The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1918. IS IT WORTH WHILE?

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1918. IS IT WORTH WHILE?

The crisis through which the Empire is passing has brought home to most of us a. fuller realisation of the actual principle for which the Allies are so heroically contending against terrible odds- The horrible carnage that lias taken place has staggered even the stoutest hearts, but yet the people a3 a whole, knowing the great issue that is at stake, are fully satisfied "that the sacrifices involved are not only worth while but inevitable. At the same time there are always those who are so peculiarly constituted that they are unable to comprehend that right is worth fighting for, and they are ever ready in the advocacy of compromise, no matter how humiliating. To them no saprifico is worth while; they wrap themselves in a mantle of selfish complacency and groan at every casualty list. Happily for the future welfare of the civilised world these pacifists are not too numerous to affect the virile portion of the community, but they are thorns in tlio flesh of the upholders of riglit against might They are not the pillars on which the Empire relies in the hour of supreme stress. It is the men and women who know that the present efforts to crush military despotism are absolutely necessary—those who realise that the greatest effort which can be made is worth while—that can overcome the crisis and bring about an ultimate triumph of the cause. This war is no quixotic crusade, but a mighty and determined struggle against the doctrine of force—a war against war. That is why our soldiers and sailors have resolved, for our sakes as well a s their own, to die [rather than yield, That 1b why no

compromise is possible, 110 armistice permissible, anil a fight to a finish imperative. We have either to cease to count, as ,1 civilised people, 01' to crush the monBter embodied in the Prussian military system. It is now or never, therefore arises (lie necessity for continuing the bitter struggle until victory is achieved. Tlic democratic nations of the world lire banded together to destroy the perpetual menace of militarism, so that the people of all nations may be tree to ivork out their destinies unmolested by those military autocratic powers which are now fighting for their lives—not for the lives or welfare of their people, millions of whom are being sacrificed to secure the safety of the despots by whom they are ruled. The Allies are struggling for a beneficial principle, while the enemy is avowedly lighting for power—world-wide power that will pander to his unfathomable ambitions. The one great concern with us in this supreme crisis is that our brave lads are wounded, maimed, and suffering death for us ill order thai the world may l)e a better and more peaceful place than it could possibly be unless the cause of right prevails. Their spirit Is unquenchable and fills us with well justified confidence in the issue of their efforts are 'backed tip by a sufficiency of men to fill the gaps and make the struggle more equal numerically. They do not doubt that the effort on which they are putting forth such magnificent, heroic stubbornness is worth while. Wo have only to .bear 1 in mind what they have done and are doing in order to be sure what they will continue to do. It is idle to speculate as to why the Allies do not deliver a crushing blow on the enemy, Or why they submit to being pushed back again and again. We must have a full measure of confidence j in those who are on the spot and can best judge what should and what should j not be done. We have to take our reverses as well as our victories. It is not on these that our attention need centre. The great point is that our line is still held and likely to be heldThe time for an offensive by the Allies will come. Our great consolation in this crisis is that we are not enduring suffering and loss for some wild dream of aggrandisement, but to make the world safe and free, and, in the words of Mr. Balfour "it is worth the effort." The pre,sent peril is real, and the Empire lias been aroused to still further effort, for there is no question that the struggle will have to bo fought out to the bitter end. Our faith in the ability of the Allied forces to emerge from the crisis triumphantly must wajc, not wane. To understand fully whether this heroic struggle is worth while we must look ahead to the time when victory is achieved. The fruits of that victory will not be the oppression of and tyranny over the conquered nations, but will be manifest in the inauguration of a new era of peace and freedom in which the people of the countries of our present enemies will participate, while government by the nalied sword will cease. The battle of civilisation must go on until it is won; there must be 110 turning back, no stopping to count the cost. The same spirit of righteousness and justice that brought- Britain into the war is still at work, only enhanced by tlie lessons produced during the progress of the struggle. Let any recall the long list of brutal atrocities perpetrated by Germany and ask himself whether the present struggle is wortli while. Surely the answer will lie prompt and decisive: "Aye, a thousand times worth while."