MR HUGHES AND THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 12

MR HUGHES AND THE WAR.

WILL HE PRONOUNCE FOR COMPULSORY SERVICE. “WE MUST GO ON TO THE END.” [From Ora Correspondent.] SYDNEY, August 10: Australia is still waiting for Mr Hughes to declare his policy in respect to the enlistment of reinforcements. Tim recruiting position is now acute. Tlio number forthcoming is not sufficient to provido reinforcements longer than for three months. Unless the y stem is altered by that time Australia’s army will bo wasting in the real sense. What Mr Hughes will hard to say on this subject is awaited with keen expectation. If liis words in recent speeches liavo any meaning he will declare for compulsory service. No one appears to have any doubt about this. He may meet with opposition in his party, but it will not bo great so fai as tlio House of Representatives is concerned. Tho position of tho Senate is different and obscure. Among tbo trades unions there aro at lenst a few from which tho opposition will 1 bo pronounced. Since landing Mr Hughes s speeches have been more or loss on genera l lines, of which tlie purport will be seen from tbo following report ot a speech at Adelaide the d'ay ho left for Melbourne. The occasion was a, luncheon given, by the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Hughes said ho had travelled throughout the Empire, aud nowhere had ho seen signs of hesitation or ot weakness, except among a small section which enjoyed what it did not deserve, tho citizenship of a free country. Ho thought it could be said that never in the history of any nation, great or small, had there been found’ such unity as existed among the British people today. (Cheers.) It was only by united action that they could hope for success. It was 'abundantly clear that they wore up against tho greatest tqrce. that had over been created for the destruction of freedom as they understood jt. Hedid not deny the right of other nations to have their ideals. In (act, it was onthat ground tliat Britain took her stand. Liberty, as the Empire understood it, was to allow every nation to work out its destiny as it. thought fit. If they could prostitute so great a name by such a use, liberty as understood by the Germans was the’impressment upon the plastic face of a conquered world of the imprint of its thumb, and as Germany was, so must they all be or perish. Well, it would be bettor to perish. (Cheers). Germany knew many things, but there were some things it did' not know. Germany was unable to understand the natifro’of the British people. (Cheers). There was growing in tlie sky that darkness which would in the end overwhelm Germany and her hosts. (Cheers.) A MILLSTONE OF DEBT.

“ After this war there will be cast upon us and upon tlio world a grievous iesponsibilitv. Wo shall bo loaded with a millstone of debt. Wo aro like devotees indulging in a tremendous orgy of extravagance. We are destroying, not producing.. When peace comes upon tho world again, ivc shall have out of chaos to res tor o order. We shall have to build up a now economic temple, and find in it a place for every man. In this country abounding with resources there is room for .everyone. It is for us to create an organisation that will provide moans to absorb nil in the producing community. There is cast upon us the obligation to produce faster and more intensely than ever we did before. Formerly wo prodUcc-d in order that wo might enjoy, now wo must produce in order that wo may live. I am a great believer in organisation. I believe that we can do a great deal to prepare, for that day which sooner or later must come to Australia, when we shall once more sot about those peaceful avocations, which to a large extout we havo now abandoned. We have seen how nearly we were engulfed in the pit Germany dug” for us, how narrowly we escaped being utterly obliterated, except perhaps as a political entity, having the shell, but not the sweetness of the kernel. ’ Germany has burrowed into tho very heart of our industrial life. To use another metaphor, she had gathered into her hands the reins of the commercial and industrial carriage. In a little while here, and in Italy and Russia, she would have become the dominant, factor. It is not too much to say that in Italy commerce and industry are the vassals of Gormnny, while before the war Russia lived only on sufferance, Germany directing, and she playing the passive part of carrying out orders. In England, that proud country, which was once entitled to call herself the undisputed mistress of commerce, the position was one pitiful to contemplate. WAR MUST BE WON.

“When we strip it of all pretence, and look nt the naked 1 truth, we must see that commerce and industry in. England were in the hands of the Germans, not utterly perhaps, but m another decade they would have been literally and utterly under her domination. Not satisfied by that amazing progress which by her ingenuity and diluting she had made through the civilised world. Germany took the step of provoking this war, and in taking it, came to her own undoing and to our salvation. (Loud cheers.) Literally, I believe that this war, which was to have undone us, will make us. (Cheers.) It will teach every section of society many very much-needed lessons. It will strengthen the fibre of the nation. It. will enable us, since wo are now ahio to look things fairly and sc/aarely in the fate, and to readjust our perspective, to enter into the kingdom that awaits ns, and develop the greatest heritage that ever yet fell to the lot of man, namely. Australia. Australia cannot be held by 5,000,000 men. We have begun by being a British community, and we must continue as a British community. - On that rock wo stand. What will bo necessary to win the war who can say? But whatever is necessary must he done, n.ud will ho done. I hope and believe that tho citizens of Australia will do their part whatever it is. and oT this you and they ma> be assured, that so far as tho light is revealed to me I shall follow it, uo matter whore it goes.” (Loud cheers.) In a speech at Melbourne on Monday Mr Hughes said : “We must conquer, yet we cannot prolong tho war indefinitely. Germany ia bleeding to death, hut so are the Albos, and the only way to secure victory is to pour more men into the field. Tf Germany is not beaten, decisively those responsible for the crimes committed cannot bo punished as outraged civilisation demands.” He concluded: “Our duty, is clear. Whatever is necessary will be done by the people of Australia.” He would' do his duty, no matter whom he. pleased or displeased: