"LEST WE FORGET!"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10541, 18 March 1920, Page 7

"LEST WE FORGET!"

<To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") { Sir,—The "Auckland Star" of February 28th contains an account of a large gathering of soldier mothers, Mrs Eniiiy Nicol presiding. Tho most important resolution passed was one of protest against tho boyotting of German goods, declaring this to be vindictive and opposed to Christian principles, also disloyal to Groat Britain; and would, moreover, still further assist the profiteers ol Now Zealand. Sir, I wonder how many bona fido soldier mothers were present at that meeting? Were any present who had lost a son, or who had a sou, husband, father, brother, or other relativo or dear ono butchered by tho unspeakable Huns? Or what in many cases is worse, rendered blind for lifo, mentally unbalanced, many utterly mad; some not only blind but maimed' as well. Many, ah, only too many, suffering from tho effects ol that dov.ilish invention of- tho Huns—poison gas. God knows what is to be. come ot these men, who with their bodies formed a living fence to protect us; they suffered such untold horrors that we might dwell iiv safety. Shall wo meet those foes, who never have,and, I fear, never will, deal fairly or honourably? Shall we meet them with open arms and Christian fellowship? Cicero said: "It is the greatest madness to place confidence in th« honour of those by whose perfidy you have often been deceived." These are words of wisdom which it would be as well for Mrs Nicol and her friends .to study. As for boing "disloyal," which is the most loyal attitude to take up? Battle through and shoulder our responsibilities cheerfully, husband our resources, cultivate every acre of waste land, manufacture our own goods (theTo is nothing New Zealand will not grow, given a chance), or shall we degenerate into miserable puling pleasure-loving wasters; howling to the Government to perform impossibilities, or open tho gates" to such dishonourable foos who never cry "Camerad" but when their own skin is in danger of being hurt? And profiteers, forsooth! If we must have profiteers, for God's and Empire s sake let us have them of our own blood, not Huns who have profiteered the bodies, brains, and blood of our brave boys. Let us not forget what the latter did for us. Let us cheerfully do our "bit" as they did theirs! To quote Cicero again: "It is the duty of a good consul not only to see what ia doing, but also to foresee what is going to happen/' No true soldier mother is goin,s to boost the Huns' goods, and thus make them prosperous ..enough to spring another war on the world. They have not conformed to the Peace Treaty yet, nor have they delivered over to justice tlioxhief war criminals Mothers of sons: Trade with Germany, and in future days you shall suffer just what we are suffering now. You shall stretch out empty hands from this world to the other, because of the oruel and fiendish Huns. „ GRANDMOTHER.