Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1916, Page 2

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Delivered ovHrymoruitig in GrMHnoutb. Kumar; HokitiUa, Dobson, Wallsend, Taylor* jlle.Crouo dan, Ngahere, Blsckball, Nelsoii Greekv^rannei Ts KiiiKa, Botoraaiiu. Poerua. Inchb'omiie; anc Patara, Euru, Kaimata, Eottiku, Moana, Aratika ftunauga. Dunollie, Cobden, Baxter's; Kokir Ahalira, Ikaruatua, Stl Iwater, Wviuta, Reef ton WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916. TO HELP OUR STRICKEN ALLY IT has always been true that war, ho\Vever much it brings trouble rfnu suffering to the 1 menfolk of a. nation, is "' felt far more keenly and bitterly by the women and children. This war' >vhich for 'cruelty and fiendish practice, has probably no superior jias been very severe^ndeed'on tibse 1 small .nations, ' /: wh'o. ; with principles unable tp be shaken by death and -ppverty, ; have been loyal to. their love of freedom, justice, and humanity, and^v^ho. '>ecause' of their "•• steadfastness, have been unduly punished by the cruieb. tyrant, Germany. When the fiendish monster sought to gain his objective by trampling uhderfpqt, the quiet Belgian tiatiph, -he .fpund' that with a spirit pf dauntless cpurage he was resisted to, the utmost, and " this ■ re- ; sistance alone counted as ' much as anyth'ihg else for his failure to' achieve' his purpose. Owing to the litf.il : Belgian Army, who hung on. to. every foot until forced to yield, and. made a most wonderful resistance the Hun was completely thwarted in his plans for cap'turingf Paris and Calais ; and ;in; fact -the whole oori r FrafTce. Na-." turally, '."kultur" ; -.is most angry with | tlie little "nation, . and Germany has ever since she secured possession of Belgium used almost every possible means in. her endeavour to smash the irrdornitable spirit- apd to avenge her-., self" for Belgiuifl 's' .^resistance. ■ SevV I .re i military la>y bas ; been in • operation ;fo,r month s, arid . men 'h^ye' been dra.gj[re£l out of their homes on tKe flimsiest nretext and . ruthlessly put" to <." death.. Even' -.law- ' governing the rights'^ pf -' "pepple in c6n'quered territoKy ' has! been ; thYown •''to* ; ;.tfi> 'winds arM /th'p* irpn heel pf the. IBEuh has .pressed sorely on the- lap'd'.;' -It: is >yjthr very srreat difficulty tni at Arrifrica '^^c been able tA': carry on, j for the Allied -na"-'--tior>s. the worTf : otr,fe.pdiriff' MYe ppppie,; and though' alUhas' been dpne "uhcleri the. circurn stances :w«? are sif'r'aiffc.'thrft^ there Are. many.'who- h/tve difficulty- irinh+ainirfT erib'iiir'h' foM to- keepVbofly* and .soul together/ - But recejb.tly ] W p ' nroblerri': ;>ias : '.b'e«\n made" ■ verv '.. yp.lvt-Tl more ''di'ffi'rnlt'.'^y--:^ outrage ■*q'jrain/st"''b v jim.ahiJivr^K'e.r : -'. depor". tation of ' v>rv Jarlre ' nn.mbef<i of :>Tie^ male pqp.ula.tip.ns^ from -the .73^0115 ..|i5* ,

tricts to work in a land unknown to them. Deprived by this means of their protectors, the: women and children who are left behind are complete- ! ly P in hands- of the Hun, and we may be sure that their -Jot must be , very terrible indeed. Npt okly. do they have to see their and fathers dragged away, and v^ndled rbothly as 1 they- are herded into triieis but they have to bear the vul- , '*&; insults M the disciples pt rrusflanism. Yet we hear no complaint trom these brave women, and witti marvellous patience they endure all. 1 They will never have their spirit I' crushed, and they will never' swear allegiance to the Kaiser pr his sys- ' -tern. Is it any wonder then that the Allied-nations are determined to hgnt on until the land which- bore- such . a brave nation is cleared of the op--niessor and is delivered to its rightful 6wners? That is the^ soldiers' work and the chief aim of the Allied Governments, but there is also the work of keeping from, black starvation those unfortunate people who I remain in their beloved country. Ihe nations have done much it is true, • and New Zealand has been very ■■ generous, in finding money to provide food and "clothing for the Belgians, but there is still, and there will continue to be, great need oi money to "maintain supplies. Many may say that having done so well they might be-allowed a little luxurj for themselves at this season of the year: We do not think that it woultj S be \yith any sense pf- selfishness thai I such a thought would be expressed; I more probably it would arise from ? ! tack of knowledge,' and the littk - news that comes out of Belgium. Bui the need is as great as ever. In ar appeal published yesterday morning we are given a brief account pf the internal state of the stricken land. "The physical and mental sufferings during the last two years are now being barbarously accentuated by the deportation of their natural protec tors," reads the telegram sent to His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) by the Duke of Norfolk in an appeal asking "that at every British dinner table on Christmas Day a £olle'ctibn shall.be made to help the Belgian children." Is there rieed'fbr further appeal? New Zealanders, whose children enjpy perfect freedom and good food, who are very greatly blessed in this fair lanti, "must feel a call to give when they read such words. And we feel quite sure that they will give, and give freely. We are all very proud of our noble) Ally, and ! we cannot neglect pur' Ally's children in .distress. Who can imagine: the awful happenings which these good people have passed through. They have seen, the most frigHttul outrages^ —towns ruthlessly sacked, men ' tqnnented. crimes against woiaien by ! driitiken- soldiers, and even (and this we feel is the most awful) infants mutilated and crippled for life by having their limbs cut off. Numbers of Belgian children to-day are without hands, others minus feet, and numbers are mutilated in other ways—the work of the devilish Hun._ Is it any wonder then that those with" the least imagination have viplunteered to fight to obliterate for ever such a system? Is it' any wonder that Governments, finding that imagination fails''to impress upon some ridfen their duty to enlist, have yitifqduce'd systems of compulsory service"? - What would the world be like' if the tyrant had the bower to enforce his will on the nations ? But, thank Heaven, the natidns have enough goodness in .them*" to fight for humariity; and all that it stands for, and will 'punish the Hun as tie richly; deserves."' 'We are sure that' there will be very few Britisli dinner tables where this".noble appeal made by Lord' Norfolk will pass: unanswered. It is only very small sacrifice if every adult in New Zealand decided' to give £i and evbry child; say, is. compared "\yith 1 the-suf-fering and .misery the bfayp Belgians have endured for "piir sakes. May the Spirit of .Christmas work its iwwer '..of .peace .and goodwill f ireelv In ihe' whole -Empire. ; :