The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-17
WAR ENDS ALABOR
EDENAT ANTIPODES

1T.-CommerciaiIy and financially, few
parts Of the British Empire have suf-
fefed less from the war than has New
Zealand There have been difhculties.
OF course, In getting the country's
products away owing to the world
wide scarcity OF shipping, and freights1
and other charges have been high.
but prices have scared in sympathy
with the eager demand for commodi-
ties at the other end OF the world,
and wool and meat and dairy produce
have touched figures they never had
reached before. The result has been
an abundance OF money for invest
ment and development, and without
practicing any OF the heroic eeono-
mics prescribed in many OF the other
countries the dominion has raised its
war loans within it's own borders and
has borne itself in other respects
much as II did In the piping times Of
peace.
The public debt has mounted up
by $500 900 900, or thereaboufs-or at
any rate, win have done 50 BY the
time the country has discharged its
RemaiHlng sbhg4tions In e6nneetion'
with the War-but the politicians and
the people are regarding the addi-
tional burden and the increased tax
alton It involves with light hearts
and with no fear for the future
Whether their optimism will be justi-
ned or not depends largely upon their
own efforts. New Zealand's natural
resources are deemed well nigh Him
liable. and IL her people apply them
selves to their development with the
Vigor and judgment that have com
manded success in other parts OF the
~ IL
will sit lightly on their brawny
shoulders, IL Is asserted here.
Paid Ten 81 Ezplre In the Field.
But. New Zsaland's contribution to-
ward winning the world war for the
allies. as those in this country call all
the nations brought together In OPP
position to German aggression. has
not consisted OF dollars and food
alone. From first to last the Domin-
lon sent 1000 men abroad to take
part in the struggle for the main
tenance OF right and justice tiny
company. IL may seem. compared with
the great legions dispatched from
America in q quarter OF the time.
but q notable effort for q little ma
tion Of scarcely a million people. Be-
hind these were $4,000 or 20, 900 more
in the training camps at the time the
armistice was signed. and all the
country's manhood OF military age
waiting for the call.
New Zealanders paid their share
Of the toll OF empire in the field. An
official statement issued this week
shows that. OF the little army men
toned, 10000 were either killed, in
action or died at the front and 25 900
were wounded. No fewer than $500
waFa EriIIAH nr uuOnndaH - lad
ing at Anzac. and in the subsequent
battles up to May, 1918, there were
1000 killed in the offensive at CAL
lipoli, 5000 at the Somme, $500 at
Messines, 1900 at Passchendaele,
$500 in resisting the German often
sive of 1918, and 1000 in the allies
offensive that ended the war.
Herein lies the Domihion's claim 90
place among the younger nations
and admission to the counsels OF the
civilized world
The first military effort OF the Do
minion after the declaration OF war
was the dispatch OF force of $500
men to Samon. This advance
Guard" as it subsequently came to be
called. crept out OF Wellington Har-
Dor within a fortnight OF the COM
mencement of hostiIities in two i'm
provised transports that any one OF
the German cruisers prowling about
the Pacific at that TIME could have
sent to the bottom with a single shot.
Il was a hazardous adventure Of
which no one on shore, save, per-
haps, an official here and there. knew
the nature. but. thanks to God and
the British navy. II ended happily.
BY the time the German cruisers as
certained what was going on the force
was safely landed and intrenched at
Apia, and the Jewel OF the Pacific"
was wrested from the grasp OF the
enemy.
Now, as one writes, the fate Of
Samoa is being discussed at the peace
conference. reminding New Zealanders
that so long ago as 1894 the late r. ].
Seldom was urging the British gov
eminent to make the group secure
against the Germans for all time. To-
day New Zealand is not anxious for
territorial acquisition for herself or
for the empire, but she would not
tolerate any arrangement for the dis
position OF Samoa that would leave
the revival OF the German menace in |
the Pacific even remotely possible.
American suZeFainty over the is
lands the people OF this country |
would welcome. even FTench they |
would sustain. but German. never.