22 JUNE 1918, Page 19

Major Sir Filippo de Filippi describes in the first annual

Italian lecture of the British Academy Italy's Protection of Art Treasures and Monuments during the War (H. Milford, 6d. net). The most elaborate precautions have been taken in Venice, Verona, Padua, Ravenna, Milan, and other towns that are famous for their churches and palaces, and are therefore deliberately assailed by Austrian and German airmen. All the movable pictures and statues have been taken away ; buildings like St. Mark's and the Baptistery at Ravenna have been strengthened and protected with sandbags. The Italian Naval Air Service has happily saved Venice from suffering irre- parable harm, but it is too soon to say that the danger is past, in view of the obstinate and spiteful barbarism of the enemy.