WAR ANNIVERSARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3145, 25 July 1917, Page 6

WAR ANNIVERSARY

THE THIRD CELEBRATION

"TO A VICTORIOUS END"

The Prime Minister has >ddressed tho following letter to mayors and heads of other governing local bodies:— Sir,—On behalf of the Government of this Dominion, I have the honour to request that on Saturday, August 4 next, the third anniversary of the declaration of war with Germany, you will call a meeting of citizens, and submit to that meet ing the attached resolution of tit termination. to continue the war to a victorious end. The same resolution will be submitted to public meetngs thioughout t'he rest of the Empire. When, last year, the people cf this Dominion gathered to celebrate the second anniversary, our feelings Mere divided between our belief that the war was then approaching its crisis, our sober lealisatiou of what that meant, our topes that the struggle would terminate long before tho end of this third year, and our profound satisfaction that our sons had proved their right, and Had been given the opportunity of biking their place with the Allies on the Western front. This year we'shall meet (our hopes of peace not yet realised) with the .knowledge that sacrifices havo yet to bo faced, and our hearts filled with lonourablo pride at- the thought of how nobly our sons, by their endurance and laionr, on the Somme, at Messines, in Egypt, tnd in Palestine, have sustained '.he glory of Anzac. With the memory of what thiy havo done and our deepened knowledge of what wo are fighting for, and hat German victory would mean, the carrying of the resolution is this year nore than evor our sacred duty. Largely by tho manner in which we celebrate this third anniversary will be judged by cur determination to maintain those ideals of liborty and justice, which, as (lie resolution truly states, are the common and sacred cause of the Allies. I shall be glad if, oil August 6. you will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held, ind of tho resolution having been carried. I have the honour to be, Sir, •Your Obedient Servant, (Sgd.) W. F. MASSEY, Prime Minister. Following is the resolution to le submitted to tho public meetings throughout tho Dominion:— 'That, on this the third anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens . of records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of tlioso ideals of Liberty and Justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.