“A SCATHING ATTACK”

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 233, 28 June 1922, Page 6

“A SCATHING ATTACK”

Sir,—l learned from your columns yesterday morning that Mr. J. P. Firth bad at a certain meeting macle what was termed a “scathing attack” on mo for some alleged utterances on the subject of the courage of the soldier. My offence was apparently all the greater that I had kept my skin safe during the war. But so did Mr. Firth. The tu quoque rejoinder in this connection is, however, as absurd, as tho ; charge itself. 1 1 do not kndw Mr. ' Firth’s age, but it is not to be ques-, tioned that when the war broke out be, as well as I, had travelled a good many years beyond the point at which the most ardent militarist would have accepted us as fit for active service. I had occasion in a letter to your evening contemporary to set forth the context of the words upon which Mr. Firth lavished his quite needless indignation. I am not disposed to occupy . your space or my own time in going over the same ground.again. In any case, the words complained of were not mine, but Gibbon’s, in the 16th chapter of the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” Gibbon, has begn, despite his consummate ability, criticised at more points than one; but it ivould indeed be a new thing under, the sun to find him criticised as lacking in appreciation of military valour. As for myself, while it is exceedingly probable that Mr. Firth’s views on militarism differ from mine by the breadth of the universe, I do not imagine that even he holds in greater admiration the courage’ and daring of the soldier, whether he be New Zealander or Briton, or,, for the matter of that, even German. The courage of the soldier was a common thing, and all the more wonderful that it was so common. To those of us "who kept our skins safe” it will never cease to be a source of wonder that these New Zealand lads, who before 1914 never drgamed that they would have to endure the horrors of war, should, with few or no exceptions, face the frightful ordeal with so high and dauntless a heart. . , It may soothe Mr.. Firth s aggrieved spirit, and incline him. to pause when he is next characteristically inclined to open tho vials of his wrath on me or some other unfortunate, if I mention that in concluding the part of my address relating to courage I admitted that I never hear the skirl of the bagpipes without experiencing a temptation to break out in the Highlander 3 cry “Hooch! Out claymore and scabbard down the wind.” This mood, however, I take to be a symptom not of the man I ought to be, but of the old Adam still resident in my members I --I am, etc., JAMES GIBB.