17 JULY 1915

Page 1

It is impossible to speak with any certainty in regard

The Spectator

to the Russian situation. We feel, however, it is quite possible that the welcome check received by the Germans last week is now over, and that we shall in the course of nett...

The text of the latest German Reply to the United

The Spectator

States about the Lusita.nia ' was printed in the papers of Monday. It is an astonishing document, which blows a cloud of ink and evades all the direct American questions. Not...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

O N the western side trench warfare continues on the familiar lines of attack and counter-attack. On the whole, however, we are not, we think, pnduly optimistic when we say that...

The speed of the Italian advance both in the Trentino

The Spectator

and on the Isonzo has slowed down, as was inevitable when the Austrians brought fresh troops into line. In spite, however, of the greater volume of Austrian resistance, the...

*** The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript in any

The Spectator

ease.

One of the chief incidents of the fighting this week

The Spectator

in the west has been the energetic use by the Allies of their aero- planes. Thirty-five French aeroplanes on Monday, despite a strong wind, flew over and threw bombs on the...

*** TO OUR READERS.—The "SPECTATOR" is now published on Friday

The Spectator

afternoon, and is on sale at all Messrs. Smith and Son's London Bookstalls and all London Newsagents. All country readers can now obtain the paper on Saturday morning, and...

In the eastern theatre of the war the Austrians do

The Spectator

not seem to have recovered from the check delivered to them, but we learn that on Monday the Germans assumed the offensive on the Narew front. It is also stated that great enemy...

NOTICII.— With this week's number of the " SPECTATOR" is

The Spectator

issued, gratis, an Right-rage Supplement, containing the Half-Yearly Index and '!'title-Page—i.e., from January 2nd to June 26th, 1915, inclusive.

At the Dardanelles the struggle proceeds on the accustomed lines,

The Spectator

punctuated by occasional telegrams from Athens as to minor successes and the gaining of ground in small quantities by the Allies. We continue to hold our own, and the Turks are...

Page 2

Rent may be insured as well as specific loss or

The Spectator

damage to property. Insurance against bombardment is optional. The rates to be charged will be the same for all districts, and will be as follows. Building and rent for private...

German South-West Africa has been conquered by General Botha. The

The Spectator

surrender was unconditional, but General Botha has treated his enemy in the field handsomely. After the capture of the capital, Windhoek, on May 12th the German hopes were...

The President's answer to the German Note is expected to

The Spectator

be despatched early next week. In these circumstances it is hardly worth while to waste time on an elaborate forecast. We will, however, venture to predict one thing. President...

In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Runciman made

The Spectator

a statement as to the Government's scheme for insurance against aircraft and bombardment risks. A Committee appointed on June 21st to look into the matter formulated a scheme,...

The German cruiser Konigsberg,' which had taken refuge in the

The Spectator

East African river Rufigi, has been destroyed. Being high up the river, she was secure from attack except by shallow-draught ships. The monitors ' Severn' and Mersey' were...

The President in the 'Lusitania' despatch called on Germany "to

The Spectator

stand." Germany has refused to stand. He will not, unless we strangely misread him, presently call Congress together and " thank God he is rid of a knave." Rather ho will once...

It has been officially announced at Petrograd that the sub-

The Spectator

marine which sank a German battleship on July 2nd in the Baltic was British. This is the first official admission that British submarines have been operating in the Baltic. On...

The principle of the scheme seems reasonable, but we are

The Spectator

not enough of experts to say whether the rates are or are not too high. We note, however, a curious omission, which, if not merely due to condensed reporting, should be...

In the Commons on Monday Sir Henry Dalziel raised the

The Spectator

question of allowing cotton to enter Germany. We let our enemy receive from overseas the most essential material for producing high explosives. The imports of cotton into...

Page 3

All that Mr. McKenna said in praise of the national

The Spectator

effort is well deserved, but he too deserves our warmest thanks and congratulations. He has managed a 'very difficult business with great skill and great judgment. He took over...

