GO ON TILL WE SMASH GERMANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4758, 4 January 1918, Page 6

GO ON TILL WE SMASH GERMANY.

SIR E CARSON ON “STICKING IT.” BRITAIN’S GREAT WAR AIM. “We have entered on a phase of the war which no one can look at without grave anxiety,” said Sir Edward Carson in a speech at Portsmouth. “The question we have to consider is: Are we going to prove superior in ‘sticking’ power to the Germans?” He continued: — War on the scale now waged for four years has tried 1 the whole grit and the determination of every citizen of the Empire, and it becomes a question, with the stress and strain of the time, of who is going to stick it out.

With all the talk of peace in the Reichstag, and all the glowing notes of peace from German emissaries everywhere, we have never up to this date had any offer of peace whatsoever. It would be a crime for any Government to allow this devastating war to continue for the moment longer than that at which we can conclude a real and enduring peace in the interests of our country and our people. Having said so much, let me lay down this —I wish the Germans to know it. I say deliberately, advisedly and emphatically that we cannot and will not make any peace without the concurrence of our Dominions.

Secondly, I say emphatically that we will enter into no negotiations for peace behind the hacks of our Allies. We will carry out our treaties with them-to the letter. We have pooled nob merely our material and our men, but our honour.

Thirdly, we will make no peace which will leave behind the certainty of future war and the ever-present prospect of the world being- again threatened. Look af. the German atrocities on the high seas! Are such people to he let back into the comity of nations? So long as Prussianism is preserved there may he a paper peace, hut there can he no real peace. I say most solemnly that, in my opinion, unless this war lays the foundation for the end of all war, all our sacrifices will have been made in vain. Do not imagine that I am pessimistic regarding the result. On the contrary I caff see the dawn of the rising sun of success. The whole civilised world is fast closing round Germany. I say the whole world because I do not i believe she has a friend. Do you think Austria wants to go on? I know that she does not, and I am not talking lightly. Do you think Turkey wants to go on? I know that she does not. Both Austria and Turkey have unfortunately become the mere vassals of Germany. Let us not grow weary. I look forward to certain victory.