22 JANUARY 1916, Page 15

POETRY.,

FAILING TO SEE.

("I fail to see that the war makes any difference."—Mr. LARDER?. The minority against the Compulsion Bill was chiefly composed of men who voted steadily before the war against the Navy Estimates.] THREE years ago you failed to see.

The Navy's dire necessity ; You knew not then—why should you know ?- How close the inevitable blow ; But if you could have had your way, What would your England be to-day ?

What if your sisters, mothers, wives, Had lost their honour or their lives ?

The Fleet, which you were loth to feed, The Fleet has saved them in their need !

Had Cambridge suffered as Louvain, If trenches scored the Norfolk plain, If mile on mile of battle went Across the smiling face of Kent,

Still would you wish to save your pence,

Or would you " see the difference " ?

If here the Germans slew and burned,

Think you the lesson would be learned ?

Of course you'd deem it very sad, And bow the knee before your fad !

The murderer is at the door,

A fact you very much deplore,

And yet you will not raise a hand To stay the devilry he's planned.

Whom God would bring to hopeless plight, The proverb's apt, though somewhat trite, You " fail to see the difference " I W.