Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1918. THE CLOUD LIFTING.

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1918, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1918 . THE CLOUD LIFTING.

After a terrific; simple of over lour years, it appears that the German bubble has at length burst, and that the world will soon enjoy that peace for which it so greatly yearns. In the early days of the struggle Germany declared that the fate of the war would be decided on the fields of North-Western .France. The Huns had the advantage of being thoroughly prepared for war and of operating on interior lines with unified forces fighting; under a single command. The Allies had none of these advantages. Britain, France and liussia individually struck the enemy some hard blows, but these had no lasting effect because there was no cooperation. Finally internal dissension and gross treachery compelled liussia to withdraw. The blow was a severe one and it was not greatly counter-balanced at ihe time by America's entry into the lists against the Central Powers. The United States had vast resources, but they were not organised for war. From a military point of view, the United States had an army that was practically negligible. Germany knew that America had splendid material, but she also knew that it took a long time to turn civilians into perfectly-trained soldi pis. The Huns therefore resolved to concentrate all their strength on the Western FronT. wipe out the British 'Army and then turn their attention to that of France. It was a great scheme, but it is .questionable whether

even then it would Lave brought victory to the Central Powers. Britain still held the supremacy oi the sea, and her mighty iieet, strengthened by that of America, France and Italy would have been able to prevent any danger threatening Britain or America. In the meantime the United States and Britain could have built up a mighty army that would have enabled the operations in Europe to be renewed. Germany could not wrest the supremacy of the sea from us. She made a couple of attempts, but the reception that she received did not encourage her to try again. It is a wonderful fact that after four years of warfare not a single portion of British soil has been invaded. On the other hand, Germany has lost all her overseas trade and all her colonial possessions. Moreover, our blockade of German ports has cut her off from intercourse with. the rest of the world and reduced her people to the verge of famine. In the year 1914 every Gentian believed that the world could continue to exist only under German domination. They believed that they had been given a Divine mission to spread German Kultur by means of the sword. It is not so now. Germany has learned wisdom in a hard school, but the lesson has been driven home. Taught by bitter experience, the Germans at length realise that others besides themselves are entitled to a place in the sun. Whatever psace terms the Germans Inay now offer, they must be made to understand that the Allies are not out to bargain, but to accomplish thoroughly the task for which they entered the war. There is no hope of compromise or even of negotiations until German militarism has been destroyed. Therefore no armistice can be granted while the U-boats are at liberty to carry out their nefarious Avork. There can be no talk of peace negotiations while the Germans occupy any portion of Belgium or France. The world has changed much since the Huns broke the spell of peace. It can never be the same again. It is questionable whether any of us would wish the old order restored. We had grown too fond of ease and pleasure. In these sterner days we are learning a great lesson. Now that Spartan simplicity has replaced luxury and hard work driven out idleness, we have learnt that true happiness comes not from abundance but from work fulfilled. The Empire of to-day that is fighting for her very existence against strong and implacable enemies, giving- freely of the flower of her manhood and calling her daughters from days of ease to days of work, of sacrifice and of suffering, is a greater and more noble Empire than ever before. War is terrible, but it has some redeeming* aspects. It brings in its wake of destruction broken "hearts, maimed bodies and wrecked souls. It turns lovely cities and smiling pastures into a mere desert. ■ But it does something more than this. It calls forth in people fighting for justice and liberty all the qualities that a nation should prize in its citizens. It tries souls, burning out the dross and leaving no room for selfishness. It makes men. In the great world struggle the people of the British Empire have proved true to the best traditions of the race from which they have sprung. From the peer in his palace to the worker in his humble cottage all have done their duty. All have endured the same hardships, and in bearing- suffering together they have learned to break down class distinctions and to recognise the truth of Burns's words : Rank is but the guinea stamp. The man's the gowd for a' that. The pick of our manhood has gone cheerfully to fight the nation's battles. All recognise clearly that it is better to die fighting and to pass from history than to live as the slaves of the most dreadful tyranny that the world has ever imagined. Happily our race is not going to become extinct, for the Germans' career of conquest has been brought to an end, a new era of peace and happiness is near at hand. i«"'»"—'IfCTWWMIIWIIIIIIIIIIIIHWIM