Grey River Argus and Blackball News TUESDAY, MARCH 23rd, 1915.

Grey River Argus, 23 March 1915, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

TUESDAY, MARCH 23rd, 1915.

I Deliver' d «vory morning la (ireymoai Knmaira, Hokitika, Dobson, Wallsond, Taylo Title, Brunnorton, Stillwater. Ngahere, Blaokbal Nelson Creek, Abaura, Ikamatua, Wainti Eeofton, Cronodnn, Eunauga, Dunollie, Cobdei Eaxtai's, Kotiri, Patara, Kaimata, Aratifci Kotuku, Moana, Barn, Te Einga, Eotomani toeraa, I bonnie, Jaoksons and Otic*

_ j _ — — . The news that the Allies are al- , most ready for the grand sweep tliLt all confidently hope will end r at Berlin within a few months, r makes very- welcome reading. In spite of the activity of German 5 submarines in attacking defenceless merchant vessels, the British Admiralty seem to have experienced no difficulty in conveying i Britain's first army to the con--1 tinent. Many references have " been made to Germany's mammoth, new, 1000 ton submarine; which were to sweep the Britisl Navy form the seas. Mainly, it ■ is true, the references were the - usual bombastic sort of stuff tha flows so copiously from various German sources, and did' not real ly matter. When the French Naval Minister ridiculed the possibility of the existence of these crafi it was confidently believed thai he was speaking from reliable in- - formation that he had in his possession. The truth has now beer revealed. These craft which arc to have a surface speed of 2C knots an hour, were designed bj the F. I. A. T. Co., an Italiar firm, and wiil have a surface dis placement of 750 tons and submerged 920 tons, the length being! 215 ft., and the beam 20ft. It is suggested that some of these submarines arc- already in the Germai navy, but this is not the case since tho engines necessary foi the boats have not yet been sc perfected as to warrant their installation. The power required is about 4000-5000 b. h. p. and n-otors of 2000-2200 b. h. p. were under construction in Germany at the beginning of this year. A gooTl deal of trouble, however; v/as experienced during the experiments, and there appeared no likelihood that they would reach such a stage of development as to be ready for putting into practical operation at any rate within a couple of years. Compared with the best of the submarines now in the possession of the various nations these boats are about 120 tons more displacement, four knots an hour faster and 80 feet lone-er. The fact that German submarines have been operating off the coast of Galway has led

to the supposition that Germany has a submarine that is capable of operating across the Atlantic. It is more likely, however, that Germany has a secret base in the islanas off the Irish Coast. The complete cessation of party politics throughout the British Empire is the most significant indication of how much we have at stake in the great European war. It cannot be denied that the issues that divided parties in Britain before the outbreak of war were of universal magnitude and importance. Which, is to be the superior partner in the Constitution — the- House of Commons o£ the House of Lords?" Is Ireland to have Home Eule I. Is the Church of England in Wales to be disestablished ? Is our fiscal sys- ... tcm to be Free Trade or Protee tion ? Then there was the unformulated demand for some fundamental change on the Land Laws which would react in all departments of social reform. In the twinkling of an eye these issues have been superseded by one of still greater magnitude. The question, no longer is whether the Constitution of the United Kingdom shall be of this kind or that kind, or whether we shall adopt . this or that reform ; the question is whether the British Empire shall continue to exist, or whether we shall surrender our rights, our honour,, and our position, and be-' come the vassal of Germany. That is the ultimate issue which is raised by Germany's claim to tear up her solemn treaty with us, and by virtue of the terrible military machine which she has built up, to become the dictator of all Europe. On that issue there is and can be iio division of opinion among Britons. While that issue is still open such questions as Home Eule Disestablishment and Tariff Eeform dwindle into insignificance. What does it matte? whether Nationalists are to rule over Orangemen or Orangemen over Nationalists if Germans are to rule over both 1 The sudden abandonment of all party politics ! by responsible politicians is a recognition of the fact that we are or. gaged in a life or death struggle It is possible that before the end of the war subordinate issues may arise as to the methods by which and the manner in which it is to be conducted. For the present, so long as the Imperial Government concentrates its energies upon the most vigorous and effective conduct of the war it can command the united support of all parties and almost of all individuals. It may be of interest to look ahead and ask what may ' be the ultimate effect of the war : on party politics. Things will never be the same again. The . war has bitten too deeply into the nations life for that. Those , of us who live through the crisis will find ourselves in a different ' world. What has happened is not a mere temporary party truce. Profound changes are taking ■ place within ourselves. Men's minds ere being opened to a , whole range of new experiences and -new ideas. New problems will have arisen, and old problems , will be seen from different points of view. The lines of party. diI vision will not be the same as be- , fore. It is too early to say yet ■ what they will be. The party | truce, with its softening of the as- | pcritics of political life, will have • important results of its own. Each side has realised that the other was more patriotic than it thoup'ht. New powers and new sympathies have been discoverer in the leaders of either side. Many hoary prejudices have re ceived their death-blow. A spirit of willing self-sacrifice has pervaded all classes from the highest to the lowest. The Earl has giver his best and dearest as freely as the peasant, and both recognise it. When we have passed through this fiery trial we will approach the tasks of the future with new knowledge and new self respect. We will be more prepared to 'make sacrifices for the common good, for we have learned how much all of us depend ivDon the support and loyalty of each other. What these new ideas portend, and how they cao. best be utilised to the advantage of the Empire, must be the subject of anxious cdhsider'ation to all patriotic politicians.