A GREAT SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9999, 17 June 1918, Page 5

A GREAT SPEECH

BY MS H. fl. ASQUITH WAR SENSATION-MONGERING CONDEMNED. STERLING ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC. By Telegraph—Press- Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Juno 16, 5.5 p.ta.) . LONDON, June 14. Mr Asquith, who was tho guest of the AJdwyoh Club, had an enthusiastic reception. During the course of a speech he ■said it was useless to cloak the naked fact, hut we had reached a critical point in the fortunes of war. He, however, wished to say decisively, and without bravado, that nothing had happened on the Western front ’ since the end of March which could weaken our allegiance to .the great cause we were fighting -for,., or our determination to press on to victory., . Fighting .superior numbers under unfavourable conditions, we had. stubbornly contested every mile, and our retirement had not been marked by a single trace of panic or demoralisation. Our withdrawal 7 had been conducted with coolness, gallantry, and unfailing readiness to take advantage of our opportunities for counter-attack. “The tide of invasion has not yet steadied. We should, therefore, try to imagine our feelings if the enemy was as close to London as he is near Paris. Then we would be able to measure the perils and anxieties of our gallant Allies.” It would- he folly to attempt to forecast pending strategic developments, but there was asituation of equal gravity with that-of the beginning of the war. That threat, however, was brought to nothing by coun-ter-strokes of genius and-audacity; The way the enemy "had dealt with Russia and Roumania showed that Germany’s triumph would-be the deathknell to all democratic ideals. German methods of warfare had brought the United States into the war. America’s entry into the conflict was introducing new methods in World affairs and examples. , The’ old diplomacy must take its plane. among the antiquities interesting only to collectors and dealers. It was useless to attempt to. forecast the future, but' the only peace worth making or taking was one which would open a new road free of toll to all peoples great or small —a road which was safeguarded hy the common will and common power of all nations for future progress and humanity, -The British Empire had already raised an array i of., seven millions, and spent, seven. . thousand millions in money, yet -it, had done- this without any selfish object except perhaps selfdefence. The verdict' of history would require that such sacrifices were not made in vain. Personally, ho thought'we had reached a stage'or the war when there would be no fear in laying before the people the actualities of thosituation, Whether favourable or adverse. '.Tho British all over the world were ready to face with clear eyes and cool -nerves any conjunction of circumstances', hut if the truth were told there-was a reciprocal duty on the public. War always provided an atmosphere for “absurd and cheaper forms of advertisement, censationmongoring, and' the cruder things in public. Life. Those- at times found a ready market among people of low-in-telligence and high credulity.- (Cheers and laughter.). -The 'real danger, howevel*-, was not in''this direction, but -n the fear that in the stress of daily bulletins recording doubtful ■battles and , occasional yieldings of'ground, we were tempted to lose our . sense of proportien. The public, must take large viow-s and not distort things. -THero never was a time when honest, patriotic criticism was more valuable. If wb kept our eyes fixed and -oux hearts-set on the great dominating.purpose to'which w'e had consecrated " our energies we might rely with - certainty that ’it would be, achieved. * ' • LOUD MILNER ON WAR ' SIfUSIIOM Australian and NX ’ Cable’ Association. ’ , (Received June Iff, 5.5 p.m.) r j • LONDON, Ju ne 14, „ Vfrd Milner, speaking at the x .M.O.A. • headquarters, strfd many is now at the cljniax -of her- power, therefore wo must fight as never before iu our history,' a as, our noble French Allies are.hgbting to-day, until America .isjylly.jno.bilised. Von Stein has been meering power, but I think he will live to regret those sneers.” Lord Milner: concluded“ Beware of criticism’of our Allies and former Allies.. - Nothing could bo more unreasonable than the abuse of Russia. One does not, abuse, a .delirious man 1 ' who strikes a .blow at his friend.” THE DYE _J DUSTRY BRITISH'GOVERNMENT AID PROMISED. Australian and N.Z.. .Cable Association. (Received Juno 16, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 14. Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, addressing dye-users, said: “Wo will probably bo independent of Germany by the conclusion of the war. The, Government is prepared to advance loans, to. dye manufacturers to enable them, to increase their buildings and plants. The Government has decided to prohibit the importation of all foreign dyes, except under license, for at least ton years." ■ SWEDISH STEAMER SUNK NINE OF CREW KILLED. Australian _ and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 16, 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Juno 14. Tho Swedish steamer Dora was torpedoed without warning, nine of the crew being killed.