WAR SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16311, 11 December 1918, Page 7

WAR SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE

OF THREE GREAT ALLIED NATIONS. THE WILL TO WIN. (Impressions of the New Zealand Press Delegates during their tour of the war zone). Just as a man cannot live by bread alone, neither can a nation survive the test of war merely through the number and strength of its guns. There must be behind tlio material forces a vital spiritual factor—faith in tire cause, and the will to suffer and. endure to the finish. We had opportunities of learning something of the spirit pervading the people of tho three greatest members of the League of Civilisation —Britain, France, and the United States of America. Before wo were two weeks out from New Zealand last June we found ourselves on American soil, at Honolulu. Here the war spirit of the great democratic Republic was manifested in a. variety of ways. At an important commercial club, where wo were courteously invited to lunch by some leading residents, there were spread upon the table leaflets urging one to “cat well, but wisely,” that is, to waste nothing. White bread was unknown, and w© learned that the saving of wheat by the compulsory use of other cereals in the staff of life was very considerable where several thousands of United States troops were being trained for France. In conversation with citizens we found the war spirit dominant. Not a jingoistic but a very serious tone there was about it all. There seemed to exist a realisation that upon the issue of the war depended the future of the civilised world, and that Apierica had not an hour too soon begun her part in the struggle. We learned, too, at Honolulu, that the coming of America into the war had had a wonderful effect in harmonising the British and American sections of the Hawaiian community, and that some long-standing differences had been completely obliterated.

In the course of a few days spent in New York, and more so during a voyage across the Atlantic in a great ship filled with' United States soldiers, we gained a further intimacy with the American spirit. Quite noteworthy was the entire lack of hoastfulness, of any notion that the United States was coming in where, and because, the other Allied nations had failed. In conversation with officers and men, with Y.M.C.A. officials, some of whose names are known all over the world, and with representative civilians, we discovered a profoundly serious mental attitude regarding the war. It was pleasing to find a true and grateful an-nrecintion-of all that had heeu done hy the Allies before th» advent of America into the arena. Combined with, that feeling there were, of course, the natural hone and determination of a highly successful, efficient nation to take a hig part in securing an early victory over the Central Powers. In France the spirit of the peordc was revealed in mere tragic form—in the absence of able-bodiaA men from practically all kinds of civilian activity, in a vast number of new-made cemeteries, and in the mourning worn by tbe majority of tbe women. Yes. poor France has bled and suffered—but she had endured through four years and more of slaughter and destruction with a courage that was not shaken, her spirit has proved superior to the material strength of the greatest military machine in history; her courage and determination have conquered enormous odds. Much of this, of course, is known to everybody, but we New Zealand visitors unquestionably got a sharper, clearer grip of the facts as we travelled for several days through French towns and over a substantial part of territory which is sanctified by the heroic sacrifices in France. The people must have been war weary—intensely war weary—but after all the years of tragedy the unbroken spirit of the nation was breathed by M. Clcmenceau, just prior to our visit, in his prompt rejection of the enemy “peace” overtures. That is the spirit of brave France as revealed to the New Zealand Press Delegation. And the Mother Country? Britain’s state of mind and heart was never more healthy; the people were never -more active in •prosecuting the waf, never more united, in the determination to win. Not that all was perfect. Far from it. A knotty Irish problem remained unsolved. Strikes of workmen were not uncommon. Living was dear, profiteering no doubt existed, politicians frequently quarrelled, and other troubles clouded the domestic horizon. But despite and beyond these things the visitor would be blind who did not see in Britain, not indications, but proofs of a mighty resolute spirit of strength and sacrifice and eudnrace. Pacifists there were, but they were just numerous and noisy enough to form the exceptions that proved the rule—just sufficiently strong enough to make a striking contrast against the mental and moral fibre of the people as a whole. Britain’s part in the war is described in other articles dealing witli .the navy, the women, the munition workers, and so forth, and it scarcely needs more here than to say that such mighty efforts (and adequate results) would have been impossible in the absence of that spirit which is the very soul of patriotism and the surest guarantee of victory.

Among the statesmen and military leaders whom it was the fortune of the delegates to meet, we found, without exception, a calm confidence that the issue of the war was then beyond the region of doubt, and some high opinions that were at that time given in favour, not only of a complete, but an early victory. One sentiment we were proud to find generally throughout our journeyings was a. feeling of great admiration for the oversea dominions and their soldiers. And none received higher praise than the Now Zealanders, alike for their conduct on and off the field. Probably it was largely due to the efforts of the oversea parts of the Empire that thore existed in Britain such a fine confidence in the strength of the whole British nation to do its full part with the other great Allies in setting the world free from the perils of Prussian militarism. Whatever the contributing factors, and however their resoective values may be apportioned, there was among the peoples of the three powerful countries in which our observations were _ made, a spirit of faith and determination which, soon or late. the enemy was certain to find irresistible. For it was the spirit of Victory,