NO ARMISTICE FOR ENEMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16982, 16 October 1918, Page 8

NO ARMISTICE FOR ENEMY.

MUST be UTTERLY BEATEN. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. " I am glad to be able to say, speaking officially, that Germany will not be granted 'an armistice," said the Prime Minister to-day. "It would be a foolish thing to grant an armistice. We know we are fighting an enemy who cannot be trusted, and we have to go on I until the enemy is utterly beaten. I know what sacrifices going on means. I know what the continuance of ( the war moans to every"part of the Empire, but it would 'be criminal folly to stop at'the present stage. We must go on until Germany is smashed or submits herself to the Allies in unconditional surrender. When that is done the enemy can have peace, but I do not think it possible, after what has happened, for Germany to be,allowed to remain a strong European Power., "German military strength must be destroyed, the German fleet must be taken away, ..the German army must be demobilised, we must have reparation for the crimes the enemy has committed—far as Germany can. make reparation*and we must have guarantees for future good behaviour. When a roan commits murder in a civilised community he is punished in such a way that he cannot ' repeat the offence, Germany has been guilty of wholesale murder, she is a criminal among nations, and she should never have the opportunity of repeating the offences she has committed during the las* four years. These crimes cannot go unpunished. I hope that Germany will not. be allowed to nit among the civilised nations for the next hundred years. The hands of the Germans are dripping with blood. Here in New Zealand waters we had the sinking of the Wimmera/ a passenger ship engaged in no war duty. I do not believe that , the people of the Empire. ar« going to,forget these acts of barbarism. _ Germany njnst bo punished « the criminal she has' chosen, to be."