HON. T. M. WILFORD'S COMMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1918, Page 8

HON. T. M. WILFORD'S COMMENT

At 12 o'clock, by the Bank of New Zealand, the Him. T. M. Wilford spoke, after the singing of-the National Anthem to music by the Patriotic Society's Band.. ■■ ; .- '...,■ . ■ .. ' .

The Minister said that the message of the unconditional surrender of Bulgaria was the first great news of decisive victory, and the result. of /this splendid achievement could be partly appreciated at the moment. .First of all, there was the -fact, that the .whole,- reason for.the .whole war on the part-of Germany had gone. ■ When Germany, began, to wage war "it was not. with the idea of a conquest :of France or Belgium, but to gain a road to'the East, but the news : to-day meant that.this dream of expansion was doomed to vanish". The great MittelEuropa scheme of the Pan-Germans was at an end for, ever., , (Hear/ hear,;..and applause.) While the mass of the people' of Germany might be 'looking towards to-day's -fighting on the. Western front, the financiers, bankers'/ and: big men directing Germany's affairs knew ■ that the ground occupied on* the West front had;;to be: returned. .They ; had built their hopes of profit on the railway from Berlin to Bagdad. They had'dreams of a conquest of Egypt and Africa and Mesopotamia to"".-the Persian Gulf, -and' territory on to<"lndia. This scheme depended for its .accomplishment on r the holding of :the ■main* line of: communication from-. Berlin-.'-.to Constantinople, through the' northern part., of r Serbia, and Sofia. .But: now.this:'line would/be cut; and Turkey would,'be isolated'from Germany..- . ■ ;■,..■.-'■. vv-'-J-- •""•■..,.'■..-'■£ '■'• Mr. Wilford remarked, ithatfhe had .always held -that the weakest link in the Central Powers' .'! chain of defence was in the .Balkans, and.hew the crack had crime. . He had, no doubt that if Turkey had been as free..to■ act,as Bui/ ■garia, Turkey would.,have been in: first with a surrender;",but Turkey was absolutely dominated by.'Germany in things military, financial, and! industrial ; .Tur,k«y was practically only, a German colony. •■-■ " •• '• ■;". .'■■ ' ,■■■■•'■•. 'I '/■ ■ i The only need now for .a continuation of the victorious onset was a mainten-. ance of ,the<, civilian morale. The soldiers were'all .right; they .would' fight on and on; the only possible:danger was ■ in-war-weariness..of civilialis/but ho was sure that^ the people would-not weaken in this - time ■■ of. victory.. ■ No terms of peace should; be granted to Germany until there was an unconditional surrender. (Hear, hear, and applause.) 'At the Minister's call; the crowd again sang: the National Anthem joyous-, ly, and cheered the Allies. :. '.'..-