10 APRIL 1920

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The Daily Express of Wednesday published a remarkable interview with

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Lord French which has caused some excitement in Ireland. Lord French has since issued a statement that the publication of the interview was unauthorized and that it mis-...

The spread of disorder in Ireland does not menace the

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Govern- ment or the loyalists alone. It has revived the agrarian move- ment in a new form. Optimists thought that when the Irish peasants had become owners of their holdings...

Finally, Lord French said that there was clear evidence of

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a split in the Sinn Fein ranks. He was convinced that the murder of the Lord Mayor of Cork was " carried out by Sinn Feiners themselves." Mr. McCurtain, who was a Brigadier of...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE much-talked-of general rising in Ireland at Easter natur- ally did not happen. The Sinn Fein leaders are not such fools as to do something "against which every precaution...

The tendency seems to be the other way—to underrate what

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is happening in Ireland, and to accept it all as a matter of course just because it is the kind of thing that does happen in Ireland. " I have always been a Home Ruler," Lord...

The demonstration of Sinn Fein violence took the form of

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concerted attacks on disused police barracks and on Inland Revenue offices. Last Saturday night no fewer than 160 of the small barracks in outlying villages, which had recently...

*** The Editor cannot accept responsibility for any articles or

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letters submitted to him, but when stamped and addressed envelopes are sent he will do Ifis best to return contributions in case -of rejection.

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Here is a curious little sidelight on Irish life to-day

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which reaches us in a letter from an Irish correspondent :- " The conditions here are appalling. It is impossible to get any work done. The •dishonesty and profiteering of the...

Several Cabinet changes were announced last Saturday. Mr. Macpherson, who

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on the previous Monday had given the House of Commons to understand that he would be the last Chief Secretary for Ireland, was. appointed to the Ministry of Pensions and was -...

The New York State Legislature last week decided by large

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majorities to expel the five Socialist Members returned at the last elections. The expulsion of these Socialists when the Session opened has caused a lively controversy in...

The Times of Wednesday published a letter from Mr. Neville

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Chamberlain in which he asked for financial generosity in dealing with Ireland, somewhat on the lines of the letter which we print elsewhere from Lord Meath. But what...

The Supreme Council of the Allies has offered a mandate

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for Armenia to the League of Nations, as it has abandoned all hope of America's undertaking the task. The mandate, it is under- stood, covers the independent Armenian Republics...

President Wilson, in reply to the Allies, has declined to

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take part in the work of framing the Turkish Peace Treaty. He has, nevertheless, expressed a strong objection to the proposal to leave the Sultan at Constantinople. " The often...

The Danish political crisis subsided as quickly as it had

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arisen. The Socialists, who had threatened a general strike because the King had dismissed the late Premier, Dr. Zahie, quickly saw that such " direct action " would annoy the...

The Prime Minister, replying last week to a protest by

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the Lord Mayor of Dublin against the arrest of Sinn Fein Councillors, pointed out that the Executive had to inflict inconvenience on the community in their efforts to suppress...

It is now known to be a fact that the

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Emir Feiaul, son of the King of the Hedjaz, was recently proclaimed as King of Syria by a Congress of Syrians at Damascus. The Congress- declared the independence of...

The Home Rule Bill was read a second time in

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the House of Commons on Wednesday week by an overwhelming majority; after a vigorous speech by Mr. Lloyd George. The figures of the division were 348 for and only 94 against the...

Mr. Hoover, whom we know as the skilful and untiring

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distributor of American food in starving Belgium and Eastern Europe, has announced his willingness to accept nomination as the Republican candidate in the Presidential Election....

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We have written fully elsewhere about the Report of the

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Court of Inquiry on dock labour. Although we want dockers to get as high wages as they possibly can, we feel strongly that if the recommendations of the Report were put into...

When one considers what the miners are earning and what

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the dockers are being offered, one cannot be surprised that the teachers should be in revolt. The position of the teachers is becoming a national danger. They have educated...

