REALISM AND IDEALISM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 94, 20 April 1940, Page 5 (Supplement)

REALISM AND IDEALISM

i Ex-servicemen's Corner

WHAT are we fighting for? What is the use of war? It never settles anything?" How often do we hear this; not from those opposed to war as the agents of foreign doctrine or those suffering from "cold feet" alone, but from intelligent, loyal men and women.

(By "TROOPER") Out of the wreckage of the last war came not peace but only a dream of peace that brave men and women tried hard to make substantial. The outbreak of this fresh conflict lias crushed temporarily, I hope and believe—all tbeir hopes, all they were striving for, making a further spectacle of wreckage e\en more terrible than before apjiear the only and inevitable outcome. But peace means more than an absence of war, and that is why, T think, so many people ask these questions. Torn between their consciousness of the realism of war, and an idealism of what war should accomplish to establish something more than a dream of peace, their very souls cry in despair. Tn a little Penguin book, "Why Britain is at War," recently published, I found much that I think would help and encourage these people, as it has encouraged me. Tt is written by Mr. Harold Nicholson, National Labour M.P. in the British House of Commons, who, from his life and experience, is qualified to express the arresting views he has, and put forward a tentative plan. "What is the use of war, it never settles anything?" Mr. Nicholson describes this phrase as thoughtless.

CARRYING ON Ex-Imperials Active Though quite a number of their members are again on service, including the former secretary, Mr. (now Band StairSergeant) S. M. Tliomson, the Imperial Ex-Servicemen's Social Club of Palmer-

ston North has embarked on the winter series of activities with unfailing enthusiasm and optimism. Mr. R. D. Armstrong, 30, Dahlia Street, Palmerston North, is the social committee secretary and a popular and able organiser, and patrons of the club can feel sure of a further run of successes and enjoyable functions. The club held its first social of the series last Thursday and scored an unqualified success, and the third Thursday in every month will find the ex-Imperials and their steadily widening circle of members and friends at the Orange Hall, Lombard Street, out for a night's dancing and pleasant sociability. A dainty supper thrown, in for the modest eighteen pence would be hard" to beat. ♦ + ♦ ♦ FOURTH IN THE FAMILY Young Digger Son in Egypt

The records of families In New Zealand in the service of the Empire has many glowing examples of traditional British patriotism, and a creditable instance is that of Private C. J. McCarthy, of the 19th (Auckland) Battalion now at El Maadi, Egypt, three of whose brothers -were Diggers of the 1914-18 vintage. In letters to his mother and sister Digger Jr., gives interesting details of the voyage to the present destination of the K.Z.EJ 1 . and of incidents en route, also of the life in camp on the desert. He reckons he is -probably in the camp "that Jack and Justin were at in the last war." Private McCarthy makes enthusiastic reference to the somewhat embarrassing hospitality of the Australians at the port of call, and how the people ran out to meet them and press comforts and delicacies <>u them. It was that way last war too as old Diggers well remember. The wonders of Cairo have enthralled the men of the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. as they did their elder brothers and in some cases

"All great civilisations have, in the end, perished owing to defeat in war. It was the victory of their opponents which put an end to the Babylonian, the Persian, the Carthaginian, the Roman, the Byzantine and the Napoleonic Empires. Were Hitler to win this war he would "settle" the British Empire once and for all. . . .

"It is not war which settles nothing; war may settle things for ever; it is a bad peace which settles nothing. . . . We must learn from past experience. . . ."

"Much nonsense," he writes, "has been talked, both here and in Germany, about the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans pretend that we tricked them at the time of the armistice into accepting a dictated peace. There are many people who . . . attribute all our subsequent misfortunes to the malignity and folly of the Versailles negotiators. This is not correct.

"It is inaccurate as to the past, and unimaginative as to the future. For if we fall into the habit of thinking that the negotiators of Versailles were guilty of ignorant viciousness. then we shall also fall into the habit of believing 'that all will be right next time.' We shall next time be kinder and wiser. It will not be as easy as all that; it will be a tremendous task to remould a world after it lias been shattered to bits."

