THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1916. THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1916. THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

According to Dutch reports the. Germans intend to commence with the New Year " a most- ruthless submarine campaign concessions from neutral Governments will secure for their shipping " comparative immunity;"' in other words, Germany is desperate and will make in 1917 every conceivable effort to bring the war to a close upon terms that will be tantamount to a victory for the Kaiser. By the map, and the map is immediate evidence to German eyes, the military efforts of the Central Powers have been successful in all the main theatres of action. On the west, on the east and in the Balkans the Central Powers have occupied outlying territories which not only form militaryzones for the defence of their domestic populations but reservoirs of man-power and supply under confiscatory German administration. Only in Bukovina and Galicia, in Alsace, in the Trentino and the Isonzo, has any territory been yielded to the Allies, and none of these evacuations affect the native districts of Germany, Austria and Hungary. The Russian advance in Armenia and the British advance in Mesopotamia do not seriously disturb German calculations as long as Asia Minor is held securely and Bagdad is not lost. The fate of the German colonies, as everybody knows, can only be definitely settled by the decision reached in Europe. On the face, of things, by the map, the war has gone in favour of the Central Powers, though the original designs of Berlin have failed of attainment.. Yet none know better than the German commanders that all (heir seeming success is vain and illusory unless the Allies can be. forced to make, terms while the advantage in negotiations still lies with the Government of Berlin. This is the reason why the Central Powers are so willing to discuss terras and why the Germans are desperately endeavouring to break the Allied determination by every conceivable means.

It is useless to ignore the fact that during the past months Germany has inflicted heavy and unexpected losses upon the shipping of the Alliance. That her submarining methods are a violation of the law of nations does not affect the immediate. results, however much it may strengthen the mi nation to make it impossible for Germany to imperil civilisation again. We have to deal with conditions as they are, and while leaving the solace of Notewriting to Mr. Wilson must take all possible precautions to protect our shipping against submarines as our troops against poisonous gas and our open towns against Zeppelins. The British Cabinet crisis has been brought about by the public recognition in Britain that if the -war is to be won the entire strength and efficiency of the nation must be directed to and concentrated upon the herculean task. Merchantmen must be. able to sink at sight the submarines which sink them at sight. German submarine, bases must be attacked so that Allied and neutral shipping may not be attacked. Merchantmen must be replaced as fast as they are. lost in order that the trade of the Alliance may be carried on without interruption. While military efforts are redoubled the sea must be. safeguarded in order that the power to continue military efforts may not be weakened fatally and irretrievably. The Germans arc straying everv nerve and resorting to every device to prevent the collapse of their military organisation, while their submarines make a desperate campaign against the shipping upon

which the Allies depend; Britain is girding up her loins to hold the searoads and to afford such military assistance to the Allies as may assist in the winning of complete and final victory. The true greatness of a nation anil of an Empire is seen not- in its times of security, hut- in its times of peril. Britain has endured in the past, the Empire has been built up and preserved, because the national and Imperial spirit has risen to confront its foes, and lias burned stronger and brighter in the winds of danger. This spirit was never stronger than it is to-day : Britain was never greater; the example set by the Motherland to the Empire was never nobler. Amid all the seeming confusion of the British Cabinet, crisis there emerges the stern determination of able and trusted leaders that the state shall not perish by lack of foresight, or

suffer through inefficiency and bad precedents. In the coining tear Germany may make her la>t. great

effort, to exhaust and discourage the Great Alliance, but. Britain will also increase her efforts to ensure the victory which can certainly be won by fearless administration and patriotic concentration. There is the greatest need for sound leadership and for national courage, but with these to aid it the Empire cannot doubt the issue. Our thoughts naturally turn with anxiety to the doings at Home, to the steps v.hicli may be taken by the reconstructed Imperial Government and the Allies to restore the position in the Balkans, to prepare for " the great advance," to meet the submarine campaign, to organise resources, and to carry on the war; but out duty in New Zealand is none the less clear because we cannot, directly affect British action. It is our duty, at this juncture, to remember to what we owe our domestic peace and our national existence, and to see that, our reinforcements go forward, and that our national resources arc held in trust for Imperial uses.