"THE FOULEST CRIME”

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9043, 14 May 1915, Page 7

"THE FOULEST CRIME”

BLACK TEUTON MENACE MUST BE REMOVED FOE, EVER AND EVER. “This war is not a war of our seeking/' declared the Prime Minister when, speaking at a recruiting demonstration at Palmerston North on Wednesday afternoon. “It is not a war of aggrandisement. It lues been forced on us. Wo are forced to fight in defence of our national honour, in defence of our friends, in defence of our very lives. •When the statesmen who control the destinies of our Empire decided to draw the sword their decision met with the unanimous approval of the whole Empire.’’ As the Prime .Minister’s speech was not dealt with by the Press Association on Wednesday night, the following extracts are taken from the report in last evening's /‘Manawatu Standard" : “Of all the events that have happened since the war began,’’ he said, “nothing has so closely touched me or appealed so forcibly, as the sinking of the Eusilania. (Hear, heal’.) To think that one of the finest specimens of marine architecture that the hand of man has ever put together, sailing serenely to her destination, her passengers all innocent of impending danger, should be sent to the bottom by a torpedo aimed by murderers and directed by murderers! Approximately 2000 people sent to their death on that fateful' afternoon;, At, the command of 1 a people whose’ hereditary loader boasts that ho is under the protection of the Supreme Being and is allied to Jehovah“l say/’ exclaimed the .Prime Minister passionately, “that it is one of the foulest crimes of which history has any record. (Cheers.) It seems to me that if any incentive were needed to prosecute this war to thc, bitter end it is supplied'. in' the sinking of this great vessel and the drowning of most of the people on board. It remains for us to do our duty. It ■■will be the duty of the Allies also to see that nothing of this sort will be possible in the future. (Cheers.) Before peace is arranged every German submarine should bo sunk fifty fathoms deep. (Cheers.) Every Zeppelin should bo blown into a thousand pieces. (Cheers.) And the German Navy should cease to exist. (Cheers.) As (or they Kaiser, he should get a taste of what has been inflicted on, British prisoners who have fallen into Gorman hands." (Applause.) The Premier contended that wo could best deal with what had taken place by sending more men and munitions to the front. One thing was perfectly clear — that Britain and the Allies were going to prosecute this war until there was complete submission on the part of Ger-,. many. “The fiends who arranged joyous celebrations who rang belle and gave holidays to school children be-’ cause they were able to drown a, thousand helpless women, and children deserve and. should get no consideration. The Kaiser imagines that .he is going to( promote (an agitation for peace at any price by . these terrorist methods. Ho, was never more mistaken in his life. (Cheers. V This war must be prosecuted until' victory is secured. “I should like to know what President Wilson and the people of America are thinking just now," added the' Premier amid, some laughter. “This outrage has brought homo to them the seriousness of , the position. Had Britain remained neutral at the commencement of the struggle she' would have done so at the, sacrifice of her national honour' and pride. America may yet learn that' peace may be bought too dearly.. That" is ’ the lesson America is learning, . and; she may learn it too late/’ •

