Britain reluctantly joins war

A view in the beautiful Whangaroa Harbour, North Auckland, showing a coastal steamer at the wharf...
A view in the beautiful Whangaroa Harbour, North Auckland, showing a coastal steamer at the wharf.- Otago Witness, 12.8.1914.
The expected has happened. Great Britain has been forced into the European war.

It had for the past few days been apparent that it would be with difficulty that she could abstain from participation in it.

The deliberate refusal on the part of Germany to respect the neutrality of Belgium of which the Kaiser, in his capacity as King of Prussia, is one of the guarantors, swept away the last hope that Great Britain could remain a passive spectator of the tragedy on the Continent.

The sequel has been the declaration of war against Germany by Great Britain.

This grave step has been taken with reluctance and in the face of a certain amount of remonstrance.

Some of the Radical and Labour members of the House of Commons passionately pleaded with the Government to make a supreme effort to relieve Great Britain from the necessity of intervening in the conflict, and declared that there was insufficient ground for subjecting the poorer classes of the population to the hardships incidental to a war that would, as Sir Edward Grey admitted, be terribly costly.

An appeal of this character cannot have left the Government, any more than it can leave any individual, wholly unmoved.

The King has addressed to the oversea dominions a message in which he expresses the confident belief that in the hour of trial the Empire will stand united, calm, and resolute.

His Majesty's appeal will, we feel assured, not be made in vain.

The unity of the Empire has, indeed, already been convincingly demonstrated.

The most striking proof has been afforded of the devotion of the British people throughout the world to the ancient institutions that are the expression and the embodiment of their liberties.

They are not unmindful of the traditions of their race and they may be depended upon to show that they are not degenerate sons of their fathers.

They will be cheered by the emphatic declaration, which the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made, that Great Britain is prepared for the titanic struggle into which she has, however unwillingly, felt compelled to fling herself.

They are themselves prepared to take what part may be permitted to them in the clash of arms.

The Governor has, in the name of New Zealand, intimated that she ''is prepared to make any sacrifice to maintain her heritage and her birthright.''

The terms of this message will be generally acclaimed throughout the dominion ...

• Vivid recollections of the stirring days of the Boer war were brought before the general public last evening when a great patriotic demonstration took place on the streets shortly after 10 o'clock.

Headed by the Salvation Army Band, a crowd of several thousand persons marched to the Town Hall, where the City Council was holding its fortnightly meeting.

The English and French National Anthems were sung lustily, and vociferous cheering was indulged in for some time, after which the crowd commenced to call for the Mayor.

Eventually a deputation forced its way to the Council Chambers in the midst of an important debate upon the future position of the city electrical engineer, with the request that the Mayor would address those who had assembled.

Mr Shacklock responded to the request and was met at the door by an impromptu guard of honour of Territorials, who received him at the ''present arms'', and cleared a passage for him to the Town Hall steps.

The Mayor, who was received with enthusiastic cheering, and with the singing of ''God Save the King'', made a brief speech. - ODT, 6.8.1914.

 


COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ 

 

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