THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, SEPT, 24, 1914. “A HAPPY ELECTION."

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 240, 24 September 1914, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, SEPT, 24, 1914. “A HAPPY ELECTION."

“Let us bring the session io an end as early as possible and let us have a happy election for once.” Thus spoke the Leader of the Opposition during a diseussicA tiiat arose in the House on Tuesday last as to the measures that it is proposed to carry 'through before the prorogation of Parliament. The sentiment is well worthy of adoption, and so that all true Liberals of Hawke’s Bay may have some idea how to give it practical expression we would strongly commend to them an earnest study of the editorial articles that appeared yesterday in their party organs in Wellington and Napier. Both breathe a spirit of such sweet reasonableness and of such admirable self-restraint that every Liberal elector should endeavour to absorb some of it and allow it to guide him in his efforts to bring about the consummation that is the subject of his political leader’s sanguine prayer. The Napier paper has so completely succeeded in eliminating from it's article all traces of party rancour that one cannot but be convinced that it must have been written long since and have been submitted to a steady process of evaporation so as to secure a concentrated essence of conciliatory phraseology. It must surely appeal to every reader as the bright herald of a chivalrous political contest. What could be more soothing aftd give finer promise, of a friendly rivalry for popular suffrages during the interval between the present time and the election next December.? Our contemporaries have struck a note that we may have full confidence will not only be fully maintained, but will gradually swell into a resounding and harmonious chorus of joyful benediction. How better can "a happy election” be ensured than by attributing to political opponents such lofty motives as "a hope that even this catacylsm may be utilised to help to a thiee-years’ occupancy of office a party that disdainfully and sneeringiy declines to preserve a truce in party politics” ; or by describing their position as illustrating "the meanest depths of political depravity” I It must surely make for tranquility of mind and nobility of purpose. Everything is evidently to be done, by the Liberal press at any rate, to make the election run smoothly along lines of cordial mutual respect. Turning, however, to the practical, as distinguished from the ethical, aspect of the question, there can be little doubt that whatever decision the premier had announced as to the date of holding the election, it would have been converted into a weapon for- use against him. The Opposition Leader was quite justified politically in throwing the onus of selecting a date entirely upon tire Prime Minis ter. who probably showed some, little weakness in allowing himself to lie over-persuaded into a conference (hat could, under the <irciims( iinces. scarcely prove anything but futile. For our own part, we had ouiselves thought that a postponement of two or three mouths might have a good effect, the suggestion being that perhaps by that time the European situation might have cleared some what. Mr. Massey, however, with information that is not available to every-one, has thought otherwise, and even the reasons that lie is at liberty to give publielv are such as to quite justify him in dismissing fills proposal, which, he says, he himself at one time entertained ami fully considered. Sir Joseph Ward in search of arguments against the determination to hold the (‘lection in the usual course, pointed out that the British Parliament had abandon cd any thought of an early election. But. as Mr. Massey replied, the term of the present House of Commons, elected in December. 197 b. lias still a substantial period to run. and should the war unfortunately con ti’nue until the effluxion of that period. we have no reason for thinking that, as at the time of the Boer War. the ordinary general election will not he held. Apart altogether from this, the position of a British Minis try that has the whole weight and responsibility of the conduct not onlv of the war itself, but also of international diplomatic negotiations, is in no way comparable with the veryminor part that our own Dominion plays in the drama. Alatters of foreign policy are. at such a crisis, almost of as grave importance as are those connected with the prepara tions for adequately maintaining our place in the field. Beyond doing our part to reinforce to the best of our abilitv the physical factor in the de cision of flic struggle, we have no yay in the matter, and any possible disturbance in the i-ont innity of any particular Governmet here would be of little niomel in this respect. Indeed. although we are seldom able to agree with Mr. Atmore on matters political, we are certainly with him in thinking that, if the present Government is the agglom in eration of gross incompetence, ineptitude and corruption that he and his party vociferously declare them to be, the (.sooner thev are deprived of the power to do further harm the better both for our own country and for the Empire. For this, if for no other reason, the Liberals should welcome an earlv election at which they are so confident of superseding the piesent Ministry by one that will have the implicit confidence o* the great world at large. It will at least be a great relief to them to be able to throw off the mask of neutrality—for even they have scarcely professed to lend anv real assistance —that has manifestly sat s<> stifling! v upon them ami to revert, to the old lines of open abuse and condemnation of all that lias its origin in Reform circles. They will be able at length to breathe with freedom and. under no artificial restraint, to demonstrate to the people whether or not their line protestations of magnanimity and imperialism have some deeper and worthier motive than that of a mere spectacular pose for a popular approval they dare not flout. In no way, probably, can they do this more convincingly than by following the lead given them by their Wellington and Napier press supporters. Their leader has at least begun well by saying that "he would sooner suffer a clean defeat than a mean victory.’’ Subsequent events will give us the true interpretatic.n of this cryptic announcement.