Mr Massey catalogued the crimes that Germany had committed during the war —the attacks on undefended ;towris by cruisers and Zeppelins;- tire war of poisonous gases; poisoning the wells; the treatment inflicted on British prisoners -and-declared that the list of barbari-ties-was dong and terrible. If victory happened by any chance to go to Germany she would- be our master. "But she wsl never get the ebanco," added the Premier. ‘.NMew Zealand has from the first. endeavoured to- do - her duty, ahd would continue to do so until the war came to .an end. Approximately we'have sent away 17.000 men. There are at present in camp nearly 5000 men fitting themselves tor the duties they will be called upon to undertake-, in a very short time, and before the end or. the present month there will bo nearly 7000 men in camp. .Recruiting is going on rapidly and satisfactorily at present. Blit more men are wanted still. Don’t let there be - any mistake about that. 1-: say. this, in the -case of- any young man who - is physically' fit and- is not kept back by family ties', his duty is not here, Hie duty is on the other side of the world. (Cheers.) According to the arrangements that have been made' there will be, .it the war goes on, -no less than 32,800 Mew Zealand soldiers aithe front. We " have sent away 650 u horses and there are 5200 more to go. i say to the young fellows of tin's country that I know every young fellow oi British stock who is worth his salt is Breaking his heart to go- To you Who can get away and arc not kexß back by family ties 1 say; ‘.Register now! Go into camp when your turn comes, and’when the struggle is over you will be proud of the part you have played in the great crisis the country to which you Beiong a. noVr passing turongh.' " Dr R. MeNab, M.P.; also spoke to the gathering- Ho said thitt as their ancestors haa done with Other nations, so the Germans were trying’to humble the. British Empire, but eveu if the Continental Powers were Uelealoa :tn» Brltisn Empire would still have to be contended with before Germany could rule the world. There was an immense wastage of war. All tho men who left these shores could not take their place at tho front, and that was the reason wiiy young men were being asked to enlist. Tbtru was, no need to say'what the New Zealanders had done- A great illustrat uou was given from Palmerston in Dr Martin, who had been mentioned in uespatches. Only 100. years ago a b reach leader had tried to conquer Europe, and he was brought to book by the nation which was doing the same thing to-day. It w-as a coincidence that this war should be taking place exactly 100 years since.St. Helena had no tenant at the present time, and ho hoped that in - less, than a year it would bo occupied. (Applause.) ARE THERE SPIES IN NEW ZEALAND ? STREET SUPERVISION URGED. A deputation from the Patriotic Society waited upon the Mayor of WeL lingtbn (Mr .1. P. Luke) yesterday and presented a resolution which expressed horror and indignation at the sinking of the Lusitania- by the Germans, and urged tho internment of all Germans now in New Zealand;: together with the strictest supervision of Germans who were- naturalised British subjects. Mr H. ' G. Hill, who acted as spokesman, said that the people of -England were waking up to the fact that an enemy was in their midst, and the feeling against all Germans was gathering in strength in New Zealand. He strongly advocated that the Government should be -approached and asked that unnaturalified Germans be interned without delay, aud that the actions of all other Germans be watched with the closest scrutiny. He knew' of a naturalised German who openly expressed the hope that the Germans would win. There should bo no class distinction in the treatment of-all enemy subjectsMr Luke said he agreed with tho sentiments expressed by Mr Hill. He had been to give assistance to Ger-

mans' and Austrians who tad come to him—they had to live—but some of them should have been on “the island/ There should he no false sentiment about the matter. Despite the censor, he ■was sure that word was passed along the lines of communication from New Zealand to quarters where it was not desirable that our actions should be ’ known. He was certain there was communication between people in New Zealand and those who were doing everything opposed to humanity and civilisation. The Government must act, and act at once, with no regard for the social position or length of residence of v any person requiring to be watched or removed to a place of internment. The • Mayor’s remarks were . greeted with applause. A DIFFICULT TASK IMPOSSIBLE' TO INTERN THE LOT. Regarding various suggestions that have been made for increased stringency being placed' upon enemy subjects resident in the Dominion, the Prime Minister yesterday stated that the proposal to make all uiiuaturaliwed Germans prisoners of war was practically impossible. Mr Massey explained that there were some ten Ihom&nd . Austrians . and Germans' and their descendants at the present, time in New Zealand. A large percentage of the males- were naturalised, and in oases where the husband was naturalised the wife was also treated as a naturalised subject. _ There were quite 'a number of cn c ihy subjects: Who; were under supervision at the present time, •and they were being very closely watched. The provisions of the .parole under which they were' given then* ‘liberty were being strictly enforced/, and. they had to renort themselves frequently to .the police. It must bo remembered; that nothing could bo done.by this Douuniou or any other of the, Dominions without (instruction from the Imperial authorities. SUGGESTED' POLL-TAX. . Press Ajeociailcm. CHIUSTCHURUH, May 13. At a meeting of the general committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association the president "(Mt Hayward) referred to the loss of the Lusitania. He felt that the Germans had for ev6r forfeited all chum to be considered or treated as eiviUfleA people. In New Zealand they should jnsUtulo.a boycott of all Gorman goods. It was the only effective weapon they had. bo strongly did he resent this outrage that ho would be strongly inclined to impose a -tax. of ,£SOO, a need on oil Gormans seeking admission. , ’ HOSTAGES. Press Association. WAIMATB, May 13. An interesting suggestion by a country resident was made this morning, namely that interned Germans bo compelled to travel on trails- Atlantic liners as a saleguard' against sub marine attacks.