Sept. 25.
THERE may be a hope that, when so critical events as the present are working towards their end, the anniversary calling for celebration to-day is a vivid recollection in the minds of those whose business it is to shape destinies. It is one of the world's great anniversaries, in comparison with which so many of the events of the past, which we have been accustomed to regard as supreme in their influence on civilization, assume almost a commonplace aspect. September 25, 1914, this is the date more or less assented to by critics as the culminating point of the German drive towards Paris, the day on which their hopes of a virtual conquest of Europe were defeated. In the early hours of this day Foch, effecting a complete surprise, pierced the German centre, putting the whole of their right wing in jeopardy, and only by a hurried retreat, carried out under the cover'of a friendly mist, was the danger of disaster to almost half their army averted. Tt is hardly necessary to recall how they succeeded in taking up positions on the Aisne from which there was no dislodging them until after those months of intensive warfare which contributed so much towards the crippling of Europe physically, financially and some profess to believe morally. The consolation is that that, victory was for freedom, and that is why we express the hops that at this time of international crisis memories of the occasion eight years ago may produce 2 favourable effect on the statesmen of the two countries whicl in these past days seem to have been bent on pursuing different policies.
In 1914 thers was cause enough for trouble, as always when
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.