CRITICAL TIMES AHEAD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 May 1927, Page 5

CRITICAL TIMES AHEAD

FUTURE OF UNGTiANTO A.T STAKE

LORD BIRKENHEAD’S DECLARATION.

8Y CABLE—FRESH ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, May 7. Lord) Birkenhead, addressing the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are living in a critical period of English politics. The next tivo years will inevitably determine the Empire’s and England’s fortune, possibly for half a century. “The election ahead is the most critical eA'er held in England’s history, discriminating between men believing in sanity, sobrietv and t-h© continuity of English life, arid those believing in Moscow’s fever-stricken, malignant doctrines. “There is nobody in the Government to-day who is not making, immense sacrifices in order to remain a member of it. If they undertake, these tasks, surely they have some right to ask something of the people. “I am satisfied that England’s heart is sound. The nation’s great spirit .is available .to repel Moscow, but it will not be available unless . the men who hitherto l have not participated in politics come to out assistance.”

Alluding to the mechanisation of the army. Lord Birkenhead .said) it was the despised politicians who forced on unconvinced generals the .power and resources of mechanical warfare. The only request made to the army Avas that they should) not employ the weapon p remain rely They derided it, in everv way disparaged it, hut as soon as the tanks were delivered they prematurely and uselessly exposed the supreme weapon which, if safeguarded and husbanded, might have won the final battle of the war. Sir William, Robertson, in his hook, made a solitary, indifferent reference +o the tanks which revolutionised warfare. said Lord Birkenhead, yet he. at the most critical moment, was chief of the general staff.