At the Jubilee Conference of the National Union of Teachers

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a great deal was rightly said about the payment of teachers. In our judgment, this is one of the most urgent matters of the moment, and long delay in settling with the teachers...

The directors of Lloyds Bank have recently adopted an admirable

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scheme of training for the younger members of their staff. It shows such wise generosity that it deserves to be made public. The general principle is that education pays— at any...

Wednesday's papers contained an appeal for funds for the League

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of Nations Union, the energetic and well-managed society which is trying to convince the British public of the necessity and incalculable value of the League of Nations as a...

The tramwaymen at Manchester, Oldham, Huddersfield, (udiff, and Swansea gave

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a piquant exhibition of the futility of Socialism as a cure for labour unrest by striking last Saturday against their municipal employers, and deliberately causing the maximum...

The effects of Government control and of the incessant demands

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of the railwaymen for higher wages upon railway finance were well shown in a return issued last Saturday by the Ministry of Transport. For the last nine months of 1919 the...

The Exchequer returns published last week showed that the revenue

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for the year 1919-20 was £1,339,571,381, and the expenditure £1,665,772,928. The revenue exceeded Mr. Chamberlain's revised estimate by nearly £171,000,000, but it must be...

Bank rate, 6 per cent.,changed from 5 per cent. Nov.

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6, 1919. 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 87i; Thursday week, 88i; a year ago, 96,

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE PROBLEMS OF DOCK LABOUR. T HE Report of the Court of Inquiry, presided over by Lord Shaw, which examined the demands of the dockers and dock labour generally was published...

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GERMANY AND THE ALLIES.

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A very brief survey of recent events may help our readers more easily to understand what are at the best extremely obscure episodes. When Dr. Kapp and General von Liittwitz...

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SLAVERY FOR BRITISH WORKERS.

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W E have awaited with some curiosity • the conclusion of the civil war in Russia in order to see what Lenin and Trotsky would do under peace conditions. The relentless...

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DRESS AND THE ARTS.

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W E wrote three weeks ago of the new demand for V V beauty of line and colour in household utensils and implements. There is one group of trades in which such a demand has...

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THE GIFT OF INVISIBILITY.

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I ONG ago, when men were children and made fairy- stories, the power to become invisible was regarded as She most enviable of gifts. Various herbs and magic potions were...

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FLOWERTIDE IN GALILEE.

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I N spring, from Tiberias to Nazareth, and for many miles beyond, a man may wade in flowers. They wash in never- ' ending seas westward, till the seas which run from Cyprus...

A DAY WITH KINGFISHERS.

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I N the depths of —shire there is a little moated grange. I do not know when the house was built, but there is a letter extant written from it in 1492, and Surrey's widow lived...

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FINANCE--PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

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[To THE EDITOR or THE " SpEenzon."] SIR,—Thanks to lessened apprehensions of the levy on war profits and to hopes of the reinvestment of Government dividends distributed at the...

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LETTERS TO THE Eprrou.

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[ Letters of the length of one of our leading parapraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] TIM IRISH BILL. [To THE....

WHAT IS LIBERALISM ?

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[To ism Renee or THE--" SPECIATOR."] Sea, Mr. Asquith has laid a great stress in his party speeches to the " Wee Frees" on the word "Liberal " as the proper name for himself and...

[To THE Emma or THE " Sezersrea."] Sra,—" A rose

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by any other name will smell as sweet." It is high time that theUnionist members of the Government realized this and gave their body a new cognomen. They have now betrayed us...

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HIS NEIGHBOUR'S LANDMARK. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECreTOE."]

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Sin,—We are often told that " we must march with the times "; but we are not told what exactly that means. Are we to do away with the old maxims, the old precepts, the old...

THE COUNTING HABIT AND DEAN SWIFT. [To THE EDITOR OF

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THE " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—In your article (Spectator, April 3rd) under the above beading is shown the very slight difference there is between insanity and what is usually...

THE DREAD OF A PROFIT.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.] SIR,—To reply to Mr. E. Henry Lee's criticism of my letter in your issue of February 28th would involve the repetition of much that has...

