DURATION OF THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 16782, 10 July 1918, Page 2

DURATION OF THE WAR

ALLIES MAKING CP LEEWAY,

Sjeaking at the annual Church Army in London on May 3. General Sir William Robevtsmi said the British forces at the front contained, and probably would centime to contain, a larger number of young men than before. Ho referred to the hoys under 19 years of age. of whom a large number Ind been pent to the front during recent weeks. It- hyl been his duty to inspect the regiments in which these boys had been training athome, and he had never once heard anything but the greatest praise for them. They were all splendid boys, and had earned, and deserved, the recognition and affection of all with whom they had come into contact. He- had already heard similar accounts of the behaviour of those boys on the western front. Account must be taken of the fact that the war might still last a long time, and their efforts must be directed accordingly. How long it would last he did not think any sane- man would dare to estimate. Much had been said, and was being said, in respect to the reasons why the war was not over now, hut no good purpose would be served by discussing that there or anywhere else. We must take the facts as we find them. When they were inclined to become impatient and critical they would do well to remember that at any rate one reason for the prolongation of the war was that this country was not ready for it at tha time, whereas the enemy had spent long years in deliberate preparation for it. Leeway was a very difficult thing to make up in war, as all history showed, and they were now paying the penalty of their past omission, as many other countries had had to do before, and many of those countries had been bankrupted and ruined in the attempt. This country had no intention whatever of becoming either bankrupt or ruined, and it was quite unnecessary to make highsounding appeals to be determined to see this thin? right through to the proper conclusion, because everyone worthy of account had made up his or her mind to see it right through.