Never had a people more or richer sources of encouragement and inspiration. Let us realize, first of all, that we are fighting as a United Empire, in a cause worthy of the highest traditions of our race. Let us keep in mind the patient and indomitable seamen who never relax for a moment, night or day, their stern vigil on the lonely sea. Let us keep in mind our gallant troops, who to-day, after a fortnight's continuous fighting under conditions which would try the mettle of the best army that ever took the field, maintain not only an undefeated but an unbroken front.
Finally, let us recall the memories of the great men and the great deeds of the past, commemorated, some of them, in the monuments which we see around us on these walls, not forgetting the dying message of the younger Pitt--his last public utterance, made at the table of your predecessor, my Lord Mayor, in this very hall: "England has saved herself by her exertions and will, as I trust, save Europe by her example." The England of those days gave a noble answer to his appeal and did not sheathe the sword until, after nearly twenty years of fighting, the freedom of Europe was secured. Let us go and do likewise.
By all the deeds to thy dear glory done, By all the life blood spilt to serve thy need, By all the fettered lives thy touch hath freed, By all thy dreams in us anew begun; By all the guerdon English sire to son Hath given of highest vision, kingliest deed, By all thine agony, of God decreed For trial and strength, our fate with thine is one. Still dwells thy spirit in our hearts and lips, Honour and life we hold from none but thee, And if we live thy pensioners no more But seek a nation's might of men and ships, 'Tis but that when the world is black with war Thy sons may stand beside thee strong and free.
ARCHIBALD T. STRONG _By permission of the Author_
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH OF RT. HON. WINSTON CHURCHILL
I was reading in the newspapers the other day that the German Emperor made a speech to some of his regiments in which he urged them to concentrate their attention upon what he was pleased to call "French's contemptible little Army". Well, they are concentrating their attention upon it, and that Army, which has been fighting with such extraordinary prowess, which has revived in a fortnight of adverse actions the ancient fame and glory of our arms upon the Continent, and which to-night, after a long, protracted, harassed, unbroken, and undaunted rearguard action--the hardest trial to which troops can be exposed--is advancing in spite of the loss of one fifth of its numbers, and driving its enemies before it--that Army must be reinforced and backed and supported and increased and enlarged in numbers and in powers by every means and every method that every one of us can employ.