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Xcw Zoalanders who fought under Sir lan Hamilton at Gallipoli, and the majority of those who have studied the Dardanelles campaign most closely, are agreed that the English Government not only committed an act of injustice to that distinguished officer by not making further use of his services during the present war, but that tho omission to do so has been a distinct loss to tho Allies. Having failed in their duty in this respect, tho Government, somewhat tardily, have now made some recognition of tho debt •which the country owes to Sir Taw

•Hamilton by appointing liini to the historic oJfico of Lieutenant of the ! Tower of London, a post of honour which is reserved for distinguished soldiers. Sir lan Hamilton snccecds General Sir Horacc Smith-Dorricn, who was recently appointed Governor of Gibraltar. After tho sago criticisms of General Foch, to which wo referred yesterday, the German newspapers turned their attention to the relations between England and the oversea Dominions, with the amiable desire, no doubt, of causing friction between the two, or at least of sowing tho seeds of distrust. The "Cologne Gazette" remarks that "'Colonial Ministers and indeed colonials generally" are greedy children who are afraid that their mother will not allow them to keep their gains. There is "no doubt" that there are "far reaching differences of opinion" among the Mother Country and its daughter States. Apart from the rejection of conscription, Australia shows "other signs of war-weariness." New Zealand is "seriously lukewarm" because of doubt about tho future of Samoa. Both Australia and New Zealand are in great anxiety about their own future "because of the defeats of tho Mother Country this spring." This last sentence, which we need hardly say was written before the Germans were started on their present headlong retirement, is as deliciously funny as the ponderous setting-down of Marshal Foch as a very mediocre soldier with "no initiative." Most remarkable of all is the simplicity of these Teutonic scribes in imagining that the Dominions are in the least degree likely to bo influenced in their relations with tho Mother Land by the promptings and innuendoes of an enemy whose foul methods of fighting have earned for him the detestation of mankind, and whom we despise and condemn from the bottom of our hearts. That Germany intends to keep her colonies if she can is evident from the further rather indiscreet utterances of the "Cologne Gazette" : — In considering our most important peace demand—the demand for the restoration of our Colonies —we should always remember that what really matters is not the shrieking of the Colonial Ministers ? and still less the speeches of English Ministers, but the whole international position of the groat overseas possessions. For if only we are in a position, by the employment of any sort of political or military means, to exert a strong pressure upon the colonies themsolves, England must, against her own will, advocate restoration. And hero tho South African Union, -which in any case touches our interests most closely, would be our most appropriate object. A successful advance against Egypt ■would, indeed, be the best means of smashing up the whole structure of future unity und community of interests between Mother Country and daughter States. But even without such an advance against Egypt, England "at the conclusion of peace will have 6Tich a bad account to make up in all parts of tho world—wo need only mention Ireland, the Far East, and South America —that England's difficulties will then only be beginning, and, if we are tough and keep cool, we need have not the slightest anxiety about our African account. We fancy, however, that the task of being "tough" and keeping "cool" is not. -without difficulty in Germany at the present time, and that it,will become even more difficult as time goes on. The New Zealand publio will read with special interest the news that Sir Alexander Godley has been promoted Lieutenant-General. When he came to New Zealand as Commandant, Sir Alexander Godley's rank in the British Army was that of Lieutenant-Colonel, and it is from bhat rank to his new one that his real progress has been made during tho war. British commanders do not now receive advancement except for good services, and Sir Alexander Godley has an excellent record as a very capable soldier. j

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19180906.2.30

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 6

Word Count
722

Untitled Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 6

Untitled Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 6