Count the Cost.

Hutt Valley Independent, Volume IV, Issue 202, 28 November 1914, Page 2

Count the Cost.

Some people are moaning and whipping the cat about the extra taxation, cost of living, men leaving the Dominion, scarcity of employment, falling off in trade and drain on charity resulting from the war. To these "whip-the-cats" we put the following Straight-talk questions—questions that no paper in New Zealand has had pluck enough to print ; Do you think that the entraining, holding-back and detraining of the Expeditionary Force was done for.fun.or because it would be unprotected and liable to attack from the sea on its way down the exposed Manawatu line ? Do you think the transports put. to sea and were recalled by Wireless just for exercise ? Do you think that tho lighthouses remained unlit after the troopships returned and that the men were located in. and i round Wellington tit strategical points just for the fun of the tiling? Do you know that men holding positions in departmental head-offices have been dismissed the service and interned on Soames' Island, having full details of wireless and defence installations and equipment, and jiaving been in constant touch

with Gorman military officials.? Do you realise what German modern culture results in ? Recollect that the Germans did not hate the Belgians with a fraction of the hatred that they entertain towards British people, Yet undefended towns have been burnt to the ground and the inhabitants shot, tortured, outraged, burnt in their homes or driven at the point, of the bayonet to servo as cover for a German attack. Men, women and children; old, middle-aged and young; poor and rich; noone was spared. Of a town of over 33,000 inhabitants not a soul was left. Arid ! just remember that Napier (10,537) Palmerston (10,961), and Wanganui (10,919) taken together only total 32,45? inhabitants. Try to picture all the men of those t.hrse towns shot, or mutilated ;, all the wo noon sho,t,. tortured or raped; all the children shot or maimed; and remember that is only what has happened to the people of one Belgian town and that towns and villages in France and Belgium have been similarly treated by the invaders. Do you expect better 'treatment because you are hated more ? When you "Count the Cost" just remember that the German invasion of Belgium has had the results enumerated below and which have, be w fully autbentj.