The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1918. "THIS MUST BE THE LAST WAR."

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1918. "THIS MUST BE THE LAST WAR."

This morning's cables contain two of the most remarkable pronouncements on the war situation that have yet been made by the mouthpiece oil the two chief belligerents. It is only necessary to contrast the speeches of the British Premier and the Kaiser in order to ascertain the true position of affairs, and to note how Mr. Lloyd George's utterances explain

the reason for the Kaiser's nielo dramatic appeal to the German workers. There is no need to dwell on the latter, the text of which is so repulsive, and so utterly false that comment thereon would he superfluous. When, however, the contents of the British Premier's speech at Manchester are studied, there will be experienced a feeling of pride and satisfaction at the clear and emphatic review, as well as at the firm determination to ensure that this will be the last war. No sacrifice is too great for such an achievement. It is a war against war, and therefore cannot be concluded until the power of military despotism is finally and completely crushed, as a prelude to a lasting peace. Not only is the fate of the British Empire involved in the issue, but the destiny of humanity. "We have not," said Mr. Lloyd George, "reached the end of the journey. Steep gradients are ahead, and the tunnel through which we are passing may be dark, but it will be short. The worst is over." Welcome words these, that' should evoke a profound feeling of relief, accentuated by the fact that casualties in ithe present advance have only been one-fifth of those in the advance over the same ground in 1916. For this we have to credit that wise, though belated, innovation—unity of command. There] is no misunderstanding possible] as to the ultimate issue. "Nothing but heart failure on the part of the nation can prevent us achieving victory," and heart failure is foreign to Britain and her allies. It is well that Germany should know the Allies' real intentions. Not only must the Prussian military power be beaten, but the people of Germany must be made to realise that their rulers have outraged the laws of humanity, and that Prussian strength cannot protect them from punishment." We have been waiting for a decided avowal of punishment for crimes committed, and we venture to believe that a feeling of intense satisfaction will be aroused over the British Premier's statement in relation thereto, as well as over the further dictum that the only sure foundation, for peace is a victory for the Allies. This peace must be such as will facilitate the building up of a new world, for, as Mr. Lloyd George insists, "there must he a bold reconstruction policy after the war, but the war must he won first." Another very important statement was made by Mr. Lloyd George that may bo viewed with absolute approval. "There can be," he said, "no eom- , promise between 1 freedom and ty- ] ranny. We will fight to the end." This is a complete answer to all suggestions of peace by negotiation. No compromise! We will fight to the end! That is the only Avay to meet Germany's peace offensive. That fightiDg to the end is what the Germans fear, and well they may, for already there are, hesided great French and British armies, between one and two million American soldiers of a splendid type on the western front, and they are merely the advance guard of an available force of ten million; hence the Kaiserian hysterical and profane blatancy. It was only to be expected that Mr. Lloyd George would refer to the league of nations, about which so much has been said and written of late. He brought this question into .the right focus, by showing that a league of nations, with Prussian military power triumphant, would be a league of the fox and the geese—one fox for many geese. Ko, moxg apt simile' cogldi liajye

been chosen, especially the reference to the dwindling geese. There can be no useful talk as to a league of nations until after the war is won, when that and other cognate subjects will rightly come under review. The Empire—and the Allies—should heartily welcome the latest pronouncement of the British Premier on the war situation, and take heart of grace that, the worst being over, they may patiently look forward to the day when war shall be no more, meanwhile concentrating their energies in helping to the utmost to first win the war.