The magnificent success of the War Loan affords tri- umphant

The Spectator

proof of the strength and solidarity of our financial position. This success, however, must not blind us to the tremendous financial strain of the war, or make us think that we...

On Tuesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer made the welcome

The Spectator

announcement that the total amount of money sub- scribed to the new War Loan was £585,000,000. Five hundred and fifty thousand persons subscribed through the Bank of England for...

Next Saturday we shall publish the first of a series

The Spectator

of articles by Lord Cromer under the general heading of " Germania Contra Mundum." In these articles Lord Cromer deals with the objects for which the Allies are fighting, with...

The conduct of the miners in South-West Wales has brought

The Spectator

about a serious situation. At a conference of the delegates of the South Wales Miners' Lodges at Cardiff on Monday Mr. Runciman's proposed settlement of the dispute between the...

The next step came very properly from the Government. In

The Spectator

the Commons on Tuesday Mr. Runciman announced that the Government had decided to apply by Proclamation the provisions of Part I. of the Munitions Act. Under these provisions it...

At the Guildhall on Friday week Lord Kitchener appealed for

The Spectator

more recruits, and his speech was additionally important because it explained the application of the National Register to the military situation. Varying Napoleon's phrase,...

We agree with Mr. MeiCenna that what makes the marvel

The Spectator

so great is that only what he described as "available resources " could he tapped. The markets have been prac- tically closed for the sale of all securities, and therefore...

Lord Kitchener then went on to speak of the Register

The Spectator

:- " The Government have asked Parliament to pass a Registration Bill, with the object of ascertaining how many men and women there are in the country, between the ages of...

Bank Rate, 5 per cent., changed from 6 per cent.

The Spectator

Aug. 8th.

Page 4

TOPICS OF TIM DAY

The Spectator

• CATCHING THE TRAIN. E NGLISHMEN have many exasperating habits, but perhaps the most exasperating of all is that of running a train so fine that they only just catch it. What...

Page 5

THE SURRENDER OF GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA. T HE surrender of their

The Spectator

oldest, and in many ways their most prized, colony is a nasty leek for the German people to swallow. They have been kept in ignorance of the progress of the campaign, and it...

Page 6

REGISTRATION AND RECRUITING.

The Spectator

T ORD LANSDOWNE in the House of Lords on A Tuesday afternoon made the clearest and most sensible speech that has yet been delivered on the subject of compulsion. Though moderate...

Page 7

A. LAST WORD ON COMPULSION. T HERE is yet one more

The Spectator

way, and the most potent of all, in which the supporters of voluntaryism, and the opponents of compulsion can stimulate the voluntary system in an effective and perfectly...

POSSIBILITIES OF TAXATION. A LTHOUGH no move has yet been made

The Spectator

by the -Government, there is a growing public opinion that now taxation must speedily follow the floating of the new War Loan. Not only is taxation necessary to raise a,...

Page 8

THE MAGNANIMITY OF ITALY.

The Spectator

I F we were asked to give the distinctive quality of the Italian nation, we should give magnanitnity—that is, greatness, or rather magnificence, of soul and mind. The Italian...

Page 10

EDUCATION AND HONOUR.

The Spectator

W E notice in the Headquarters Gazette of the Boy Scouts Association for June some notes by the Chief Scout which are worth consideration by a larger number of readers than the...

Page 11

PHANTOM GOLD.

The Spectator

LOSS of a purse is a sheer waste of money. At least, we never yet met any one so amiable as to hope that the thief had enjoyed his find, or so optimistic as to imagine that he...

Page 12

[To TRH EDITOR OP TITO "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—On reading the very

The Spectator

interesting article entitled "The Grand Victualler to the Nation" in last week's Spectator, it struck me that the writer of it ignored one practical diffi- culty when he...

NATIONAL SERVICE.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR Or TRU "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—Many persons disregard Lord Roberts's and Lord Kitchener's counsels in this matter because, they say, as soldiers they are prejudiced....

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Spectator

THE GRAND VICTUALLER TO THE NATION. [To THE EDITOR OF TDB "SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—The article in your last issue under the above heading is very timely. At present our food reserves...