Beyond confirmation of the message advising us of the sinking of three of our cruisers by torpedoes from German submarines, the last twenty-four hours have been even more than usually barren of news. From the details to hand we learn that, <>ue of our ships having been struck, the other two hastened to the rescue of her crew under the impression that the damage had been done by a floating mine. This gave the submarines the opportunity of discharging further torpedoes directed again the rescuing ships, both of which were also sunk. The torpedoes seem to have been ter ribly effective, the first, of the cruisers to sink going down within five minutes or so after being struck. The incident will give some weight to Sir Percy Scott’s arguments in favour of the building of torpedoboats and submarines in preference to an increase in the heavier ships of the navy ; but it is to be rerneiutiered that these wasp-like members of the fleet can operate only under conditions that are made for them. Unfortunately our messages do not even now give us any very precise idea as to where the disaster happened. or in what movements the British ships were engaged. Judging, however, from the address from which the newspaper correspondent wires and from the fact that some of the rescued were clad in Dutch military uniforms, it would appear that the British ships must have been caught somewhere off the coast of Holland. The first attack seems to have taken place in the dusk of early morning and to have been both well conceived and well concealed. Its success will doubtless raise the spirits of the German navy, and give fresh colour to the hopes of being able By such means to reduce the. strength of the British fleet, sufficiently to make a set trial of strength possible. Beyond the moral effect on both fleets the disaster is not of great significance. The news as to the rescue of the crews is not very definite, but it leaves hype that a very large proportion has been saved.

On land we have practically nothing that we can lay hold of as to what is going on in Northern France, beyond an assurance that the British military authorities are quite, satisfied with the positions occupied by the Allied Forces and with the pro gress that is being made there. Generally* speaking, the Allies have succeeded in repelling the attacks made upon them at various points, and at others have succeeded in pressing the enemy back a little. An elusive town that has come to us over the wires variously as Souvain, Sonmain and Louvain, is given as the, eastern limit of an offensive movement Ijy the enemy. Reims being the western. Not being able to locate the variously named town, there is some difficulty in guessing at the extent of the attack. In any event, it was ineffective so far as dislodging the Allied Forces was concerned. The German lines are said to have received substantial reinforcements, along with no doubt welcome com missariat convoys, from Belgium. From Mr. Donohoe’s report it is evident that transport, whether of supplies or of ordnance, by- way* of roads is very difficult, but the French seem to have been able to bring their heavy guns into play with good ('fleet. We are told that some days will yet have to pass ere any idea can be formed as to the result, of this prolonged battle, which is described as the most portentous of the campaign, and we must just await the event with what patience we may.

While writing a message has come through that may be of supreme sig nificancc as indicating something that max be the beginning of success to the strenuous and sustained “Herts that the Allies have been put ing forth in order to turn the German light wing eastwards. From it we learn that the Germans have been dislodged from a strong posi (ion near Peronne ami have been driven back towards St. Quentin, with the Allies continuing to press closely upon them. Should the Allies be able to keen them on the move the longdesired end max' lie attained earlier than was expected. It was probably in apprehension oi some such success as this that General von Klttck deemed it prudent to withdraw his headquarters to Mons. Let us hope Iris fears may prove to have been well founded.