THE STAGGERING LOAD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 330, 29 November 1917, Page 2

THE STAGGERING LOAD.

WHO WILL FIRST FALL? London, Nov. 11. At the Guildhall banquet there were 400 guests. The banquet was on the most modest proportions as regards food. Except for the turtle soup, the same meal could have been, had anywhere for 3/6. The wine provided was in conconauce with the food. One bottle of champagne was shared between half a dozen guests. The meal lasted forty minutes. Lord Curzon, a member of the War Cabinet, toasting “ The Allies,” said that it was only by the combined, concentrated, harmonious and unselfish action of all the Allies that we could be certain of victory and a world peace. The Allies had been fighting for three years, with one heart and one mind. Would not the future find them more and more with one strategy and one fiont. U-BOATS HELD—NOT BEATEN

Replying to the toast of the Imperia Fcjces, Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord of the Admiralty) said that sujicarmisni had not been defeated, but for the present it was held, and it would finally be defeated. (Cheers.) But he did not wish to lull the country into a sense of security and complacency. On the contrary, he urged that there had been no moment in the war when there was greater need for steadfastness, courage, determination and solidarity. Our losses of ships had been very heavy, and although steady reductions had taken place, they were still heavy. Therefore there was great need for a reduction of imports, increased home production, and increased shipbuilding. The sky momentarily was overcast. A great storm was sweeping over the Russian sky, and a passing cloud was obscuring the Italian sun; but that cloud would pass. Moreover, the enemy was suffering from a shortage of essential supplies, want, and disintegration. It was a significant fact that the enemy was constantly initiating peace talk.

BULLDOG GRIP. He had been accused of optimism, as if optimism was a crime. ‘‘Picture for yourselves a fighting bulldog with fangs fixed in the enemy’s throat, his bodybraced and tail wagging. Is he a pessimist? No. Ho is an optimist born of determination, confidence and courage. So it is with us.” (Cheers.) But we must provide for a long war and conserve our resources. If this is done a real peace might come more suddenly than we dared to hope. Lord Derby (War Minister) who also replied, said that the moral of the army was never higher than it is to-day. Mr. Bonar Law (Chancellor of the Exchequer), replying to the toast of the Ministry, and speaking of the temporary lowering clouds, said that the future of Russia was a sealed book, but we did not need to despair. No nation ever won or deserved freedom which was not prepared to fight for it, and which was not ready to strain every nerve to drive out the invader. THE DOMINIONS’ PART.

He paid a great tribute to tile Dominions' troops, to whom JLngnsiimen never grudged praise. Regarding tne German allegation that Britain leit an tne hard figuring to tlie dominion forces, he said that none knew better than the men from the dominions that nothing they had done had not been equalled by the deeds of their British comrades. (Cheers.)

Reviewing the general military situation, Mr. Bonar taw emphasised that Germany had sccured the complete control of the armies of her Allies. Such a control did not exist, and could not exist to the same extent among our Allies, because we were a league of free peoples, but a step had just been taken which would make the co-opera-tion closer than it had ever been. ONE BIG LINE.

To-day an allied military staff of France, Britain and Italy had been created .(Cheers.) It would iit permanently to study military problems as a whole, and, as a result of its creation, the whole front channel to the Adriatic cculd in future be treated as one. The enemy’s great advantage was that he could move on internal lines, while we had to move,; not across a diameter, but across a circumference. NERVE AND STAYING PuiV’ER.

In conclusion Mr. Bonar Law said that he refused to prophesy regarding Italy; but believed that the Italians would be able to hold the enemy until aid came from the Western Allies. He thought that the German attack on Italy was partly actuated by a hope of dividing the Allies and partly to keep up the spirits of the German people ; but Germany could never win the war until it defeated the Franco-British armies in the west. He saw no great prospect of an early peace. It was now a question of nerve and staying power. All the belligerents staggered beneath the load. It was a question as to who was going to fall. He knew that the hearts of our soldiers and sailors, and those of our Allies would not fail them. (Cheers.)