LTO TRIO EDITOR or TRIO " SPECTATOR. "] Bin, — I have been

The Spectator

much interested in reading in the Spectator of July 10th your article entitled "The Grand Victualler to the Nation." You strongly advocate a reserve of food in the country, and...

CONSCRIPTION.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR or TUB "SPECTATOR:'] Sin,—Are we not sometimes mixing two things together, which, as you have said, are really distinct—military service at home and abroad P That...

"THE SECRET OF GERMANY'S STRENGTH."

The Spectator

[To Tex EDITOR or THE " SFECTATOTt." . ] Sin,—In your last issue, commenting upon my article entitled "The Secret of Germany's Strength" which appears in the current issue of...

Page 13

PROFESSOR E. S. BEESLY.

The Spectator

[To TIM EDITOR OF THE " SPROTATOR."] Sin,—In the obituary notices of the late Professor Beesly I have not seen it mentioned that he received his early education at King...

COTTON AS CONTRABAND.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR or TRU " BFROTATOR."] Sin,—I have written to you several times about keeping cotton out of Germany, and I think now that as you publish a letter signed "L. F....

[To THE EDITOR OF THE ",SPECTATOR."]

The Spectator

see from the papers that the Government are still shilly-shallying about the matter of cotton being declared contraband. This has always appeared to me so important that I...

AMERICA AND THE WAR. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "

The Spectator

SPECTATOR."' SIR,—As you saw fit in your issue of June 5th to publish a letter under the heading of "America and the War," perhaps you will also publish the following extract...

A UNITED RUSSIA..

The Spectator

[To TER EDITOR OP THE "SpzorAroa."] SIR,—It is a great comfort to those who both know and love Russia to find in your columns a true perspective of events on that battle-front...

Page 14

A VOICE FROM THE RANKS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Sru,—Having served in the ranks since August, allow me to say a word about "National Military Service" and the "Drink" problem. On the...

HOW TO SAVE.

The Spectator

[To TER EDITOR OF TEE " SFILOTAT0101 have hit on a plan which does mo personally a lot of good, and which, I think, may assist others. I am hopeless in money matters, and...

ECONOMY AND THRIFT.

The Spectator

[To FRB EDITOR Or Tan " BrzarrroR."1 Sin,—The present admonitions by Cabinet Ministers and others on the necessity for practising economy and thrift during the continuance of...

Page 15

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES FOR THE CAMPS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, May I appeal through the columns of your paper for gifts of books and magazines to replenish our libraries in the Y.M.C.A. huts in the...

"LE BERCEAU."

The Spectator

[To MR EDITOR OF TITS "Srscramn."] BI R, — As you were so kind as to publish in a previous issue of your paper my letter galling attention to a concert to be given in aid of the...

LONGS AND SHORTS.

The Spectator

[To TIM EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR:1 Silt,—Here is a " long " and a " short " of the "fifties" which may awaken the memory of your senior readers :— Original. Long Version. "If...

THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS.

The Spectator

PRESIDENT : LORD DESBOR017G11. Hon. SECRETARY: PERCY A. HARRIS, Esq. HEAD OFFICES: Judges ' Quadrangle, Royal Courts of Justiee (Carey Street entrance). The aims and objects...

"Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be

The Spectator

in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode of expression. In such instances, or in the case of "Letters to the Editor," insertion only means that the matter...

LTO TEE EDITOR OF TIM "SPECTATOR: "] SIR,--Many years ago I

The Spectator

was in a Northern Country house in which Herbert Spencer was staying. At that time he suffered from sleeplessness, and one night on going to bed he said to me : " I am about to...

"BRITON" AND "BRITISHER."

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR or TEE "SPBOTAT03."i suggest that " Britisher," ugly and incorrect as an English word, is merely the inoffensive German "Britischer," and that it has come to us...

A MEDAL FOR WOMEN.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 Srn, — Since you were good enough to print my letter last month on the above, I am venturing to plead once more for some public recognition...

