AFTER SIX MONTHS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13601, 5 February 1915, Page 7

AFTER SIX MONTHS.

OPINUOXS ON THE SITUATION"

(Special to Herald.)

AUCKLAND, this day. The New Zealand Herald marks "the conclusion of the first six months of the war by publishing a full page of views of prominent people upon the various aspects of the situation. The Prime Minister, m reply to a request for his opinion on the progress of the Avar, telegraphed : "The six months that have elapsed since the declaration of Avar have been undoubtedly the most eventful, m the- .Empire's history. Though to the British and their Allies it has been a time of intense anxiety, and though we must remember that many of our soldiers have died fighting for what they knoAA r to be the right, still on. tho whole Aye can look back upon what has taken place Avith pride and satisfaction. Our British soldiers and sailors have proved themselves as good men as their fathers who Avon and held the Empire. British citizens m cA r ery part ot the Avorld have demonstrated .that they are as loyal and patriotic, and as ready to make sacrifices for King and country and m defence of their national honor as they

have been at any period of Britain's existence. The Dominions • and de«

pendencies of the Empire have responded to the call of duty m a Avay that

has been delightful to their friends and a startling revelation, to their enemies. There has been no hesitation, no halting betAveen two opinions. Representatives of ail the races Avhich comprise the Empire are to be found either m

tho fighting line or on their Avay to the front, each one ready to do his share

n keeping the old flag waving over the

free citizens of a great and ever-in-creasing Empire. The result of all is

tWat, taking the Empire as a whole, it <js stronger, much stronger, and stands higher m the- estimation of the world to-day than before the commencement of the greatest Avar m history. Reverses or successes are all taken as part of the day's work. There has b^en little or no A-ain-glorious boasting. There has been, on the contrary, a calm and quiet determination to see the Avar to a successful issue, no matter Avhat the sacrifice may be, and m such a Avay that Germany Avill never again bo allowed to disturb the peace of the Avorld, or her rulers to outrage civilisation by attempting to give effect to their despotic ambitions and schemes. Another of the results of the Avar — and

though I mention it last, it is certainly froni qne point of view not the least — is that New Zealand lias taken her proper p!aco among the nations of the FJmpire. WTierever the Imperial flag flies to-day, AA'hether on sea or on land, NeAv Zea-

land's sons are to ;be found doing their duty, and those df our citizens, both

men , and women

whose place is at

home are doing- their duty by keeping our industries going, and thus providing the sinews of Avar, without which no serious struggle can be successful. Looking back upon the events since the Avar commenced, it may be said

that while to main" they have brought grief and sorrow, to humaraty as a whole, I believe, they will prove to be blessings m disguise. We have much to be grateful for. Let us thank God and take courage."

In response to a request for his views on tho progress of the Avar the Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister of Defence, telegraphed : "Six months have gone by, and the Eimpire is rapidly' consolidating the huge forces which, m the hands of Earl Kitchener, Sir John French, and other Imperial officers, will make otiv enemies realise that we, with our Allies, have made every pi'ovision to bring this terrible Mar to the i/stie that \v6 desire. The achievements of the six months show how France, Russia, and tho Empire can. face difficulties and temporary reverses, coming through these and their terrible experiences with success, till to-day we feel the assurance of solid strength and efficiency, with tho morale, so powerful a factor

n a. war, of our soldiers and sailors,

probably higher than ever before. Anyone who reads can ascertain! how the navies of the Allies control the seag ; how our commerce-; - goes- on,* how comparatively small unemployment is, and

I believe we feel more sure of our cause and its justice than when 'the war commenced. Dp we not also itcl that our armies, having checked reverses and having added to past glorious traditions, are ready to go wherever they may be led, and that m due time the command will be given which shall allow our glorious troops the opportunity to deal with our enemies as the Tight-thinking people of the world would have us deal with them? To me the six months brings a calm, abiding assurance that though there must be yet. great trials and terrible difficulties, still the worst is over. The end may be some time m coming^ but Ii have no doubt of the result."

"Hope is our brst ally," said Dr. Avori'l, Anglican Bishop ;' "hope based upon faith m the righteousness of our cause, and supported by the knowledge that we are not only, "fighting for oinr Empire's existence, but for the world's well-being. In spite of fresh surprise which await us, 'new emergencies which we shall be called upon to meet, and renewed outbursts of devilry which will shock our moral sensibilities, the end is certain, and patience, perseverance, and sustained effort must win the dny, if we are wise enough not to underrate the strength and resources of the enemy or to leave anything to chance." "The great redeeming feature of the war so far as we are concerned," said Mr A.. M. Myers, late Minister of Defence, "is that Imperial sentiment has become a much more real and robust thing than ever it was before, and there is now a general reoogniion that-, sound defence and national security must be the first articles of our political creed. The war has brought the Imperial consciousness more into being, and disclosed how strong is the crimson thread which •binds together the integral portions of otir Empire. The dominant feeling at the present time is a sense of interdependence and mutual helpfulness between the oversea dominions and the Mother Country, and that the growth of Rational sentiment is an element not of weakness, but of strength to the Empire." "On the question of financial problems arising through the war," said Mr J. H. Upton, a director of the Bank of New Zealand, "we might have looked for a tremendous financial cataclysm. As a matter of fact, there has been nothing of the kind, and after six months of war it is found that while

the official rate m London for commercial money is £> per pent., money for abort loans can, be borrqwed freely at half that rate m the open market, This is owing to the remarkable steps taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the governor of the Bank of England, and others whose counsel they sought. The measures taken were unprecedented, and they have proved to be successful."