The Northern Advocate Daily WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE Northern Mail Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1914. SEEING IT THROUGH.

Northern Advocate, 15 September 1914, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE Northern Mail Daily.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1914. SEEING IT THROUGH.

•<EGISTEKED FOR TRANSMISSION THROUGH fRK POST AS A" NPWSPAPFR . . .1. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 15, 1914. SEEING IT THROUGH.

I The news that half a million of the Homeland's sturdiest sons have accepted the "King's shilling " since the war .started, coupled with the latest cable information today that Britain has transported no fewer than 300,000 troops to the Continent, should be inspiriting to every Britisher overseas*. Seeing that a few weeks ago Great Britain's standing army in her own country was about the smallest in Europe, it is significant of the spirit of intense nationalism with which her people are imbued, and of the fact that voluntary service versus conscription is nothing - detrimental to the Motherland when the need arises and the call comes. It emphasises, further, the existence to-day of the same dogged determination that has always characterised the race to battle to the. hist ditch. There was no empty boast in Lord Kitchener's announcement to the wounded in hospital that Britain had made up her mind to "see this thing through!" As aptly pointed out: by the "New Zealand Times." they were the words of one who spoke with authority—it was the unflinching declaration of a strong, silent, and resolute man. Our cablegrams continue to show that behind it was the vigorous and earnest preparation of a nation that lias never yet qualied under the menace of a foe, no matter how formidable. In the House of Commons. Mr Asquith asked' /for an additional half-million of men for the army, ;which was unanimously agreed to. . This means business- It displays a relentless determination to train and equip an army strong enough to maintain the rights of the Empire'on the field/of battle. Moreover, it is the outward and'visible sign of the policy outlined at the beginning of the war' by Lord Kitchener, when lie said that Britain would create a* strong and effective army in the field so that at "the bitter end" she might'be in a position to assure the maintenance of the Avorld's peace. This effective army, as a result of the national enthusiasm and the rapid enlistment, is steadily assuming considerable proportions. With the additional . half-million men now authorised, and those already in the field. Great Britain wiil have a land force of. 1,200,000 men. This is exclusive of the contingents from India and the colonies and the territorials and. reserve. In other words, the available British field force will shortly amount to more .than a million and a half. This may not appear to be a very great army, when we consider the legions to which it is opposed, but it must not be forgotten that our Allies are counted in trained millions' also. It has pleased some of the countries of Europe to regard Britain as a decadent nation, incapable of putting any considerable fighting force in the field, but this state, ment of Mr Asquith's in the House of Commons is calculated to effectually dispose of that fiction. Here isthe proof that the fighting , spirit of the race is as*strong as ever it was, that a peaceful people are still prepared to defend and maintain a just cause on the battlefield when the necessity confronts them, and that the 'grand traditions of British arms are as safe in the hands of Britain's sons as they were in the days of Marlborough and Wellington. The announcement means more. It is an assurance to the remote dominions that are sending their sons across I]io seas to fight for. th.o Mother Country that Britain is prepared to offer more than an equality of sacrifice. She is facing this supreme national undertaking gloriously