CAN WOMEN OUTLAW WAR?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20099, 9 November 1928, Page 9

CAN WOMEN OUTLAW WAR?

WHAT LORD ALLENBY THINKS "Can women bring about world peace?' Field Marshal the Viscount All en by, t lie great conqueror anfi liberator of the Holy Land in its lasL crusade, who is set down ir tne annals of history as one of the foremost military commanders • Great Britain ever produced, slowly repeated the question after me and shook his head. "No," he replied frankly.

"Women's nature is like man's. Some nave ambition and want to gratify it at all costs, in many instances women are more pertinacious and will take stronger measures than men. Great women warriors are not unknown in history. They uro often more savage than we are." "Jint women don't want war!" 1 ejaculated.

"]>o yon think men do?" asked Lord Allenby in surprise. " We are not like your compatriots, the Indians, who want scalps on their belts; or like South Sea Islanders, who must have a row of heads before anyone will take-notice of litem. "Women are no more peace-loving than men. Women will never accept the policy of 'peace at any price.' They will always celebrate over national crises and do what seems best. Should the occasion arise they would send their men off to fight again 10-morrow "But woTieri will have great influence on the wars of the future," the famous field marshal hastened to add: "in Kngland even more than in America, for hero they outnumber the men by millions and have full rights. They will have good influence—if they use their power intelligently." •\nd because the world is throbbing to the overtones of peace parleys and efforts to outlaw war, the famous field marshal, whose great campaigns in South Africa, France and Palestine-Syria stand out as more than victories —as masterpieces of strategy based on forethought, calculation and effective organisation —discussed with me arms and the man and woman—of the past and future, states a writer in an American exchange. "World parleys and peace conferences can never end war," reflected the distinguished warrior. "The influence of recent conferences and others that may be held in the future will educate people not to figtit about silly things. Certain important things one must fight about. But people can be wiser. Much can .be done by mutual agreement, among tho nations

"Wars for gam and personal ambition are dying out. Not many kings arc left and they have liberalised constitutions, giving them less power than a president. It is not kings who fight—it is the will 01 a nation that makes a war "Do you see the era ahead when wars will be* abolished ?" came my query. Without a moment's reflection Lord Allenby shook his head. "I don't think that day will ever come. Everything in life is competition. Even games are competitive. Without that element wo slacken down If an individual or a nation doesn't progress it goes backward. And when you do progress you are bound to run into the way of the other fellow."