The Otago Witness. (WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1918.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 35

The Otago Witness.

(WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1918.) THE WEEK.

WITH WHICH 16 INCORPORATED ZU eOUTHEEN USROHBI.

"Nimqnain allud natura, allud e.apientia dixit.* •"JTT7HKAI,. "Good nature and good sertte must over join."—* Pol's. The Supreme War Council now assembled at Versailles, composed of The Doom of the military representatives Unrepentant of France, America, Great Militarism. Britain, Italy and Belgium, after, carefully considering the speeches of Count Von Hertling on, behalf of Germany, and of Count Czerninj on behalf of Austria, has arrived at & unanimous and emphatic decision. This is to the effect that the immediate task pf thje Allies is a [vigorous prosecution of the war until "a change in the enemy's temper justified a hope of peace on terms not involving the abandonment of freedom and justice far a full aggressive \ andi unrepentant militarism/" This decision represents one side of the question; the other is contained in. a pamphlet, suppressed by the German Government, but issued by the leaders of .the German Independent Socialists, and which declares:' "Our press Is gagged,'and our comrade* are imprisoned. Worldng-class men and women have no time to lose, for new and frightful disaster threatens us. Despite the sufferings and sorrows we _ have already endured, only .a- peace without annexations and indemnities can save us. The time will come when you will raisa your voices for such a peace. The per-, man people, by powerful demonstrations, must manifest their determination to end the war." These two movements in culmination and co-operation are sounding: the death-knell of an unrepentant militarism, and the end ma/ pot much longer be delayed. There aro two plain paths along which the strategy of the Allies may safely and successfully proceed: tha first is such practical co-ordination of military might as shall rob the German military party of their last despairing hope of a .victorious offensive on the Western, front: the second, and probably the more important, la the' direci \ encouragement of the revolutionary agitation now making itself felt in Germany. The military programme, however, carefully and efficiently carried out, spells the death or maiming of thousands of the best and) brightest lives among the men of the Allied nations; an internal revolution in Germany, while bringing chaos and temporary anarchy in its train, means the shortening of the war and the ending of the terrible slaughter wKicn since August, 1914, has been increasing on the earth. Many prominent writers are doing good service in this relation by stressing the horror and barbarity inseparable from ihe conduct of modern warfare. Mrs Desmond Humphreys (better known by her pen-name of "Rita"), for instance, s'trikes

tho right note when she says: "Time was when everything glorious and exciting dignifit*! the calling o£ arms to the man. When foes faced each other with an equal chance, and fought out their quarrels bv the rules of warfare. But in those modern days all that has been set aside. We have had to learn that nothing is sacred, nothing is noble, in the eyes of a nation who at one tyrannous command has thrown tho blazing torch of warfare into a once peaceful world. We have had to learn that martial antagonism means only every mean trick that ingenuity can invent: that poison, treachery, intrigue, and dishonour are the new 'war standards set by Culture; that every international obligation can be broken at the will of a dastardly foe, and that we must meet him on his own ground and fight him with his own weapons as. the only course left if we intend to conquer him." Scarcely less impressive is another paragraph from the pen of the same writer: "We are learning to know that war is no glorious and .heroic thing, but merely a bloody and barbarous necessity. That we must kHI or be killed ; destroy or be destroyed. That is the truth of the whole matter, and it stands naked and ashamed beside ideals of glory and victory and martyrdom. It turns with lowered eyes from medals and crimes and honours, knowing what it has seen and done in the madness of destruction—knowing of these young lives sacrificed, these nameless graves and broken hearts which form too black a shadow for any sun of victory to brighten." It is considerations such as these which will seal the final doom of an unrepentant militarism wherever and whenever in the future that monster attempts to rear its hateful head. The spirit of camouflage—the art of making things seem other The Spirit of than they actually are, the Camouflage, product of the necessity of modern warfare —has spre.id from the field of battle into the political and industrial arenas. In England., Mr Henderson, formerly the representative of Labour in the British War Cabinet, in the course of a statement issued to the •oress, says; "Information in my possession shows that the industrial situation Is graver and more pregnant of disastrous possibilities than at any period of the war. A crisis of the first magnitude is threatened, the workmen's temper is dangerous, and the Government's unyielding attitude is bringing the country to the verge of an industrial revolution." At once the Daily Mail—the main organ of Northcliffe opinion—cries "Camouflage," and in support of its assertion a especial article, declaring, on the authority of "the best observers," that "most of the anxiety existing to-day regarding British workers is without foundation." The same article insists that the apparent restlessness is "largely superficial, and is due to the long and continuous overstrain and the ever-increasing prices and hardships." Finally, it is asserted > that "eighty per cent, of the Trade Unionists are supporting war to victory, and Bolshevism and pacifism have made but little impression on the British trade unions." The same contradictory statements are made concerning the strikes in Germany, which are alleged to have attained serious proportions, affecting more than a million men, mainly workers in munition factories. Some of the London newspapers'describe these German strikes as a clever policy of camouflage, designed to incite a revolt and spread pacifism in the British industrial districts; and the workers are warned against an attempt to trap them into a conspiracy. It is doubtful whether there is more in this rumour than an ingenious political dodge to strengthen the hands of Mr Lloyd George and his co-adjutors at a critical period in the direction of the war. If the German Government is really instigating er permitting these strikes as a sort of camouflage, the Kai'ser and his advisers, with the ttuth about the Russian revolution before their eyes, are playing with edged tools. The initial risl'jf In Russia was a piece of camouflage,. instigated by the Court party in the interests of Germany; but the rising speedily got out of hand, with results now plain lo the whole world. It is significant also that despite all the denimciation hurled against the Bolsheviks, and the refusal of the Allied Governments to recognise their axithority, they are not only retaining their power but are improving their position each day. - Indeecf, it is quite on the cards that the downfall of German militarism may be brought about more by the influence of Bolshevism and pacifism than by the combined military might of the Allies, even if directed by a generalissimo from the West front. Another meeting of an Imperial Conference is shortly to be held Tho imperial in London to discuss the Conference. whole gamut of war activities, including such matters as reinforcements, repatriation, finance, and post-war trade; and to this conference representatives of the British dominions have been bidden. The representation of New Zealand" has been de.cidorl by the Cabinet, subject to the approval of Parliament, a phrase which may mean a great deal or nothing at all, the balance swaying to one side or the other, according to whether a general election is to be held this year or no. The decision to send Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to London, instead of Sir James Allen, revives all the rumours of want of harmony which is said to characterise the personnel of the" socalled National Ministry. Apparently neither Mr Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward is willing to prooeed to London alone. It is shrewdly suspected that the reason why "Sir James Allen has declined to go to London is because he does not want the direction of the Defence Department interfered with. From tho point of view of the average elector, the situation is somewhat unsatisfactory/ since it is presumed—possibly without much reason—that personal prejudices aro being set before the public, welfare. A short session of Parliament

will be held in April next, to enable the necessary financial arrangements to be made prior to the departure of the delegates to the conference. But if at the same time the proposal be made to prolong the life of the present Parliament, there is likely to be an outburst of popular disapproval.