THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 1916. "AUSTRALIA QUITS."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 7 December 1916, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 1916. "AUSTRALIA QUITS."

In one. of the Sydney newspapers there is a reproduction of the lront page of an extra edition of ,'tho •••Ani&rican Independent," a new paper published in. San Francisco in the interest of Germany. This journal is decorated with a portrait of Washington, and declares itself, in a sub-title, "A pro-American Paper for American. Patriots." In enorm-j ous type, and printed in red ink, the mam heading in tlus particular issue reads: "Australia Quits," and this is followed by sub-headings as follows: " 'Knock-out' ißlow for John Bull," "Australia Ifiletuses Further Assistance to England.*' These headings are followed by a statement tx> this effect: "From absolutely un-"im-peachable sources we have'it that "Australia- has refused to send any <'more troops to England. The Aus"tralian Commonwealth is realising "that to send more of her sons would "only result in additional slaughter, "without reward, and contribute to"wards the financial disaster of the "country. Australia is waking v up. "She is realising that hy sacrificing "her~ sons and her wealth', she' is "inertly helping the destruction of "democracy. She is at last awake to "the fact £liat Great Britain's tac"tics to lot others do her fighting "are being employed against her to "the detriment of the Common-"w-ealth and its people." Copies of this German propagandist organ issued since the holding of the referendum have not yet reached Austral but (as pointed out by the Chrisibchurch "Press,"), it may he taken for granted that the victory of the "antis",was hailed as a splendid confirmation :of the advance news that Australia intended to "quit." The eoal strike will be< regarded as fresh evidence of the "awakening" of Australia to the perfidy of England, and we are bound to. say that we cannot perceive what satisfactory reply can ibe made by the friends of Australia in Europe and America. There are in Australia a good many people who are anxious that their country shall not render any further assistance in the war, and that Germany may come out of the war as a victor.. These, however, are only a small minority even of those who voted "Jfo" and those woh are now paralysing the life of the Commonwealth. At the same time, says the "Press," they are able to lead into error great numbers of unthinking men who would shrink hack in horror if asked to affirm the desirableness of a German victory. If Australia were to adopt the advice of these people, and furnish real ground for the exultant declarations of the enemy as to the waiit of regard in tho Dominions for the interests of Britain and the Empire, she would he entering on a path along which few Australians would care to go—the path towards separation, and, as a necessary consequence, absorption iby some other Power than Britain. In the meantime, there, is a deep stain on Australia's name, and one. that.it should be the business of tfjvery loyal Australian to assist in wiping out. This stain can be wiped out only by clear proof that Australia has not "quit," but is still anxious to discharge her duty to herself, to the Empire, and to those Australians who are fighting in Franco.