IMPASSIONED APPEAL TO BRITONS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6488, 15 September 1915, Page 3

IMPASSIONED APPEAL TO BRITONS.

; "Through Terror to Triumph." London, Sept 13. In a pref-uw to a volume of his war lectures entitled "Through Terror to Triumph," Mr Lloyd George issues a momentous national wessige. He s%ys: —After twelve months the exuviation is stronger limn pver that Britain could not have kept out of the war without imperilling her security and impairing her honour We could not hay*» lnoivft/1 cm cynically wi h

«rms folded \vhik< ?h^ country we hid pledged ourselvps to ;ro*p« t whs ravaged and trotid-n by .no tf the co-trusteas. It British women and «:hildrtn had been brutally destroyed on the high seas by German submarines Britain would have insis erf on cal In; the infanticide empire to a stern reckoning.

Eve-its demonstrated th if a military sy«r<utt f-o regardless- <if goo.l fait'::, lintiountb'e obligations and the oletuentrtvy iaipulsss of hurnanijy, constituted the must sinister meiiaco to oivilisatiou, and despite the terrible cost of suppressing it. the well being < f humanity demands that it should be dmlienood and destroyed. The f<t<;l that events had shown that tbe might of this military clique exceeded the Govn-nment prognostications provides a« additional argument for itvs destruction, lv its greater might and darker mer.ace the untoward iucideuts of the war have-not weakened my faith in ultimatee victory, but it is essential that the Allies should put their whole strength before it is too late. Anything loss must lead to defeat. The Allies have au overwhelming preponderance of war material-—wen, money, metals and machinery—but these must be mobilised and utilised. It would be idle to pretend'that in the first twelve months the task had been accomplished satisfactorily. Had the Allies realised the full strength of their redoubtable and resourceful foes, or realised our strength and resources, and promply organised them, we to day should have witnessed the triumphant spectacle of guns pouring out a stream of shot and shell anddeluging the German trenches with fire, and scorching the German legions across their own frontiers.

The central powers had still an overwhelming superiority of nil material aud equipment. Germany's iron heel had now sunk deeper than ever into French and Belgian soil, Poland was entirely German, and Lithuania was rapidly following. Russian fortresses deemed impregnable were falling like sand castles before the resistless tide of the Teutonic invasion. When would that tide be stemmed ? As soon as the Allies supplied an abundance of war material. That's why I am recalling these unpleasant facts, because I wish to stir my countrymen to put forth their strength and amend the situation To dwell on such even's is the most disagreeable task, to fall to the lot of a public man, but a public man who either shirks these facts or does not do his best to force others to face them until they are redressed, is guilty of high treason to the State.

It has been a' great awakening to the Allied countries, and prodigious efforts were being made to equip the armies in the field. Nothing but our best and utmost can pull us through. Does every man who can help, whether fighting or providing material, understand clearly the ruin-that awaits reniissness ? How mauy people apprehend the full significance of the Russian retreat? For ov.er a year Russia, despite the deficiencies of her equipment, absorbed the energies of half the Germans and four-fifths the Austrians. Is it realised that Russia has for the time being made her contribution — and what an heroic contribution it is—to the struggle for European freedom, and that we cannot for many months expect the same active help from the Russian armies ? Who is to take the place of the Russians whilst those armies arc re-equipping 'i France cannot be expected to sustain much heavier burdens than those she now bears with the quiet courage thau lias astonished and moved the world, and Italy is putting her full strength into the fight. There is only Britain left. Is Britain prepared to fill the gap that will be created when the Russians have retired to re-arm ? la she fully prepared to cope with all possibilities for the next few mouths in the West, without forgetting the East ? Upon the answei which the Government, employers, workmen, financiers, young men who can bear arms, women who can work in factories—in fact upon the whole people —give this questiou, will depend the liberties of Europe for generations. If we are not allowed to equip our factories and workshops with adequate labour to supply the armies because we must not transgress regulations applicable Jo normal conditions, if the nation hesitates when she sees it clear to take the necessary steps to call forth her maohood to defend her houour and existence, if vital decisions are postponed until too late, if we give ground for the accusation that we are slouching into di3aster as if we were walking alone the ordinary paihs of peace without an enemy in sight, then I cau see not a hope, but if we sacrifice all our own, if our preparations are characterised by grit and resolution and prompt readiness in every sphere, then victory is assured.