24 DECEMBER 1910, Page 2

We must say that the officers do not seem to

have been very formidable examples of Secret Service agents. They would appear to have been inspired by Mr. Erskine Childers's exciting and romantic book, "The Riddle of the Sands," and to have tried to act in real life what the " hero and friend " of that book did in fiction, just as boys play at " Treasure Island." A good deal was made of the so-called " Naval Baedeker," but, as far as we can judge, this is merely a confidential Admiralty document, which contains as much information as possible about foreign porta and sea fortresses. Just as Baedeker invites travellers to supply him with information to keep his books up to date, so the Admiralty asks information from its officers for its guide-book,—a very natural and very proper course.