LORD EOBERTS'S MESSAGE TO THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2309, 17 November 1914, Page 4

LORD EOBERTS'S MESSAGE TO THE EMPIRE

"There is but ono duty for the British citizen at the present time— men and women, young and old, rich and poor, all alike must place everything at the service of the State. Nothing must bo kept back' —time, energy, money, talents, even life itself, must be freely offered in this supremo crisis." With these noble words the late Eaul Eobeets opens his article in the October number of the Hibbert Journal on "Tho Supremo Duty/of the Oitizen at) the Present Crisis." This clear and convincing article is one of .the last written messages to the Empire from one who was a great soldier and a public-spirited citizen, and whose attractivo personality and blameless character won for him the confidence and esteem of Britishers in every part of the world. Loed Roberts was not the man to tell others to go where he was not prepared to lead, and in calling upon his countrymen to place all they have at the service of the State, even life itself, he only asked them to do what he himself was doing. Though eighty-two years old he did not spare himself, and his great career came to an end in a foreign land while he was attending to his country's business. He had no doubt about the justice of Britain's cause in the present struggle. The German Chancellor's- strong bid for British neutrality failed because Britain elected to remain true to her word; she had "sworn unto her neighbour, and she would not disappoint him. , ' "We cannot be too proud," wrrtes Lobd Eobeets, \"of the spirit which prompted -the Cabinet to fling back, without counting the cost of reprisal, the cynically brutal suggestion of the German Imperial Chancellor that we should stand idly, by while a small nation was crushed and 'France violently attacked without just cause." Ho states the case with that simple directness of a soldier which is quite refreshing, and the conspicuous absence of anything in the nature of sophistry or literary ornamentation makes the article all the more effective.

Loed Eobeets quotes the prediction of General von Beenhaedi that tho war is hot going to be a humane war—the Germans have left no room for doubt on that point— and that it will mean political annihilation to one or other side; and he sees clearly that the struggle commenced in support of high ideals of honourable obligation has resolved itself into a struggle for selfpreservation. "For. let there be no mistake on this head: if Germany wins in this war, itr- means the downfall of tho British Empire." Ho was no pessimist, but neither was he one of those shallow optimists who, by shutting their eyes to unpleasant facts, endeavour to persuade themselves that everything is as it should be. He was a strong Imperialist and was not afflicted wifli any craven fear of national greatness. He scorned the German taunt that Britain is ','like Atlas grown weary of his load." In his ar-. tide he'declares that the accusation that we Britons are not fitted to continue our Imperial work is without foundation.

Nowhere in the world (he writes) are there more pushing;, more thriving, more virile communities ithan the self-govern-ing Dominions of Overseas Britain; nowhere in the world is.there greater freedom of speech and thought, more democratic government, than, in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. .

Our enemies thought that the loyalty of the Overseas Dominions would not stand the strain of'the sacrifices which war would involve, but by this time they know better. As Lord Roberts was writing, the British Government was receiving, from every corner of the earth where the Union Jack waves, "promises of support, demonstrations of loyalty, gifts of horses, food, and other supplies, and best of ell,, of stout 6ons and retainers of Britannia, armed and ready to help in the great fight." The whole Empire is united in the determination "to carry on the great task committed to us by Providence." Loed Roberts did not believe that this war was going to be the end of war, as some people seem to think, but he'felt that

ft may yet prove a blessing instead of a i curse if through it our people learn that the State is not something from which we are all to get as much as we can grab by the unscrupulous use of our 'votes, but represents rather ideals for which we are ready, if needs be, to sacrifice our very lives/

Giving rather than getting is the mark of true patriotism, and throughout his whole career Lord, Roberts was a living example of his own icteal of citizenship. Hβ was one of those who placed everything at the service bf the State, and kept nothing back. :