Our Brave Allies.

Sr Robert Stout, in proposing the toast of "The Allies." said that in no war that had ever taken place had there been so many Allies arrayed on one side. There were now no fewer than a dozen nationalities—from the little Republic of San Marino to England, France, Russia. Italy. United States, and the most peacable nationin the world, China—against Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria. Why should there be such a mighty war? How came it, he asked, that so many Allies, differing in nationality, in language, and ideals, were found on one side, fighting against Germans, Austrians, Bulgarians, and Turks? There were some people who imagined that the world was getting worse. This war should be the answer to those pessimists. The Allies were fighting, not to conquer territory, but for the defence of their own countries and of the civilisation of the world. This war was on a higher plane than any past war. In most of the wars of the past there had been Questions of territory involved and where that was not the case misunderstandings had led to the war. But there was no misunderstanding about this war. The question at issue was, whether the world was to be dominated by a cruel, untruthful, immoral, autocracy, or whether there was be be peace and freedom in the world. Hence it was that the United States had joined the other Allies. Since she became a nation the whole policy of the United States had been that she was to be free from entangling alliances and from interfering in European affairs. She had been forced into her present position, however, in order that the civilisation and the freedom of the world might be maintained. She was, therefore, fighting side by side with the other Allies for a noble ideal—for truth and for righteousness. In their commemoration of Anzac, what could be better or more suitable than to remember their Allies who were engaged with them in that noble struggle. (Applause.) Had the Anzac fight any relation to this fight for civilisation? Let him point out to them what the meaning of the Anzac fight was? He need not go into the details of the struggle on Gallipoli. They knew them well. The men of Anzac—some of whose relatives were present at that gathering—were told even when they commenced the fight that it was almost impossible. There they were on the open beach to attack what were termed impregnable fortresses, and with not such a large body of troops behind that they could hope to overwhelm the defences. But they went on and on, fighting as they were page 5 told, fighting for their country, fighting for freedom, and fighting for civilisation.