THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 20 May 1915, Page 5

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

MR ASQUITH'S TRIBUTE

TO FELLOW SUBJECTS BEYOND

THE SEAS

ONE PURPOSE AT THE HEART OF ALL.

(Received May 29, 10.30 a.m.)

LONDON, May 19. ' Mr Asquith, in moving a resolution^" at the patriotic meeting at the Guildhall, said they had sent ,; .^ujgggpalled. armies into the field, which steadily and- continually,rfeinforced, but more men were wanted to replace the fallen and increase the defences in order to make decisive victory certain. "We at -Home ?? continued the; Prime Minister, '.'have 'every reason to bestir ourselves, the main theatre of. war is. nearer Londbn ..than ...the..north* •em counties. Daily a stream of wounded is pouring into the hospitals, and we seem sometimes almost to hear the. echo of theguns. Thisis. not §q';with,; our; fellow 'fiu%ject6,..'.to^'tw&6se'.:''fmaghi^' ficent. comradeship and co-operation this meeting now pays tribute. They are far removed from the conflict, and, the higli seas now being cleared of the enemy, their commerce pursues almost its normal course, yeS they ar"e sons and daughters of the Empire, and what touch Ji us touches, them.

Mr Asquith detailed the Dominions' and India's gifts and men, and de-. scribed them as a magnificent record in which an Empire might feel the highest pride. The Australians and New Zealanders had proved worthy colonial: comrades,«and India had sent twejait^eight regiments of cavalry and 124 iregfrments of infantry for service? <Hafes«se» Jndia. All this showed that iib& Em?pire had one purpose at heart* and! there was no part of the 'Empire- but would suffer annihilation rather than become subjects of any other sovereignty. "Why did the colonies,, lie asked, rally to the standard? It was. to defeat the machinations of a naan who had violated all the rights of mankind.