HOLD FAST!

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1918, Page 5

HOLD FAST!

VICTORY NEVER MORE CERTAIN", j BRITISH PREMTER'S^MESSAGE. Wellington, Last Night. The Governor-General has been requested to convey to the people of New the Prime Minister of the United King--dom:— The message which I send to the people of the British Empire on the fourth anniversary of their entry into the war is to hold fast. Wo are in this war for no selfish ends. We are in it to recover freedom for the nations which have been frutally attacked and despoiled, and to prove that no people, however powerful, can surrender itself. to the lawless ambitions of militarism without meeting retribution, swiff, certain, and disastrous, at the hands of the free nations of the world. To stop short of victory for this cause would be to compromise the future of mankind. I say "Hold fast," because our prospects of victory have never been so bright as they are to-day. Six months ago the rulers of Germany deliberately rejected the just and reasonable settlement proposed by the Allies. Throwing aside the last mask of moderation, they partitioned Russia, enslaved Roumania, and attempted to seize supreme power by overthrowing the Allies in a final and desperate attack. Thanks to tho invincible bravery of our Allied armies, it is now evident to all that the dream of universal conquest, for the sake of which they wantonly prolonged the war, can never be fulfilled; but the battle is not yet won.. Tho great autocracy of Prussia will still endeavor, by violence or guile, to avoid defeat, and so give militarism a new lease of life. We cannot seek to escape the horrors of war of ourselves by laying them up for our children. Having set our hands to the task, we must see it through till., a just and lasting settlement is achieved. In no other way can we assure a world set free from war. Holdi.! fast! ! (Signed)' D. LLOYD GEORGE. ; j PENSION ANOMALIES. i London, August 3. Mr, Hodge, discussing the credit vote, protested against the inadequacy of pensions, especially for widows with children. The whole sahemo was full of anomalies. He also condemned the proposed voluntary fund appeal for three million sterling for disabled men as a j disgrace to the Government. Other speakers supported the protest, urging that disabled fighters and their dependents should not have to depend I on charity. Mr. Foster, replying, said the Government had. sympathetically considered pennons and believed the scale was fair and equitable, remembering the earnings of soldiers in civil life. The majority of ihe women were sufficiently stronand willing to do work. The pension committees were empowered to deal witlh exceptional cases, therefore there was no reason for a general increase for those who did not really need it:— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE-NATOBALISATION--BILL. London, August 3. Tho House of Lords debated the DettaturaKsaition Bill and added several amendments making it more drastic, -but refused to remove naturalised aliens;; from the Privy Council. Lord Curzon said that tne case of j Sir Edgar Speyer was under examina-/ tion. He eulogised his services- The' 'Marquis of Milfordbaven (Admiral-, j Prince Louis of Batfcteiftmrg). and Sir; "Ernest Cassel were the only other members of the Priw Council of ■ alien origin, j —Atfi-NZ Cable Assn. I TRAITOR'S DEATH SENTENCE j COMMUTED. j London, August 4. A court-martial sentenced Dowling, I who recently landed on the Irish coast from a German submarine, to death, hut tho sentenco was commuted to penal servitude for life. The sentence was. read to (Dowiing on the parade ground' p>f- the Tower ofiLondon.iinithe presence *^-'.tiaopi/"