Anti - Anti War

Pacifists Confounded.

Having heard a great deal of the Anti-War point of view, and having judged by the conduct of one or two that there might be another viewpoint, we approached a critc of the present campaign and asked for his views:—

I believe in the futility of war. I believe in the honour and the inglorious trail it leaves behind. Its appeal to emotion, swept up by the heartless pens of journalists and the sudden wave of hate which fills the masses, the thought of all this leaves one sick at the sickness of mankind.

I am against war, but prepared to take effective measures to prevent it, and prepared to keep the foot of the invader from my native soil.

The British Empire, its forces land and sea, are the only true international means of watching and guarding the path of the world in times of stress and in normal times.

It is a great contribution to the peace of this world, the Navy especially being the international police of the Seven Seas.

It keeps respect for the standard of liberty and justice as known to Englishmen, and. if necesasry, demands respect.

What is the use of side-stepping realities? All the peace talk, all the propaganda and all the resolutions will not ensure our security from harsh, blind militarism—whch, like a sullen dog, hangs near the entrance to the world's halls of peace.

Let us show our hand for peace, just as we sound the death knell of pirates in China and the slave traffic in Persia, by the flag on a British naval flotilla; so let us quietly remind those who wait for our weak days that the spirit and desire for peace is strong yet.

Why should we withhold a million pounds on the defence of a country worth defending, and later find that we have no other means of preserving it than by throwing away a million lives, always the flower of our nation?

Let us cease this disunity and drifting and conferences and compromises which have led to the falling of British prestige.

Let us build our defences, our Navy especially, and let our principles be respected, and show that by definite action we will make the world safe for Democracy.

It has been "Thank God for the Navy," it may yet be "Thank God for the Air lorce." Let us watch and be prepared !