AN OUT-AND-OUT VICTORY: THE ONLY ONE OF ANY USE TO

US.

[To THE EDIT011, OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—The policy of the Imperial Maritime League has never once swerved from its course. Founded on the German Emperor's forty-ninth birthday—January 27th, 1908 —it s policy has throughout been dictated (as Mr. Jane has well said) by " the most violent mistrust of Germany." It is now recognized on every hand that this policy was not only right, but was Mc, only rig7tt The insistent naval efforts of the League in the years pre- ceding war were fraught with success far greater than the most sanguine amongst us had dared to hope. Not less vitally effective have proved the League's efforts during war, for by its " Villages and Rural Districts Enlightenment and Re- cruiting Campaign " it has already raised well over one hundred and fifteen thousand men for the colours. As the consequent result of British naval strength, time has been allowed for the formation of British armies on a scale unprecedented in British history. In the result, though only after the most appalling sacrifice of blood and treasure, Britain and her allies may hope to win. But that hope of course assumes— as its fundamental basis—a continuity, and even an intensifi- cation, of effort on the part of Britain and her Empire. A stalemate is no good to us. Mere victory, again, is not enough. We have got to win "out-and-out." Nothing less is of any use to us at al!. For anything short of " out-and- out " victory only means putting off the evil day when Germany—after a period of recuperation—will rise again in all the panoply of war.

Let it never be forgotten that Germany deliberately intended to keep Britain out of the present war. Doubtless she fomented the trouble in our sister-isle, and did so in the hope of tying our hands at the critical moment. Her game was to dupe us into standing out of the ring whilst—regard- less of the Belgian " scrap of paper " which bore her signature —she trampled upon the neutrality of Belgium, on her way to the rapid destruction of France, as the preliminary to the eventual onslaught on Britain. With France—the historic vanguard of chivalry—brought under the German heel, with the French Channel ports in German control, with the Belgian ports in the German hand, with Holland no longer independent save in name, where would have. been the chance for Britain P There is the plain question. The answer : certainly will the Government know that they have the nation Gone ! And gone beyond recall ! Her knell would have been behind them in the policy which they have avowed, and which

sounded, her doom sealed. is the only policy which can and will ensure a lasting peace.— Happily the German diplomats bungled. They did their I am, Sir, &c., L. GRAHAM It HORTON-SMITH, best. They did the "Teuton" best of modern times. But Joint-Founder, Imperial Maritime League. they lacked their Bismarck. They lacked any successor to

their famous " Pilot." Wilhelm IL—some while since—had THE DOMINIONS AND THE WAR SETTLEMENT.

chosen to forsake the counsel of the old men and to prefer the rIo TILE EDITOR OF T/38 "SPECTATOR. )

counsel of the young men, and Wilhelm II. will live to regret SIR,—There is evidently a strong impression in London that that he will have earned in history the title of " Rehoboam II." the Dominions are anxious about their part in the settlement instead of (as he had so fondly hoped and expected) that of of the war, and are annoyed with the Imperial Government " William the Conqueror II." The worst bungler of all was for not calling a Conference. We frequently get cable messages expressing such a view, especially extracts from the German Ambassador to His Majesty's Court—the Court the Times leaders, severely criticizing the Imperial Govern- of St. James. But how nearly he succeeded! What thinking Briton can forget the forty-eight hours before the war broke ment for their refusal to hold a Conference. To-day we have a fairly long extract from the Morning Post on the same out between Germany and ourselves ? Would the Cabinet have the common-sense to see that—quite apart from and in linen cabled to us, and we find Mr. T. P. O'Connor saying addition to the call of honour—the only chance of our own that the pledge of the Government to consult the Dominions eventual security was to join in the present war P I for one has "removed a reproach" felt in these countries. All this want no such forty-eight hours again. The British Cabinet solicitude is puzzling to Colonials. Leader-writers in London did not lack the most honourable assistance from its erstwhile are quite mistaken about public opinion with us. The political opponents. The result we all know. We went to " reproach" discovered by Mr. O'Connor has never existed. war with the nation whose whole ultimate object was—through There is not the slightest anxiety here about our part in the and after the subjection of France, of Belgium, and, by financial settlement of the war. , In talk about the war one never hears pressure, of Holland also, to its wishes—to smash Britain. it mentioned. We trust the Imperial Government in this as A considerable portion of the British nation was taken by we trust them in naval and military matters. Seeing that we surprise; and in certain quarters an inability to " face facts " give them absolute control over the beat of our manhood, was at once manifested. And no wonder. For, despite the which they can send to Tiuibuctoo or Jericho if they want to, it would be strange if we were to worry about their capacity incessant warnings of forthcoming war issued to the nation by the Imperial Maritime League and others, the nation as a to make a favourable peace. " Unfaith in aught is want of whole had paid too little heed. Why P Because the nation faith in all." These London criticisms do not interest us had been lulled to sleep by those in authority, and only awoke here. We would far rather have good war news.—I am,

to facts when war was actually at its gate and all the warnings ALAN E. MI:MOAN.

of ourselves and others justified. Had Ministers but thought fit to take the nation into their confidence, and had they put the nation in possession of the knowledge which it has now

been privileged to receive as to German intentions and designs [To THE EDITOR OF 111111

in 1911, and again far more definitely in 1912, when Germany made her almost undisguised threat to Britain that Britain was to stand aside whilst Germany smashed France, the nation which I quote the following extracts :— would have insisted on preparations adequate to meet,

if not to stave off, the coming peril. Happily it can never be to be the most suitable candidates for commissions are now serving written of Britain that she failed to answer the call " when in the ranks of the now armies—reserve units and units of the

faint on the way,the faint will be tut the prelude to national and candidates at one time."

all time. No. It is, and must be, in very truth, a " fight to the am, Sir, &o.,

finish." Germany has trampled on every law known to God A CHAIRMAN OP I TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION. and man alike. For her there must be no human shrift. As she has trampled, so must she be trampled upon. As she has THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WAR

taken the sword, so must she be conquered by the sword.

We are here, however, brought face to face with a peril to our am, Sir, &c., future far more insidious and fateful than the open peril from RUSSIAN WORDS IN ENGLISH DRESS.

y t c

earnestly desired to have it signed by at least fort

number, and it is earnestly hoped that all your readers will as far as