminent danger of defeat and ruin? Germany has a long way to go. and a lot of graft to do before England is m the dust. Though she conquer the whole of France and drive us across the Channel therefrom, she is still a long way from liavlng us there. Have we 110 navy, 110 unconqucrcd allies, nothing left with which to light for our homes and liberty, if, and after we hare lost this great",battle on the Western front? Is the effort costing our enemies nothing? Coot], Lord, this is only a round 111 a great contest. Tf we go to our corner shaken and hurt and with a loss of points what about the other fellow? Ha.; he taken nothing from our jolts? Is lie coming up smiling for the next round? AVait and see. Keep a stiff upper lip, subscribe to the war loan, follow the drum, and. above all, tiw; to the luck of the British Army, which is always at its best when takingknocks, and, by God's grace, all will be well. And if Messrs Massey and Ward can't get away, and we have 110 ships, well, we'll store our wool, run our sheep two to the acre instead of one, cultivate cur land without manure, close the picture shows, the race courses, and generally sit tight till, better days. Finally we might even take a lesson from that first-class nonsense writer, fiibbs, who, I note, lias to-day treated us to another of his graphic efforts. This time it's a Majoy in a bus holding the line with Ins orderlies, or words to that effect- However. he is at least cheery, and that is what we must all try to be. AVe are far from beaten yet, so don't let us talk about it—l am, etc;-, G.S-C. Lepperton, .April 15.