There arc people who will say: Why didn't they improve the Treaty of Versailles when there was the opportunity? This would have prevented war. Frankly, would it? Can anyone believe that the treacherous, untruthful, cynical gangsters that are Hitler and his associates would have been content no matter what improvements had been made in this Treaty of Versailles? Let

their fathers. "The lower quarters of the city are out of bounds to the troops," writes Private McCarthy, and this will be a significant remark to many old soldiers who have been in Cairo before! The Pyramids can be seen from the camp and oceasiinally white sails of boats scudding before Hie breeze on the Nile — a cameo from the ]>ast to many New Zealanders that brings vivid memories. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ AUCKLAND R.S.A. Annual Meeting Next Week Xext Friday night, (April 26), in the Lewis Eady Hall, Queen St., is the date and venue of the annual meeting of the Auckland R.S.A. and a large attendance is hoped 'for. The association reports a year of steady progress and a further chapter of commendable effort on behalf of returned men. The executive looks to members to approve or otherwise of the policy that has been followed during its term of office, and the annual meeting is the proper time and place for 6aying '"aye" or "no," while it is also some encouragement to those in charge to have evidence that their efforts to safeguard the welfare of returned men are regarded as a matter of interest to members. Show your interest by your attendance.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ "TIN HAT MINSTRELS? "Digger" Entertainers The Grey Lynn Returned Soldiers' Social Club lias organised among its members a minstrel troupe known as the "Tin Hat Minstrels," the object being to assist the club both financially and socially. The first performance was a huge success, so much so that the troupe is being constantly asked to appear again. It is the intention to accept offers to take the entertainers outside the club bounds. A good two-hour programme of high merit is given, and the " Minstrels'" officials say that If any club is thinking of putting on a show and want something that is a complete change, they will be Killing to help. Information may be had from Mr. R. Everitt, 99, FrankliD Road, Ponsonby, W.l. . <»

us face facts: They would not! "World conquest or downfall;" that is Hitler'fc clearly expressed aim, and only requires a moderate intellect to realise. "There are many people in England" —and in New Zealand, too—"who believe that war in itself is such an evil thing that it would be better to surrender without resisting." Surely we cannot surrender all that lia«s been created over the centuries, our way of life, our Christian beliefs, our ideals and affections, round which our whole existence centres, to a pagan Germany to brutally destroy? "No," says Mr. Nicholson, "we entered this war to defend ourselves. We shall continue to do so, to its most bitter end, in order to save humanity. . . . We are fighting for our very existence. . . . "British people will realise . . . and come to understand that unless wc shoulder this rel< burden the whole of Europe will fall under Nazi domination. . . . They will then know that this disaster is our opportunity."

"Our opportunity"—to build a hotter world; to give again the opjHirtunitv to hrave men and womon to take up the task of creating a substantial peace. It is no ea.=y task. "The realism is this: 'The British Empire is in danger of extinction.' The idealism is this: 'If we can avoid being defeated we shall save the world.' . . even when our deep instinct for self-preservation is violently aroused, the British people will demand something more. ... It is no use trying to respond to this inarticulate feeling by drawing imaginary pictures of a 'land fit for heroes to live in,' or by painting vague landscapes in the shape of things to come. . . .They are tired of phrases and uplift: they want facts. "What are the fact*?" We must f\ght this war to its bitter end. It is no

COMING EVENTS Mount Albert R.S. Club Smoke concert to-night (April 20), at 8 o'cl.ock in ttie King Georgo Hall, Mount Albert. All Diggers welcome. Avondale R.S. Clab Social and dance in the Town Hall,

Avondale, on Wednesday, April 24. First class programme arranged by Mrs. Haywood. Supper provided by the ladies' auxiliary. Auckland Artillery The annual "get together" of the Artillerymen's Association of Auckland, which includes any man who served the guns in the last war, Dominion or Imperial, will be held in the Lewis Eady Hall. Queen Street, on Saturday next, April 27, at 7.30 p.m. Troopship Opawa A reunion of all men who sailed on the troopship Opawa in January. 1917. will be held in the Tiffin dining rooms. corner of Queen and Victoria Streets. Auckland, on Wednesday. April 24, at 6.30 p.m. It is hoped to follow up the reunion by all attending the Anzac dawn parade.—W. Sanderson, Brown's Road, Manurewa, hon. secretary.

struggle." It ie a national struggle. It is no "holy crusade," but our bounden duty as wardens of a great heritage. "The British Government," cays Mr. Nicholson, "may be rijjht in refusing to formulate detailed peace terms at a time when the duration and nature of the war is uncertain. But if they cannot say what they do mean to do, they can certainly say what they do not mean to do." With some such declaration, I believe, would follow more determination, more widespread support of the nature required to achieve our fullest, and necessary, effort to win. Uealism must be wedded to inherent idealism. That Britain should lead the way we realise, but in our own country there is somethin; that needs saying, a something which concerns every yonnp man, every young woman, every young and old soldier, their parents and friends. <S> <g>