PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Thirty-ninth Year of Publication ESTABLISHED 1875 Manawatu Daily Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1914.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12916, 13 October 1914, Page 4

PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Thirty-ninth Year of Publication ESTABLISHED 1875 Manawatu Daily Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1914.

THERE are some timorous souls who are inclined to be despondent because the Allies have not yet completely exterminated the German Army. They do not realise that the struggle is on a gigantic scale, and! that the Allies have practically been victorious though the enemy is still iaore or lees active. What are the facts! A great Army set out from Germany to march to Paris within a certain time. It supposed itself to be irresistible, and it had tremendous prestige by reputation as the largest, best trained and best equipped that had ever been created. As a machine it was a marvel, as a spectacle it was magnificent and awe-inspiring. But as *'rhe stars in their courses fought against Sisera" in the days of old so were the plana of the modern Captain of Hazor thrown, into confusion. Instead of reaching Paris the hosts of the enemy have been driven back, and the Allien are not only holding them, but gain-

ing ground, while from the opposite direction the Eussian oear is tearing at the vitals of the enemv-'s country. Had the Allies done nothing else tnan hold the enemy they would have accomplished sufficient to ensure his defeat and destruction. Tiie conquest of the Teutons is inevitable, and the end was certain from the moment Belgium resisted the invader and the other nations joined together to destroy arrogant militarism and accomplish a world-task, necessary in the interests of civilisation and peace. Six nations are arrayed in battle against the Teuton, and a seventh is on the verge of union to aid in the work of destruction. Whatever r:.i>j happen there is no possibility of doubt as to what the final result will be. It will be because it must.

THE frequency with which certain politicians demand a substitute for the second ballot indicates that their reasoning powers cannot be very active. Their demand is somewhat like that of a deranged patient who on being cured of one disease would demand the substitution o* another. There is no need of a substitute for that which was radically bad. The i system of proportional representation which is now being urged is even more objectionable than the second ballot as it means election by jiggling with figures, instead of by the will of the strongest party in the constituency. It is amazing how men are inclined to make experiments in election matters on lines that they would not dream of adopting in regard to any other. On the same principle as the second ballot, every ho-&e race in which more than two are engaged should be run again before the stake* are awarded or the dividend declared, and on the same principle as pro portional representation the last horse should have a chance of tiie prize by means of juggling witk the totalisator figures. The old system of the first past the post, either in the sporting or the political race canuot be improved.

IT was no doubt .part of Germany's machine-made plan to seize Antwerp in order to secure a base from which to strike at England. But without her navy a naval base is of no use to Germany, and the Brinish are only anxious that her navy will emerge from its skulking place. So far as aerial warfare is concerned any other base would have served the purpose., but it is not to be supposed that Britain will neglect measures to protect her people against Zeppelins, iagainst which the quicker and loftier flying aeroplanes hurling bombs ought to be effective. Possibly also something may be done with guns flinging aloft shells to tear the envelopes of the airships, or suffocate or paralyse their occupants. The only object of the bombardment of Antwerp seems to have been to display the p'.wer of the big guns, against which forts seem to be useless, but it is still possible for brave men to sabre the gunners and spike the guns. Though it is terrible to hear of the destruction of vast quantities of food when there are hosts of starving people it, is satisfactory to know that the grain in the ships at Antwerp has not fallen into German hands. An almost immediate effect of the taking of Antwerp ought to be the forcing of Holland to declare war and throw the strength of her 100,000 army against the invader. The death of the King of Roumania ought also to clear the w.iy for that country to take part in the war against militarism. It is more than probable that in a week or so we shall hear of some startling developments which will greatly aid the Allies in their work. The records of rapine and destruction show that civilisation can know no security till the Germans have been absolutely crushed.

A GOOD deal of nonsense is being talked about the boycotting of German and Austrian goods. It is, of eourse, most desirable to injure the enemy's trade as much as possible, and to use the boycott whenever its fall upon the enemy. But at present a boycott of these goods would not affrct the enemy in tn« slightest; it would only injure our own tradesmen who bought German. <;oods when Germany posed as our friend. Since the outbreak of war Germany has not been able to export a single manufactured article, and it will be a long time before she can again use our markets. Consequently it is not desirable to establish a boycott which can injure only our own people. It is natural to detest any product of the enemy, but in this case 't would be our own business men who would suffer.

A correspondent who writes appreciatively of some articles that have appeared in these columns, makes the re mark that he cannot quite decide which political party we support. Wmay remark that we do not support any party as such, because we do not believe that any public journal should be tied to the chariot wheels of any political party. We hold ourselves free to give independent criticism of the sayings or doings of any politician. In this country, niso, parses represent persons, not principles, and we prefer to keep always in view those principles we believe to be best for the interests of the public.