ARMISTICE DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 8

ARMISTICE DAY

(To tbo Editor ot tho Horald.) Sir, —As Gisborne returned soldiers are again approaching the great day of the Armistice, November 11, 11 n.m., 1918, it might not be out of place to recount some items relative to the cause of Great Britain and her Dominions entering the war in 1914. “WJmt was the first purpose which England had in mind when she flung clown the gage of hat He? It was' a little country, blameless in the eyes of God and man, suddenly assailed by a mighty nation which had sworn to keep it free from its foes. Germany had deliberately broken its plighted word, and had flung its armies into Belgium, in order to make a sudden swoop upon Franco. In the course of a telegram sent to tho United States by the Kaiser on August 10, 1914, and not revealed until tlie early days of August, 1917, the. Kaiser coolly said that (he neutrality of Belgium had to be violated ou strategical grounds, i.e., in order to gain a military advantage over France. When Britain saw the big bully trampling the brave little nation under foot, slaying and torturing its people and burning and destroying its inheritance, simply because it dared to stand up in defence of its own, Britain’s pity and sympathy rapidly flamed up into hot and righteous wrath, and ties of friendship forced England to send an army to stem tho torrent. It was only a small army which was able to he sent, but for its size it was tho finest army which the world has ever seen. This little army covered itself with glory, and set an inspiring example to all who were thereafter to bear arms in Britain’s name.” — I am, etc., CTTAIILES GOWLAND.