A SOCIALIST SOLDIER

Evening Star, Issue 16626, 8 January 1918, Page 6

A SOCIALIST SOLDIER

WHY HE ENLISTED. Mr Victor Grayson, ex-M.P. for Colne Valley, and one of the stalwarts of tho British Socialist Democratic party, enlisted with tho New Zealand Forces, and was recently wounded at tho western front. In the course of a statement made over a year ago as to his reasons for enlisting, he said: It was the theory of the Social Democracy and of certain intellectual cranks that the Empire’s recognised surplus should be utilised solely in the interests of social reform or revolution. Those of us "ho had studied and closely observed the movements of Germany anti Prussia wore seriously _ alarmed concerning the future possibilities of a conflict between Germany and Britain. We agreed that ail available moneys should be used for the social and industrial betterment of the people; lint we realised that there was enough wealth in Britain to solve the problem of Poverty whilst retaining in Britain's hands the reins of Imperial power. The idea of Imperialism in no way negates any defined principle of Socialism, but, as Bernard Shaw aptly expressed it: “ Tho most formidable Obstacle to the attainment of Socialism wan the Socialists.” Shaw’s phrase has been more than confirmed by my 'experience in Australia and New Zealand. I came as an apostle of Socialism—a philosophy which always postulates an organised citizen army as Its basic support. Personally, 1 believe, aud have always believed, that a citizen army is tho best and most effective means of defence in legitimate aggression that, that the mind of man has conceived.

The pacifist (whether"ho calls himself a Socialist or a Quaker) is a greater menace than the guttural Hun in the trendies of Flanders. Some Socialists wear kneebrccchea, caps, and red ties, but that has nothing whatever to do with Socialism. I have joined tho Army, end hope to fight the Pnmso-Germans, because I bolibvo that my ideals stand tho best chance of realisation under a British regime. Probably few men have fought more defiantly against against the horrors of our own social system than tho present writer. But I am constrained to postpone tho class war until the great war’s termination. I have enlisted because I am sick of the cant of anti-militarism. I have accepted the khaki of the fighting democracy because the flamboyant red tie of tho mouthing stand-backs has made me weary of a traitor-stained cause.

The Labor party in New Zealand had tho chance bf their lifetime when the horrid word Conscription was mooted. They could and should have accepted the Conscription of men, on tho guarantee of the Imperial Parliament to conscript capital or wealth. They stupidly missed their sublime opportunity, and aro now bleating harmlessly, well behind tho fighting line, about matters which cannot and will not bo settled, or even touched, until this gigantic world war is terminated. The German Socialists are fighting, the French Socialists aro fighting, the Russian and Italian Socialists are fighting—and the doctrine of Socialism is untouched by the smoke and smother of war. I loathe the slimy pessimism of Schopenhauer ; I shiver at the brute philosophy of Nietzcho and Treitschke. . The German Emperor is frankly following in the foot-steps* of Alexander the Grea.t, Xerxes, and Napoleon. He, his fleet, his power, and his memory must be expunged from the records of modern civilisation. lam a Socialist, and will wear the uniform of the warrior with good logic and a bright spirit. I hate war and I hate killing. Yet if I account for one of the vassals of tho world’s mad dog I shall have “done my *~«ards the world's regeneration- ,