A Difficult Frontier (Yugoslays and Albanians). By Henry Baerlein. (Leonard
Parsons. 6s. net.)—Mr. Baerlein explains in this interesting little book why the strategic frontier drawn by General Franchet d'Esperey in 1918 was better for the Albanians and their Serb neighbours than the racial frontier of 1913 which the League of Nations adopted with slight modifica- tions last year. He maintains that the border tribes will con- tinue to raid the Serb villages, and that the Serbs will have much difficulty in protecting their present frontier. Mr. Baerlein sees in this the band of- the Italian Government, whom he regards as the evil genius of Northern Albania. His account of the Albanians as a million and a half of " wild children," living in clans which have no sort of unity and plagued by blood- feuds, reminds us of the Ireland that Henry II. annexed, of the mediaeval Highlands, or of the North-West frontier of India to-day. Whether the Albanians will ever become a nation by their own unaided efforts appears doubtful. The League, however, has guaranteed their independence.
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