“OUR DAY.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 4

“OUR DAY.”

To-uat we publish the heaviest list of casualties reported in New Zealand since the war started. People in the Old Country have long since been accustomed to see many columns of casualties in close print in tho newspapers ; and tho Tcalitv of the war is daily brought home to thorn by the arrival of thousands of wounded men from Franco. To-day, it is our turn to learn that glorious deeds are hot done in war without a sacrifice of the nation’s manhood. The price that is paid for victory in a fight that‘is worth fighting is always heavy, and the long columns of names that wo print are the convincing proof that in sharing in the glory of winning freedom for civilisation New Zealand is sharing also in the price. Happily tho proportion of killed in tho battles on tho Somme is low, extraordinarily so considering the severity of the struggle and tho amazing massing of engines of destruction, and the wounds are for the most part slight and likely to heal rapidly. It will never bo- possible for *us to read such a list as this unmoved, and the most practical mind will find it- hard to discuss tho numerical of the losses .at a time when anxiety and sorrow are in so many homes. But we do f6fcl that this impressive proof of the severity of the fighting ought to move us all to a very practical effort on behalf of tho wounded. The opportunity is offered by the collection that is being made to-div on behalf of tho Red Gross Fund. The aim of the organisers of the movement locally is that the sum of ton thousand pounds should bo raised, aud, already a substantial amount is in hand towards the objective. But in view of the casualties that are now recorded the. community might well mark its appreciation of tho work that- the fund is doing ■and • its recognition of the need tor

eat and sustained effort in the tuna liy contributing something triore —it good deal more—than the sum that might have appeared adequate a week ago. The New Zealand wounded harp received the benefit of the Red Gross organisation, and it is tho duty of ah of us to se.o that, so far as lies in the power of our parses, tho men who will be wounded in future actions will lack nothing in the way of-help and comfort. It is well, since we must expect severe, losses, that tho publication of so heavy a list oi casualties should come at a moment when tho feelings of tho people atdiome can find on appropriate moans of expression; and wo can conceive no hotter way of expressing our pride in; the heroic achievement of our men in the field and ojir sorrow at the losses they have suffered than the one offered by the appeal of the Red Cross I'und.