IMPRESSIONS OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918, Page 5

IMPRESSIONS OF THE WAR.

SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. STAYING POWER OF SOLDIERS. Interviewed upon his arrival to-day, Sir Joseph Ward said he was very glad to be back in New Zealand. It was a charming sight to see the coast of the Dominion once again, especially so when it was remembered that they had had to cross the Atlantic twice and get through the. danger zone both on the American and British sides, and there was always the uncertainty concerning the prowling about under the water of enemy submarines. Asked regarding the_ feeling in England regarding the war, Sir Joseph said that from the time of his former visit a remarkable change was noticeable, especially among the people. Their spirit was splendid, and there was a complete absence of uncertainty and "wondering what was coming next." Much more information was given out to the public than was formerly the case. There could be no question "that the British people preferred to know the very worst, and the publicity now given was, in his opinion, one of the factors that had heartened the people and made them even more determined to let no temporary setback swerve them from the path which led to victory. Readers of the Press here, said Sir Joseph, were familiar with the setback that took place in March last. That undoubtedly,wns a time of great anxiety, not only to" those in authority, but to the ; whole nation, but he was glad to say that I there was no indication of any kind of yielding to a desire expressed by a section of the community who had for the last few years been widely proclaiming and disseminating as far as they could a doctrine of peace by negotiation. A MASTER MIND. As a matter of fact, the temporary reverse he was alluding to had the opposite effect on the public, and it was not long until, under the direction of that great soldier, Field-Marshal Foch (whom to meet and converse with had a most impressing effect), the tables were turned on the enemy when they made their great attempt "to reach Paris and the Channel ports. The Germans unquestionably believed that they had superior strength in men in the field, and at that juncture it was quite like'y that their view was correct, but they underestimated the strategic master mind that in sole control of all the allied armies, was making the best use of all the available forces, and prevented the Hun attaining his goal before the transport of large numbers of American troops had time to be efficiently trained and reach the battlefields on the Western front. To-day the whole world realised what a tremendous inroad had been made upon the disciplined forces of the enemy. The struggle had been gigantic and unexampled in every way, and the remarkable results that had been attained by the successful march of the troops; of Britain and her allies had happily »ad the effect of weakening whatever efforts the -pacificists had been insidiously making and long working for; and in this connection had succeeded in adding to their ranks some notable names, at least one of which was connected with the highest positions, both in England and abroad, that could be conferred by his fellow-citizens. FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC. "Tlie progress that has been made since early in July," continued the Minister, "makes the position regarding the future of the Pacific Islands more assured than ever that they will not pass back to the control of the enemy, and consequently the people in the southern seas will be free from the menace of great strategic posts being again in the possession of a country that has shown from the commencement of the war an unscrupulous and barbaric desire to dominate the world and place it under the ruthless heel of Prussian militarism. The only peace that can assure the future freedom of the world from the hateful system of tyranny dictated at the point of the sword and at the cannon's mouth is one that must be brought about by the complete smashing of the enemy on the battlefield and on the sea. Thus, and thus only, will the people of the civilised countries of the world be able to follow their callings without the everpresent fear that has existed for so many years that an enemy country could, at a moment's notice, swoop down with the object of subjecting it to a hateful dictatorship of a military caste in order to have world domination." LULL INEVITABLE. "It is unfortunate at the present time that the European winter is so near. What the effect would have been in another six months' time on the Western front given weather free from the rigours of winter is not very hard to guess in the light of present progress. My own opinion is that our troops would before then have forced the enemy to capitulate. Circumstances, however, are stronger than men. and a lull in the gigantic ; ..-per.-.tioiis for a time appears to be I inevitable. It is a siit-isfi'i-liou. however. | to know that il will enable that magnificent body of meu. thai Germany's 1 loud-mouthed predictions are crossing the ' Atlantic from America to be fully organ-

: is?d and trained, and thus make the force at the command of Britain and lior Allies so superior to that of the Central Powers that a prolonged stand in the hope of preventing defeat of Germany and her allies will be hopeless. This seems to mc to be the position today. The strength of our force is growing daily, while that of the enemy is weakening, not only in numbers, but in moral and discipline. ''The propaganda work now carried on by the British Government is splendid. ' It is enlightening the population of Ger- '< many and Austria and giving them a » true glimpse of the war situation, the truth having been consistently kept from 1 them. With the knowledge they are now receiving the elements of distrust and alarm in the Central Empires must develop as times goes on against their military rulers, and all this ib, of course, in our favour." Asked how the K.e\v Zealamlerg on the battle fronts wore, Sir Joseph said no finer body of men could be seen anywhere. He did not say this in a spirit of parochialism, because Britain, the United . states, and the whole of the oversea ' countries had heen sending of their brat, and in feats of bravery and staying power every one of these countries, including Xew Zealand, had a right to be. proud of their men. The physique and appearame of our men when seen in their thousands on the battle fronts made him feel proud of the country he represented. Asked concerning the political affairs of New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward said that lie had only just arrived, and consequently he would prefer to defer the discussion of local politics at present.