The Sequel / What the Great War will mean to Australia

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27382

Title

The Sequel / What the Great War will mean to Australia

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A 1915 Australian aviation narrative predicting the Great War's impact. Lieutenant Jefson, a former pacifist, is wounded by German forces and transforms into a war hero. The story blends aerial combat with a critique of socialism, advocating for 'Organisation and Co-operation' and scientific management as the path to national strength and industrial prosperity.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1915, George A. Taylor's *The Sequel / What the Great War will mean to Australia* serves as both a fictional narrative and a political treatise reflecting on the First World War. The story follows Lieutenant Jefson, an Australian aviator and former peace advocate, who is wounded over the Argonne Forest and forced to confront the brutal realities of total war. Initially a member of a peace society, Jefson realizes that 'non-resistance' encourages tyranny and that safeguarding peace requires rigorous preparation for war. The narrative chronicles the conflict from the German invasion of Belgium to the eventual Allied victory, highlighting the strategic utility of aeroplanes and the necessity of military discipline. Beyond the battlefield, the text offers a critical analysis of Australian society. Taylor contrasts the failed utopian socialism of the 'New Australia' experiment with the pragmatic success of the 'Syndicate' system. The 'New Australia' colony, led by William Lane, collapsed due to internal strife, despotism, and a lack of productive labor, proving that idealistic communism was unsustainable. In contrast, the 'Syndicate' system combined capitalist efficiency with worker welfare through profit-sharing, scientific management, and tailored equipment. This model ensured that workers had a direct interest in the profits of their work, fostering cooperation rather than conflict. Taylor argues that the war sobered Australia, replacing impractical ideals with a pragmatic focus on industry, cooperation, and the defense of civilization. The 'Syndicate' system mirrored the discipline of the battlefield, organizing industry to eliminate waste and maximize efficiency. By prioritizing the value of human life and individual effort alongside collective action, the system saved the nation from economic ruin and socialistic failure. Ultimately, the book presents a vision where organized industry and military discipline converge, suggesting that the war's greatest legacy for Australia was the adoption of a robust, cooperative industrial framework that protected both the worker and the state.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Fiction