THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1918. THE CASUALTY LISTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17292, 18 April 1918, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1918. THE CASUALTY LISTS.

It was not to bo expected that the New Zealand troops would escape the toll of heavy casualties while engaged in the task of helping to stem the advance of the enemy in France. It may be said, indeed, in an appreciable sense, that such an escape was not to be desired; for, as matters have been going, it would mean that our soldiers had not been taking an important part in the straggle. Deeply as, from the normal point of view, we may deplore the continued loss of so many of the flower of our country's manhood, our regret is mingled with a sombre yot proud satisfaction that New Zealand is still contributing its full share of the price of freedom and security. It may bo observed, in passing, that our recent lists have not been confined to the record of casualties in France. There aro fresh New Zealand graves in Palestine, giving a new and not incongruous significance, hi tho minds, of the bereaved, to the familiar name of "Tho Holy Land." As regards tho record from tlio west front, it would be futile to shut our eyes to tho grave probability that further and perhaps more extensive lists of killed and wounded may continue to. arrive for many weeks, it may be for some months. The sincere sympathy of that portion of the .community (and it becomes smaller every day) which is not directly and personally affected, will go out freely to the bereaved and also to tho tremulously anxious. In the Home Country, wo understand, tho expression of public and even private sympathy has virtually ceased. There is a tacit agreement that bereavement should be taken almost as a matter of course and ondured in a spirit of proud reticence. This habit or fashion of stoical restraint may, we think, bo pushed to an unnatural and dangerous excess; and yot one of the ideas in which it has its origin is probably sound and true. There is an instinctive feeling that, in the very highest sense, those who havo been bereaved by the tragedy of tho war aro, when all is said and clone, not greatly to bo pitied

—ovon as those whom they have lost, ami who luvvo given thoir cartlily lives foi* tlio good cause, are not to bo pitied at all. It is known that thousands and thousands of peoplo who have lost their nearest and dearest in this tuno of distress are possessed of a profound spiritual recognition, not quite that thoy would not havo had it otherwise—that would bo too much for poor human nature— but that tho dccree of destiny, seemingly so cruel, is charged with a tnmsccndent message of ultimato comfort and fruition, both for themselves and those whom they mourn. They feel, they know, that the dead who havo given themselves have done a far, far better thing than they had ever done; and, amid sorrow and yearning and desolation, they are proudly content to bear thoir part in the sacrifice. Tho experience is a. tragic uprooting of the dear homely conditions of earthly life, but it carries tho promise and earnest of abiding blessedness. And so they Hear at times a sentinel That moves about from place to place, And whispers to tho vast of spaco Among tho world that All is 'Well.