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CONSTANTINOPLE AND INDIA.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—There seems to be a tendency towards supporting, if not endeavouring to decide, the Turkish question by appeals and statements which...

THE INDIA BILL.

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(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Criticisms of the India Bill do not touch the heart of the matter. The craving for self-government is of course for self- government...

A. CAPITAL LEVY AND THE DOMINIONS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In view of the attitude adopted by the Labour Party with regard to a levy on capital, I should like to ascertain ,how Colonials like...

"EDUCATE OUR MASTERS."

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sul,—The majority of British voters are most willing to learn, but the wrong people are the readiest to teach them. The ignorance in which...

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MOSLEMS AND THE CIALTPISATE, [To THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPECITaTOR."] Soz,—We have been all well-nigh "cleared" to death for a year or more past with the Moslem and his Caliphate. I hear that as soon as the Aga Khan got back to...

THE PLUMAGE TRADE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sm, It is much to be desired that your powerful article on this subject, supporting as it does Mr. Massingham's graphic presentations of...

SLAVERY IN HONG KONG.

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[To THE EDITOR OF ze " SPECTATOR.") Sni,—May I draw your attention to the fact that Chinese girls and children in Hong Kong, and consequently British sub- jects, are being...

" BRITAIN'S OPIUM MONOPOLY "P [To THE Emma of THE

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" i3PECTATOR."] BIR,—I have just received a copy of a book published by Messrs. Macmillan in America which contains a grave indictment of Great Britain. The theme of the book is...

THE DIVORCE BILL.

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[To THE Burros OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—May I through your widely read columns suggest that the mothers of England should be consulted before the wit and rhetoric of our...

THE BIBLE IN CHURCH : TRADITION AND REVISION.

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[To nu EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") am surprised that your correspondents in their interest- ing letters have none of them a word to say about the Old Testament Revised Version....

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BEDFORD COLLEGE FOIL WOMEN.

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[To THE EDITOR OK THE " SPECTATOR.") SiR e .—BOdiOrd. College, the largest and oldest University College for women in England, is in need of money. At the- moment when there is...

UNIVERSITY COELEGE, LONDON, WAR MEMORIAL. Fro THE Erarces or THE

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" Sesorisort."1 SIR,—We trust you will give us the hospitality:of your columns to call the attention of former students of University College and University College Hospital,...

EDWARD DE VERE AND SHAKESPEARE. (To THE EDITOR or TER

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"SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have no wish to take exception to the criticism of mp work, Shakespeare Identified, which appeared in your columns on March 27th, and which seems bo me...

WAS SHAKESPEARE UNEDUCATED ? (To use EDITOR Off THE "

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SPECTATOB."3 Sus—The reviewer of Mr. Looney's book, Shakespeare Identi- fied, in your issue of March 27th, cites once more three very well-known examples (as we are informed...

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PETTICOAT LANE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 &R, — It is passing strange that no Autolycus of journalism or literature has yet perceived that there is good red gold amid the tailings in...

RECOLLECTIONS OF LADY GEORGIANA PEEL. [To THE EDITOR OF THE

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" SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I received the story of the' prevalence of the cholera as described by Lord John Russell's haircutter, as a personal recollection of my mother's. It is...

POETRY.

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WINTER WALK. BROWN trees, brown river, and a waning moon Disputing with a dying day; the croon Of melancholy waters surging sheer Over the ramparts of a surcharged weir;...

THE THEATRE.

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SNARE-HUNTING AND " THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RUSSIAN DANCERS." DRAMATIC critics who are in the confidence of the London Box Offices assure us that there has never before been a...

NOTICE.—When " Correspondence" or Articles are signed with the writer's

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name or initials, or with a pseudonym; or ore marked " Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the...

*ptrtatar

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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Including postage to any part of the Yearly. United Kingdom . . • . £2 1 2 OVERSEAS POSTAGE. Including postage to any of the British Dominions and...

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BOOKS.

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A HISTORY OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE.* THE Rifle Brigade is one of the few regiments which may be accounted fortunate in their historians. Colonel Willoughby Verner, who edited the...

