The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1918. OUR OBLIGATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1918. OUR OBLIGATIONS.

The message which Mr. Lloyd George sent forth to all parts of the British Empire on the anniversary of the war was in every way worthy of its author and of the event with which it dealt. In simple, direct and forceful terms it emphasised the necessity to ft:

world set free from war. Once I more the jieople of the Empire are | reminded that their obligations ! and duties arc real and pressing ! by reason of that unity of people and destiny which has welded the Empire into one great, living body, no part of which can be separated from the other without weakening the whole fabric. The benefits and privileges of Imperial unity are thoroughly well recognised, but the duties and obligations are frequently very shadowy in the minds of the people. When Mr. Lloyd George says "hold fast," lie evidently places a very wide meaning on the words, which may be amplified as an exhortation to hold fast to everything that will help to defeat militarism and despotism. Not only must we hold fast as an empire, but in our faith that the Allies must eventually triumph. We must also hold fast in our determination to do all in our power to help forward the cause, and to keep our reinforcements up to the proper number and efficiency in spite of the everincreasing sacrifices entailed. There never has been such a vast .and vital issue at stake as in the present great world struggle, and it is the duty of the citizens in every part of the Empire to shoulder the burden equitably and so carry out the obligations entailed by the real unity which has bound the Empire together for weal or for woe. Again, Mr. Lloyd George reminds us of the reason that has drawn the Empire into the war. V» e are, he said, in this war to recover freedom for the nations which have been brutally attacked and despoiled, and to prove that no people, however powerful, can surrender themseves to the lawless ambition of militarism without meeting retribution—swift, certain and disastrous—at the hands of the free nations of the world. The vast Empire of Britain was founded and built up on treedom, and so was the United btates. That is one reason whv we should hold fast—in defence of treedom, and the blood of our sons shed willingly in this glorious cause cries out to us with impelling force to carry out our obligations now—fully and promptly—so that their supreme sacrifice" may not have been in vain, but may have paved the way to the dominance ol right over might. Above all, we must, see to it that nothing will prompt us to take the cowards part by leaving for our children the duty of facing another and even more terrible struggle than that which is now desolating the nations. "The battle is not yet won, _ said Mr. Lloyd George, but he pointed out that our prospects of victory have never been so bright as they are to-day. Thrice welcome as is the aid that is being and will be, rendered by America until the end is readied, yet we ■are called upon all the more to redouble our efforts in every direction, so as to hasten as much as possible the termination of the conflict. Although Germany now recognises that her dream of uniconquest has no chance 'ot being realised, she is still a powerful and resourceful—though ruthless and brutal—foe. The military caste is fighting for existence that it may again assail the world, and that is why we must m-!i i e » War throu g h t0 the bitter end till a just and lasting settleE ISa , C \ ie y ed - The prospect of th™ ? T reaclied earlier] than appeared probable a few weeks ago should be an inspira-j ration to our armies and the people of the Allied nations to still greater efforts, so that with the everai ? ° f the United States! £ed effnT V V ° rth ' y of the com--sthe? : r lisatio » to deJeat the Ws of ruthless despotof lie e :™ ust be 110 uew tease of poss ?V. e ' t0 these disturbersot the world's peace. Above all e be no shirking of our obligations, and no heed given to who u-ef P !'f !e ° fthe P acifist V aie u nable to grasp even the CthiCS ° f the Allies ' ,pai tin tins war. Only one ending is possible, and there must be no swerving, even by a hair's breadth om acco inplishment. The I exhortation to 'hold fast'-' comes i with irresistible force at the present moment, and its full meaning wit! !7'' as P ed and a °ted upon with a determination and courage worthy of the British race