CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 55, 28 November 1917, Page 6

CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS

"THE AVILL TO WIN." (By "A Sportsman.") "Will to win," "Will to conquer," "War of whole nations" are phrases current throughout tho world. More and moro during ■ recent months the political and military chiefs of Great Britain have stressed tho vital importance of a "will to win" among civilians. Warnings have been given against any sagging into a mood of war-weariness—that last hope of the German General Staff. The people of Germany and Austria aro being urged to bear their sufferings and privations resolutely: they are buoyed up by assertions that a weariness will grow among tho civilians of tho British' Empire and France. Only a few days ago HindonbuTK, with characteristic arroganco, declared that Germany would wear better than Britain and France. Nobody doubts the fighting spirit of British soldiers; the advance on Cambrai proves memorably that they have the "will to win." There is no sagging, no wavering, no murmuring, no complaining among the

valiant men at the front. They will do their part with a. skill equal • to their courage; hut they need the tireIpss support of the civilians for whom they are fighting. If the civilians of the Entente nations continue to have tho "will te win," the military and naval forces will save the world from domination by barbarous Germany. Loyalty to the soldiers requires civilians to refrain from strikes, .which delay the war-winning. If civilians have the "will te win," they must have the will te help the winners during the winning. Every care must be taken te maintain tho fighting men at a maximum strength of body and spirit. In the trenches and in the onsets they must have the feeling that the mind and heart, the whole power of their people are with them. So far the civilians of New Zealand have responded well to calls on behalf of the soldiers at the front, but lately the promoters of various funds have observed a certain slackening amons the public. Some folk believe that there should be an end te voluntary giving, and that all aid for the soldiers should be by "conscription" (taxation). They forget that there is no limit, except death or disablement to'

the soldiers' giving. _ Spring and summer, autumn and winter there is only one working maxim for the soltlim's.

Tt is: "Carry on." In the simple, direct language of the soldiers, this persistence through all difficulties is known as "sticking it." Thev fiprlit on and on for the civilians. Will not the civilians give on and on for their defenders ?

Tn the confidence; that the civilians will have a proper, trrateful remei"hrance of the soldiers overseas, the /lß«wiatf>d Amateur Snorts Bodies ,»re making an appeal this week for the CVisHns Wl Fund.' which is to enable the Citizens' Rniricn Len<nin to continue sending pnropls of comfor'i tn the fichting mon of tho Wellington Military This kindneis helps immeasurably in the war-win- 1 ning.

A word much in vogue to-day is "morale." Who can estimate. the moral value of civilian gratitude as <":- orsssed in sifts of comforts? This kindness put l ! nower into the arms nf. tlm front. Tips is a. stimulus te t''" soldier. _ Self-interest alone shouM prompt civilians to send good cheer te snld : ers: but it 's that such an argument will vni, he■ necesssrv !n a British community. Tt should ho enoimh te remind civilians that thev should prove pleasantly te tho soldiers that thev have, the will to help their defenders to win.