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THE CHRIST AND HIS CRITICS.* IT is difficult to resist

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the conclusion that there are two Bishops of Zanzibar: a Bishop Jekyll and a Bishop Hyde. The former is a zealous missionary whose war record is one of unusual excellence, and...

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SECRETS OF ANIMAL LIFE.*

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Tars is a book which must appeal to all who love animals and their ways. The forty chapters of which it consists deal with the mosy varied subjects—" The Homing of...

FOUR BOOKS FROM THE UNITED STATES.*

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WHY have many American writers such an " Uncle Joseph "- like love of undigested facts ? They tell us with glee that there are 49 or 100 or 149 commentaries on Virgil, that it...

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A CRITIC IN PALL MALL*

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OSCAR WILDE's literary and dramatic work has been boomed and neglected, it has been applauded without measure and condemned without discrimination, but it has rarely received...

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THE REALITIES OF WAR.*

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BY the previous volumes which incorporated his despatches from the front Mr. Gibbs has earned much credit as a graphic chronicler of events. In the present work he attempts a...

CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE.*

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ttEADERS of Mr. Robert Holmes's previous works know what elements of pathos, of tragedy, and sometimes of tragi-comedy go to make up his " chance acquaintance." In his new book...

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FICTION.

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HARVEST. * TEM scene of Mrs. Humphry Ward's novel, published since her death, is laid in England during the last year of the war. In a sense it is a story of triumphant...

Limbo. By Aldous Huxley. (Chatto and Windus. 5s. net.) —Mr.

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Aldous Huxley's fantastic pen finds a congenial theme in the rather grimly farcical history of Richard Greenow. Even a farce, however, should be taken seriously enough to make...

POETS AND POETRY.

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COUNTRY SENTIMENT.* Tem worst of having a. whole new book by Mr. Robert Graves is that the reader is tempted instantly to gallop through it from cover to cover, and that is not...

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The Anglo-French Review for April is larger and even more

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interesting than usual. Lord Charnwood leads off with a temperate and sensible article on " The Government of Ireland Bill," which must, he thinks, ultimately appeal to any...

SOME BOOKS . OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in tkis column does not necessarily preclude sidisegiund review.] In the National Review for April Lord Ampthill, under the heading of " Fiat Justitia : the Case of a...

Poems Worrire or CowsrDERATION.—The Clown of Paradise. By Dormer Creston.

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(Heath Cranton. 3s. net.)—A very promising book of verse.—The Happy Bride. By F. Tennyson Jesse. (Heinemann 6s. net.)—The Epic of Semiramis, Queen of Babylon. By Rowbotham. (W....

Historical Sketch of State Railway Ownership. By W. M. Acworth.

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(Murray. 3s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Acworth's little book was written for submission to a Committee of the American Congress which was inquiring into railway problems in 1916. As a...

In Brigands' Hands and Turkish Prisons, 1911-1918. By A. Forder.

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(Marshall Brothers. 12s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Forder has worked for many years as a missionary in Palestine and the desert east of the Jordan. When the war broke out he was thrust into...

Divisional and other Signs. Collected and Illustrated by V. Wheeler-Helohan.

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(Murray. 5s. net )—It was a happy thought of Captain Wheeler-Holohan's to put on record the corps and divisional signs used in the armies overseas. The signs were familiar to...

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Through Deserts and Oases of Central Asia. By Miss Ella

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Sykes and sa Percy Sykes. (Macmillan. 21s. net.)—This attractive and well-written book deals with Chinese Turkestan. Sir Percy Sykes acted in 1915 as deputy for Sir George...

Four Centuries of Greek Learning in England. By Ingram Bywater.

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(Clarendon Press. Is. 6d. net.)—The late Professor Bywater's inaugural lecture of 1894, which was thought to have been lost, has been found among his papers and printed. It is...

From Public School to Navy. By Lieutenant W. S. Galpin,

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R.N. (Plymouth : Underhill.)—This book is a careful record, with illustrations, of the progress of the Special Entry scheme, under which, since 1913, boys from Public Schools...