losses, disappointments, vexations, and
anxieties, and of the appalling and sustained exertions which would be
entailed upon us by our action. The war will be long and sombre. It will
have many reverses of fortune and many hopes falsified by subsequent
events, and we must derive from our cause and from the strength that is
in us, and from the traditions and history of our race, and from the
support and aid of our empire all over the world the means to make this
country overcome obstacles of all kinds and continue to the end of the
furrow, whatever the toil and suffering may be.

Making Sure of Victory.

But though we entered this war with no illusions as to the incidents
which will mark its progress, as to the ebb and flow of fortune in this
and that part of the gigantic field over which it is waged, we entered
it, and entered it rightly, with the sure and strong hope and
expectation of bringing it to a victorious conclusion. [Cheers.] I am
quite certain that if we, the people of the British Empire, choose,
whatever may happen in the interval, we can in the end make this war
finish in accordance with our interests and the interests of
civilization. [Cheers.] Let us build on a sure foundation. Let us not
be the sport of fortune, looking for victories here and happy chances
there; let us take measures, which are well within our power, which are
practical measures, measures which we can begin upon at once and carry
through from day to day with surety and effect. Let us enter upon
measures which in the long run, whatever the accidents and incidents of
the intervening period may be, will secure us that victory upon which
our life and existence as a nation not less than the fortune of our
allies and of Europe absolutely depends. [Cheers.]

The Deeds of the Navy.

I think we are building on a sure foundation. [Cheers.] Let us look
first at the navy. [Cheers.] The war has now been in progress between
five and six weeks. In that time we have swept German commerce from the
seas. [Cheers.] We have either blocked in neutral harbors or blockaded
in their own harbors [laughter] or hunted down the commerce destroyers
of which we used to hear so much and from which we anticipated such
serious loss and damage. All our ships, with inconsiderable exceptions,
are arriving safely and punctually at their destinations, carrying on
the commerce upon which the wealth and industry and the power of making
war for this country depends. We are