OLD ETONIAN AMBULANCE.

The Spectator

[To TEE EDITOR OF THE "SPINOTATOR."3 SIR,—The Committee of the Old Etonian Association at their meeting on July 3rd resolved, in response to a communication received, to put...

Page 16

BOOKS.

The Spectator

LORD CURZON'S WAR POEMS.* IT was inevitable that the passions, hopes, and sorrows which have been evoked by the death-struggle in which the great nations of Europe are now...

"THE PRIVILEGE OF AN ENGLISHMAN." You laugh and loaf, while

The Spectator

others dare and do. And yet—a woman risked her life for you! Braved her ordeal, counting not the cost, So she might add one man to England's host; His arm her shield—prize of...

POETR,Y.

The Spectator

EUCHARISTERIA. (Sunday morning, 13th June, 1915.) MB House's heroes to commemorate we knelt before the Altar, at the rail, and tasted food that cannot ever fail the contrite...

Page 17

ROUMANIA AND THE GREAT WAR.* ALL who desire to understand

The Spectator

the position of Roumania, and the relations in which she stands not only to the neighbouring Balkan States but to the Great Powers, should study Mr. Seton-Watson's well-informed...

Page 19

BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY AND GERMANY.*

The Spectator

ALTHOUGH every student of affairs is familiar by this time with the diplomatic negotiations which preceded the war— for are they not recorded in official books of nearly every...

Page 20

CHURCH PULPITS, LECTERNS, AND ORGANS, Tins book forms part of

The Spectator

a series published by the Oxford University Press "on the Church Art of English Churches," under the general editorship of Mr. Francis Bond, to whom Dr. Cox tells us in his...

PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORT.} Tun problems of transport have been with

The Spectator

mankind ever since property, which had on occasion to be moved from place to place, came into existence. But it is only of late years that they have been systematically studied....

BELGIAN HOUSEKEEPING IN ENGLAND.* This little book, which has been

The Spectator

prepared for the Belgian Hospitality Committee in Cambridge, will be of very great help to every one who is trying to lessen the difficulties and worries that are, we fear,...

Page 21

The Path. of Life. By Stijn Streuvels. Translated by Alexander

The Spectator

Teixeira de Mattes. (George Allen and Unwin. 5s. net.)—In his preface to this little volume of essays the translator writes with so great enthusiasm of the charm of the West...

FICTION.

The Spectator

BEALBY.* THE great difficulty about a farce is bow to keep it up. Authors succeed often enough in making us laugh through their first act or through their opening chapters; but...

Page 22

For the benefit of those who want to avoid as

The Spectator

much as possible the necessity for obtaining legal advice in the course of their daily business, Mr. H. C. Emery has prepared a book of Forms and Precedents for Common Use...

The Voice of the Turtle. By Frederick Watson. (Methuen and

The Spectator

Co. 6s.)—Mr. Frederick Watson is certainly clever enough : the greater the pity that he should allow two serious faults to spoil his work. He is, in the first place, guilty of...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

[Notice in this column dose not neceseari4 prsaluds szassquent review.] Medals as a reward for war service seem to have been of comparatively modern origin in England : so, at...

Dr. Henry L. P. Hulbert has written a short memoir

The Spectator

of his uncle, Sir Francis Sharp Powell (Richard Jackson, 16 Com- mercial Street, Leeds, Gs. net). Sir Francis Powell was born in 1827, first entered Parliament in 1857, and with...

The Life Story of a Russian Exile, by Mario Sukloff

The Spectator

(William Heinemann, 6s. net), is the autobiography of a terrorist. The author was twice exiled to Siberia—on the second occasion for assassinating a provincial Governor during...

READABLE NOVELS.—Maids of Salem. By K. L. Mont- gomery. (John

The Spectator

Long. 6s.)—A placid, easily moving story of the days of witch persecution in New England.—The Keys of My Heart. By Violet A. Simpson. (Chapman and Hall. 6s.)—We can scarcely...