THE TEMPER OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16025, 17 September 1915, Page 6

THE TEMPER OF BRITAIN.

The unfaltering determination of the United Kingdom to carry the war to a successful conclusion whatever the cost in men and money is the characteristic note of the speeches made by Mr. Asquith and Lord Kitchener in their respective houses of the British Parliament. That three million men have enlisted and that £1,262,000,000 has been voted will satisfy every ally of British interest in the common cause, but it does not satisfy the National Government at Home for the simple reason that the war is far from won and that the United Kingdom can do far more. On the same proportion the overseas British would have a million men under arms, yet Lord Kitchener gravely suggests the need of a national service law and Mr. Asquith eloquently pleads that there shall not be any failure '" to concentrate upon an unexampled task the consentient counsels, the undivided energy and the indomitable will of the British people." After Lord Kitchener's utterances, taken in conjunction with Mr. Asquith's account of the reorganisation of supplies, we may confidently await the outcome of the great attack understood to be approaching our western line. With elaborate trenches, well equipped territorial reinforcements and the long-needed great increase in heavy guns, and with poisonous gases provided against, we may rely upon British troops continuing to do their duty as they have so successfully done under much more trying circumstances in the past year. As for our Allies, they have earned and receive esteem and confidence from every British contingent; the greatest compliment paid us is that Russians, French, and Italians have a generous respect for the military courage of their maritime Allies. In this amazing war, heroism is so common and cowardice so rare that we may well anticipate the final victory of the Allies, whose troops are thus inspired to matchless devotion and whose nations are ready to make such vast sacrifices to free civilisation from German militarism. It will console New Zealand and Australia for their losses to know that largely by the daring of the Australasians the position at Gallipoli in clearly encouraging. " There is I abundant evidence that demoralisation has set in among the Germandriven Turks," said the cautious Secretary for War ; while Mr. Asquith, referring to the Dardanelles, said that ".no words of admiration could be too strong for the Army's gallantry and resource, especially by the Australians and New Zealanders."